Point Beach State Forest — Attraction in Town of Two Rivers

used to visit this 3000 acres park when I was a kid. There used to be 6 miles of beach shoreline. But these days the lake is very high and beach area is at a minimum. As a senior I can get a year pass for a mere $13. They have actually changed the use of the lodge to include more types of food and fish fries on Friday night. There is an extensive system of hiking and bicycle trails. I prefer the Ice Age Trail that runs the length of the park as bicycles are not allowed on this trail; and it is much quieter with more wildlife. There are cabins for rent year around. They are rustic and cozy. This park is most busy during the warm months with many camping sites. A lot of them have electricity. There are ample bathrooms and hot showers are available. Hiked here on my birthday on the summer solstice saw several warbler species. There is some very cool wildlife to be seen out here. Again...use the Ice Age Trail. This is a nice park with something for the whole family. But late in the summer be prepared for voracious mosquitoes. No, the state doesn't spray insecticides all over the park. You're on your own dealing with them. You can look at the lighthouse; but you cannot go into it. The amenities make this ideal for those who prefer "glamping" over roughing it. If you want to get outside and get into the woods in a relatively safe environment, it would behoove you to go...

Not too long ago, up at Point Beach State Forest, there were whispers around the campfires about a creature born of the lake’s deep waters and Wisconsin’s dairy obsession. Locals called it… The Point Beach Creature.

Legend says it first appeared one misty evening when an angler accidentally dropped his deep-fried cheese curds over the side of his boat while reeling in a giant muskie. The curds sank into the murky depths, and something… strange… happened. That muskie took a bite, and BOOM—cheese met fish in an unholy fusion. The water churned, lightning cracked, and the hybrid was born: half slippery, scale-covered predator, half golden, squeaky curd. And all attitude.

Campers swear they’ve heard wet, slapping sounds near the shoreline late at night. One guy said he saw glowing eyes and a trail of curd crumbs in the sand. Another claimed his cooler full of beer cheese dip was mysteriously emptied while he slept—only a lone fish scale left behind.

It’s said the creature lures folks with the faint smell of fryer oil and the sound of a lure hitting water. If you’re unlucky, you’ll feel something slimy brush your leg… and hear a low, gurgly “Ya want ranch with that?”

So next time you’re walking the trails at dusk or tossing a line in Rawley Point, keep one eye on the water… and your curds in hand. You never know when the Point Beach Creature might surface—hungry for dairy…...

On Friday, January 18, I went on an overnight hike from Schuette Park in Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Point Beach State Forest just north of Two Rivers, Wisconsin. 29 miles round-trip. My goal was to reach the Rahr School Forest which is the end of this section of the Ice Age National Trail. I came up 4 miles short. By 3:30 p.m. I was tired and sore from the weight of the backpack. This was the first time I loaded up to about 35 pounds of gear in my backpack. It was a test for me to check my capabilities. I like to make my hikes a photographic experience. But, I learned on this trip that that managing the backpack took priority. So, I have to stay with setting up a base camp and hike lite from there. Overall though, the hike was still very enjoyable. I set up camp for the night in a small clearing just off trail. I woke up the next morning, Saturday, to about 10 inches of snow. I was expecting only 4 or 5 inches based on weather reports. The heaviest snowfall was predicted south of Sheboygan, WI. Surprise!! What a site with snow stacked up on the tree branches. The slightest breeze creating a small snow fall as the breeze blew off...