This is a 70 mile tour that passes
through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest east of Hayward.
The majority of the tour is on paved roads however 8.5 miles are
on gravel road.
 From
the Hayward Information Center building drive north on Highway 63
one half mile to the intersection with Highway 77 and turn right
(east). The route follows Highway 77 east over the Namekagon River
and up O'Brien Hill which is the hill on the east edge of the Namakagon
Valley about 2 miles into the tour. In the logging days around the
turn of the century O'Brien Hill was famous for the dangerous trip
down the steep grades with heavily loaded sleighs - many were wrecked
and horses and drivers injured or killed. At 21.9 miles on the tour
turn left (north) on Forest Road 203.
Forest Road 203 is blacktopped for the next 2 miles and passes through
a tunnel of hardwoods that overhand the roadway. Shortly after turning
on FR 203 you pass Two Deer Lake on the left and then Perch Lake
on the right. At 27.9 miles FR 203 intersects with FR 622. Here
you can turn left to take a short side trop to look at an impoundment
on Lynch Creek and hike a short trail to a viewing platform.
The
color tour continues on FR 203 and at 31.2 miles Crystal Springs
overlook in the right. Crystal Springs is a bog dotted with small
potholes. It is especially scenic in the fall when the bog is framed
by the reddish brown color of the oaks and yellow of the birch.
The colorful foliage contrasts nicely with the patches of water
that reflect blue sky. In another mile FR 203 intersects County
Highway M. Turn left (west) on M and drive 9.8 miles to the village
of Cable.
 Along
the way you pass just south of Lake Namakagon. Namekagon can be
loosely translated from the Chippewa as "Place of the Sturgeon".
A pleasant walking side trip can be had by driving south on FR 207
2.6 miles and hiking in to Rock Lake about a half mile west of the
fire lane. In Cable turn left (south) on Highway 63. There is no
color tour sign at the intersection M and 63.
The color tour route crosses the Namekagon River about 1.5 miles
south Cable. The Namekagon is part of the St. Croix Riverway and
is a National Wild and Scenic River. You parallel and occasionally
cross the Namekagon or its backwaters on the drive back to Hayward.
For more information on the Riverway contact the National Park Service
at Box 100, Trego, WI 54888 or call 715-635-8346. About 5 miles
south of Seeley turn right (northwest) on Nelson Lake Road. Continue
on 3.8 miles to Highway T. Turn right (northwest) and continue on
T to Highway 27. Turn left (south) on 27 and drive 3.6 miles to
Highway 77. Turn left (east) and continue on to Hayward.
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