BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG AND BOOK
The Upper Midwest (e.g., Minnesota, Wisconsin, Upper Peninsula) is a wild and wonderful place that offers some of the best hiking trails and pristine (or semi-pristine paths) in the Midwest. Of course, this region also features beautiful urban trails that provide short-term nature fixes for us busy bee humans. Hiking is wonderful in itself. But, it’s even better when you can celebrate the completion of a hike with a Wisconsinitis Cream Ale, Hat Trick Honey Amber, Czech Up Lager, Black Bear Stout, Kold Shoulder Kolsch, or other tasty beer. But how do you find both great nature spots and good nearby breweries and tap-rooms? You can’t always trust artificial intelligence (AI) whatever Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, and others tell us. Word-of-mouth is better, but a well-researched book is best. Luckily, there’s a great book that will be of help for those looking for beer and hiking trails for hikers at various skill levels. Author Kristen Radaich did the hard work (translation: fun work) to identify some great hikes and breweries in the Upper Midwest. Her book, Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin, & the Upper Peninsula (978-3-03964-102-4, 2026, Helvetiq), is an informative and entertaining resource that will be a useful addition to anyone’s Chicago-area nature (and beer lover’s) library. Plus, Radaich (who is also the author of the blog, Dogs and Detours) brought along her dogs on many hikes. (Note: For local hikes and beer spots, check out my article Co-author of Beer Hiking Chicago Discusses Great Nature and Hops Spots.)
I’m going to be honest. I’ve only completed two of these hikes: the Kohler Dunes Walk in Kohler-Andrae State Park (Wisconsin) and the Chapel Loop Trail in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Upper Peninsula). Both are home-run hikes, so I will assume that the other 40 hikes in this book are just as great. And I will soon begin checking out these trails now that I have Kristen Radaich’s book. I talked recently with her about her book, her favorite nature spots, several nature areas within a 1.5- to 2-hour drive from Chicago, and other topics.
Q. Can you please tell me about your book?
A. Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin, & the Upper Peninsula is a guidebook that pairs the best of two worlds—beautiful hikes and delicious craft beer. The included trails explore a range of landscapes and difficulties, from urban parks to the wild spaces of the Northwoods. Every hike is then coupled with a local brewery for a post-hike beer recommendation that reflects the incredible craft beer scene of the Upper Midwest. Each chapter contains essential trail information, a highlighted beer, a hike description, and a bit about the breweries and people behind the beer. It’s everything you need for a well-rounded adventure!
Q. What were the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of writing the book?
A. The most challenging part of this project was choosing the hikes. The Northwoods and its neighboring metros are full of stunning trails, and narrowing it down to only 42 felt overwhelming at first. I spent months scouring trail databases and maps, reading endless reviews, asking locals for recommendations, and even making a few U-turns for trailhead signs that didn’t show up in any of those sources. Plus, each trail had to be near a brewery! It was a lot of information to sift through.
As an introvert with a smidge of social anxiety, I thought interviewing the brewery owners and brewers was going to be the hardest part, but it wound up being a wonderful experience. The owners and brewers were incredibly approachable, and we had great conversations. We talked a lot about beer, of course, but also about their desires to build welcoming spaces and support their communities. I’ve started a few friendships over a shared love of craft beer, so it’s nice to know how much connection and community also matter to these breweries. I hope readers feel as welcomed as I did.
Q. What are some of your favorite nature spots in the book, and why?
A. Oh, maybe this is the most challenging part—picking favorites from my list of favorites! Here’s one from each state:
In Minnesota, I love the bog boardwalk on the Lake Bemidji State Park hike. Honestly, if there’s a boardwalk anywhere, count me in! It’s an excellent spot to find lady’s slippers and pitcher plants, and the benches facing the pond are the perfect place to pause for a good view.
In Wisconsin, the Anvil National Recreation Trail really got me. One of the first valleys you wander into has these massive trees soaring overhead, moss-coated tree stumps, and ferns carpeting the ground. Catch it on a morning with sunlight filtering through the canopy and it’s just dreamy. I camped nearby and hiked this one several times!
