Hiking trails come in all shapes and sizes, long and short, steep and flat, woods, mountains, desert, you name it. I’ve been very fortunate to set my boots down on all of those and it never fails; sooner or later someone asks, “What’s your favorite trail?” Short of saying they’re all favorites, I dodge the question because every path has its own vibe and drives exhilarating satisfaction into my bones in different ways. But some trails stand out and I find myself grinning in delight literally with every step.
This is one of those trails. Once again, CAMBA created a beauty. Every inch of tread is impeccably maintained and twists and bends through drop dead gorgeous forest, teases with lower elevation overlooks, and then climbs to a crescendo of cover shot views of distant valleys, Lake Superior, and Madeline Island.
What’s so great about this place? After all, the “mount” is not exactly Denali-like and purveyors of skiing in the Rockies or Montana or most anywhere else in the world will scoff at Ashwabay’s vertical drop. But this little hill is more than 600 million years old and filled to its modest, rounded summit with equal parts rich geologic history and proud tradition.Heads-up clause: This first part of the hike, on the Hot Saw trail, goes against mountain biking traffic so pay attention. The path immediately dives into forest crowded everything from white pine to aspen, all vying for attention. And the ferns! The ground is fully concealed by waist high fern fields and the path wanders right through in gently undulating squiggles. Along this stretch you’ll meet a little trailside gnome statue decked out in chaps and pointy hat as the trail dips though a shallow ravine and then starts climbing. A brief break in the trees offers a provocative view of the southern tip of Madeline Island and the Ashland breakwater.
At the top of Mt. Ashwabay, the view is the stuff of daydreams. Straight to the north the valley dips far below and swoops high up again and that’s where all kinds of homegrown organic farms, laced with generations-deep heritage, grow delicious berries, apples and veggies. Look right to see Lake Superior and Madeline Island. This is the proverbial picture-perfect place to stretch out, watch clouds change shapes and listen to birds sing.
Post-lounging, walk along the ridge southeast to meet the Raven Trail. This path follows a gently curving course along the hill’s outer fringe back to Hot Saw and through the ferns to the trailhead.
Why this place matters
Settled in Mt. Ashwabay’s northwestern shadow, the Nourse Sugarbush SNA is home to huge, old-growth hemlocks and 100-foot sugar maples, with an accompanying cast of birch, red oak, basswood, balsam fir and a rich variety of groundcover. All of this makes ideal habitat for the rare black-throated blue warbler, and true to its name, the SNA also boasts maple sugaring history dating back hundreds of years. A hike through this treasured area reveals slash marks on some trees from those early days of tree tapping.
