The section of the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail from Amery to Wanderoos is 6.7 miles. Along the way, the route passes four lakes while traveling through forests, meadows, and farmland. The grade is quite level, descending slightly in elevation. The surface is screened limestone and in very good condition, except for sporadic gopher holes. This trail section sees the most traffic, and is generally not busy.
In Amery, the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail begins at Soo Line Park. Located in downtown Amery on Kellar Avenue (Wisconsin State Highway 46). The park features a long, narrow, covered picnic pavilion replicating a depot of the Soo Line Railroad. The park offers public restrooms, picnic tables, garbage/recycling bins, and free wireless internet. On Mondays throughout the summer, its large parking lot hosts a farmers market.
The small city of Amery sits on the Apple River in Polk County. The surrounding land was first home to the Dakota and Ojibwe nations. White American settlement began in the mid-1800s. Amery developed around the lumbering industry. Originally called “Big Dam,” the name changed to “Amery” in 1887 when the Soo Line Railroad arrived. The city was named after William Amery, an English immigrant who settled in Polk County in 1855. He served as county treasurer and in other municipal positions.
Today, Amery offers several food options for visiting trail-goers. A Dairy Queen is located one block south of Soo Line Park. To the north a short distance, Ellie’s Ice Cream & Coffee serves Cedar Crest ice cream in cones, sundaes, floats, and shakes. Ellie’s also offers hot and cold coffee drinks, cookies, muffins, and scones.
Two separate trails depart from Soo Line Park in Amery. The Cattail State Trail runs east from the park, traveling18 miles to Almena. Bicyclists are welcome on this path, but it is also open to ATV/UTV use and the surface of the trail is quite coarse. A state trail pass is not required to use the Cattail State Trail.
The Stower Seven Lakes State Trail heads west from Soo Line Park. This trail is reserved for pedestrians, bicyclists, and horseback riders (in autumn after Oct 1). The path starts at Harriman Avenue. An information kiosk and trail signs, bike rack, park bench, and self-service bicycle repair station are located there. As a state trail pass is required to use the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail, a self-service pass station is there also.
The path proceeds west into a forest. North Twin Lake soon appears to the right, followed by South Twin Lake on the left. Both lakes are relatively shallow. North Twin Lake is 129 acres with a maximum depth of 27 feet. South Twin Lake is 72 acres and no deeper than 9 feet. The lakes are visible until the trail crosses Baker Avenue and heads back into a forest. An interpretive marker there focuses on plants, flowers, and birds found in the forest.
At County Highway C (115th Street), trail-goers may divert to the left (south) to Z-Orchard. This working orchard produces apples, maple syrup, and honey. Generally open Fridays and Saturdays, Z-Orchard sells a variety of products onsite including honey, apples and cider, maple syrup and cream, and caramel corn.
Continuing west, the trail crosses County Highways C and F and arrives at a park bench overlooking Kinney Lake. An interpretive marker there describes how this 18-acre seepage lake doesn’t have an inlet or outlet. The marker also focuses on the logging industry that developed when the Soo Line Railroad laid tracks through the area. The rest stop offers a lovely view of the lake and surrounding wetlands. A fourth lake, Bear Trap Lake, is to the north but hidden from view.
From this stop, it’s less than a mile to the community of Deronda. Along the way, the trail crosses County Highway PP. A trailhead in Deronda is to the right (north) of the path. It has a parking area, pit toilets, picnic table, drinking water, garbage/recycling bins, bike rack, information kiosk, and self-service pay station. This trailhead also features an attractive wildflower garden. It is accessed by car from Amery by turning west on Deronda Street (65th Avenue) from Wisconsin State Highway 46, and driving 3.3 miles.
Deronda was named after Daniel Deronda, a fictional character in an 1876 novel of the same name written by author George Eliot. The community emerged with the arrival of the Soo Line Railroad in 1887. Outside the trailhead, there are no other amenities in Deronda. From the start of the trail at Soo Line Park in Amery, it’s 3.5 miles to the trailhead in Deronda.
From the Deronda trailhead, the Stower Seven Stowers State Trail heads west for 3 miles. The trail passes through small wooded areas, but also by farmland and pastures. There are several openings where the path is exposed to the sun. In most places, a line of trees and bushes surrounds the path and provides ample shade.
Nearly a mile from Deronada, the trail intersects 140th Street. A little further west, it crosses over Wapogasset Branch. The stream flows south from Wapogasset Lake to the Apple River. A park bench and interpretative marker beckon trail-goers to pause. The marker shares the history of the stream and details about columbine, wild turkey, and sandhill cranes.
It is 2.2 miles from Wapogasset Branch to Wanderoos. The Wanderoos trailhead is on the left (south) side of the path. It has a parking lot, pit toilets, picnic table, garbage/recycling bins, bike rack, information kiosk, and self-service pay station. To reach the trailhead by car, turn east on Wanderoos Road from Wisconsin State Highway 65, 6.5 miles south of U.S. Highway 8. The entrance is 350 yards east on Wanderoos Road.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
The community of Wanderoos slowly emerged after the advent of the Soo Line Railroad in 1887. First called “Dwight,” its name was changed in 1917 to “Wanderoos.” It was renamed to honor Norwegian immigrant I.K. Wanderoos, who moved there and established a cheese factory. The tiny community has one tavern called UW Wanderoos. Located in an old public school house, the bar and grill is a perfect stop for a quick bite.
Trail last ridden and documented in June, 2024.