In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the Bush Bay Trail is fantastic and slightly mystical (it’s nicknamed “The Narnia Trail”). Right off the shore of Lake Huron, there’s a slew of craggy boulders covered in moss, ferns, and a network of tangled roots. The evergreens here seem to sprout from any available ledge or crevice. It feels like you’re in a completely different world.
Q. The following destinations in the book are closest to the Chicago area and will be of greatest interest to my readers for short trips: Schlitz Audubon Loop, Mequon Nature Preserve, and Kohler Dunes Cordwalk. Can you tell me more about them?
A. I love the diversity between these three trails, and they’re all within a few hours of Chicago!
The Schlitz Audubon Center has such a cool backstory—some of the land used to be the home of the draft horses that pulled the Schlitz beer wagons. Nowadays, it’s a web of stunning trails where you can hike down to the beach, stroll across boardwalks over ponds, and climb the observation tower for an expansive view across the forest. And that’s just on the loop included in Beer Hiking MN, WI, & the UP!
Mequon Nature Preserve is a sea of prairie wildflowers. The wide, easily walkable trails are perfect for a slow afternoon stroll to enjoy the colors, butterflies, and relaxing atmosphere. It’s worth allotting yourself extra time here to take in all of the little details.
Kohler Dunes Cordwalk is a unique one. The state park protects a stretch of Lake Michigan dunes and interdunal wetlands, which you get to explore via a boardwalk strung together with cables so it can flex with the moving sand. This hike is especially pretty at sunrise or sunset when the sand changes colors along with the sky.
Q. Can you tell me about your blog, Dogs and Detours? Any special advice for aspiring hikers who might want to bring along their dog(s) on a hike?
A. I created Dogs and Detours to share my adventures with my dogs in hopes that it would inspire others to explore more with their pups. I started hiking with my dogs to burn off their energy, but quickly realized we all benefited from the mental engagement even more. Just like us, our dogs thrive when we do more than sit at home all day. So, I try to highlight some of my favorite dog-friendly destinations to show how easy it can be to include your own dogs.
My biggest dog hiking advice? Just grab your dog’s leash and get outside; you truly don’t need fancy gear to get started. Share the trails respectfully, because not all hikers (or other dogs) want to interact with an unknown dog, even if they’re friendly. And be a tourist in your own backyard. Check out your local parks and preserves. They’re often dog-friendly and a good opportunity to discover a few hidden gems.
Final Thoughts from Andrew Morkes
Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin, & the Upper Peninsula is a nice addition to the growing library of books about our beautiful natural areas in the Midwest, and its brewery/beer recommendations provide even more value to readers. Skip AI recommendations and purchase this book. It’s highly recommended.
Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin, & the Upper Peninsula can be purchased at Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and other providers.
For local hikes and beer spots, check out my article Co-author of Beer Hiking Chicago Discusses Great Nature and Hops Spots.
Copyright (opening and closing text): © Andrew Morkes
Copyright (interview): © Kristen Radaich
Copyright (photos): © Kristen Radaich
Looking for some other great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $19.99.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I’ve been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I also served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 80 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, College Readiness: The Vault Guide for High School Juniors and Seniors, the Vault Career Guide to Consulting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series), Lerner Publishing, and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades, Hands-On Careers, Social Media Today, Woman in STEM, Getting Started, and Cool Careers in Science series).
Here’s a list of the environmental- and clean energy-focused titles that I’ve written:
- Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
- Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
- Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Environment (Getting Started series)
- Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)
Articles about my work have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Practical Homeschooling, and other publications. My photographs of musicians, artists, and the natural world have been published in several books. My poetry has been published in Cadence, Wisconsin Review, Poetry Motel, Strong Coffee, and Mid-America Review. As an amateur artist, I’m pleased to say that four of my paintings were included in the 2025 Beverly Art Walk.
