Mornin' to all the Ice Age Trail “thousand milers” out there. This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

This week’s weekly:

• Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads 🚗 

• Alligator found 🐊 

• Pollinator Week 🐝 

New Rustic Roads Added

Ah, summertime. Time to pack up the car, grab a few snacks, and sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

NOT! There’s a better way to travel folks, one that isn’t clogged with cars and billboards: Introducing, Rustic Roads.

Known for their natural beauty, Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads give you a view like none other, and we just got 2 new ones added to the list.

Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads

• 126 Rustic Roads, spanning 760 miles through 61 counties

• Must exhibit "outstanding natural features"

• Created 45 years ago to give motorists leisurely, scenic travel options

What’s a “Rustic” Road

Way back in 1973, the State Legislature wanted to protect Wisconsin's scenic country roads for the "leisurely" enjoyment by bikers, hikers, and motorists—thus, the Rustic Roads program was born.

In sum: This initiative promoted roads that sported especially gorgeous views of Wisconsin’s countryside.

To be a Rustic Road, the road must…

• Have outstanding natural features such as rugged terrain, native vegetation, native wildlife or include agricultural vistas

• Be a lightly traveled local access roads

• Have no major improvements in the foreseeable future which would change its rustic characteristics

• Be at least two miles long

• May be dirt, gravel or paved road. It may be one-way or two-way

• Have a maximum speed limit of 45 mph

Where are Rustic Roads?

North. South. East. West. Everywhere.

Wisconsin’s 126 Rustic Roads can be found in 61 counties, spanning some 760 miles.

Gov. Evers just signed two new roads into the program: Rustic Road 125, which spans 9.4 miles near the American Birkebeiner Trail, and Rustic Road 126, which crosses Honey Creek in Walworth County, giving views to what was once a single-room schoolhouse.

How do you know if it’s a Rustic Road? Look for the special brown-and-yellow road sign!

Ok, but what if Dad’s a little impatient, and you need a faster route that still packs a view?

This year’s Rustic Road guide includes info on the Scenic Byways program, which highlights scenic, 30-mile stretches of non-interstate highways connecting communities across the state. There are 5 currently, per the DOT:

• Great River Road - All-​American Road (WIS 35) between Prescott and Kieler

• Lower Wisconsin River ​Road (WIS 60) between Lodi and Prairie du Chien

• Door County Coastal Byway - National Scenic Byway (WIS 42 and 57) circling the northern Door County peninsula

• Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway - National Scenic Byway​ (WIS 13) from US 2 to County H in northwest Wisconsin

• the Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway (WIS 55, 32, 70 and 52)

How to get out ‘der

The 2024 Rustic Road Guide lays out all the juicy details you need to enjoy these stellar drives. You can order your free copy, or view the digital version.

This year includes work from talented photographers across the state. The cover features the Aurora Borealis over Rustic Road 60 in Vilas County.

Love a good interactive map? Heck ya. This ArcGIS map lays out all of our Rustic Roads’ whereabouts.

Finally, if you have a route that you think deserves Rustic Road status, nominate it here.

Now forward this email to friend, and get out ‘der!

Want to sponsor the Wiscampsin Weekly?

Reply “Sponsor” and we will get back to you with the details!

NEW: Work & Play

Work

• Sales Rep (CROSSKIX) - Commission, travel required

• Watershed Engagement Coordinator (Green Lake Association): $40k - $50k/yr

• Senior Director Sales - Camping and Watercraft (Johnson Outdoor): On site

• Editor-In-Chief (BIKE): $90K - $100K/yr. Remote

Play

• June 20 (Oconomowoc): Badgerland Ski Show

• June 21, repeating (Cave Of The Mounds): Blacklight Tour

• June 21 (Hayward): CAMBA Women’s MTB Weekend

• June 22 (Mirror Lake State Park): Universe In The Park

• June 23 (Door County): Pollinator Celebration

• June 28 (Mercer): All Species Fishing Tournament

Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

Well it looks like 56% of our readers hail from Southeast or South Central Wisconsin.

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

🐊 Wisconsin alligator gets a home: The alligator found in a Grant County yard last month has found a new home with the Reptile Rescue of Wisconsin. Sara Wagner was hosting a bonfire when she saw a critter in the neighbor’s yard. She mistook the 2-foot alligator for a squirrel before realizing what it was. Her husband promptly captured the ‘gator and put it in a cat kennel for the DNR.

🐝 Help pollinators!: This Pollinator Week, you can help volunteer and build habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Check out the DNR’s website for ways you can help promote these crucial critters. Without them, our world would be a very desolate, foodless place!

🌳 Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine: Grasslands, fish family tree, paddling, loons, wildfire smoke in WI… These tasty topics are all yours to be had in this summer’s edition of the Wisconsin Natural Resource Magazine. You can’t miss these articles (or images)!

Meme of the Week 😂

A review from the trail… Well shucks, we enjoy making it!