Experience fall color in Oshkosh!
Looking for a taste of fall color in Wisconsin’s Event City? We’ve selected three of the finest stops around the area you won’t want to miss. They’re easy to find and hard to forget.
Terrell’s Island (Lake Butte des Morts Wildlife Area)
Just west of Oshkosh and along the south shore of Lake Butte des Morts, you’ll find Terrell’s Island. Part of the Lake Butte des Morts Wildlife Area, this marshy area offers a three-mile long breakwall trail, open to hikers and bikers. Out on the breakwall, you can see the fall colors of the wildlife area come alive. The area is also home to plenty of migrating waterfowl this time of year, so bring your binoculars.
You can come on bicycle, on foot, or by car, with parking available at the end of Shubert Road, east off of Rivermoor Road and north off Highway 21. With mainly calm waters, you can also access the island by canoe or kayak.
Asylum Point Park
Just north of Oshkosh, on the shores of Lake Winnebago’s South Asylum Bay, you’ll find Asylum Point Park (3400 Sherman Rd.). A true refuge, you’ll find this wooded area to be the perfect spot to snuggle up and catch a fall sunset over the lake. Towering oaks provide a patchwork of fall color and an excellent sanctuary for the area’s eagles, hawks, owls and plentiful deer.
Cross a short footbridge onto a small island where you’ll find the Asylum Lighthouse, marking the separation between the north and south bays.
To get there, follow Sherman Road towards Lake Winnebago until you run out of real estate. You’ll find a parking lot there, adjacent to the lighthouse.
Lasley Point Archeological Site
The Lasley Point Archeological Site on the shores of Lake Butte des Morts, was once a thriving Oneota Native American village. Thick forests of oak, hickory, basswood and ash trees are ablaze with color in the fall. Wander miles of hiking trails, using the informational signs to identify fall wildflowers along the way. Mounds found here are likely not burial mounds, but were instead erected to cover of houses and temples.
The park is located two miles north of Winneconne, west of County M. You’ll find a small parking lot off Lasley Point Road.
Get Out on the Open Road!
There’s perhaps no easier way to take in the fall color than to get behind the wheel for a scenic drive. The Oshkosh area is a beautiful place to take a fall foliage trip. Quiet country roads and byways will take you through rolling countryside and past beautiful lakeside vistas. Explore a world colored in spectacular hues of red, yellow and orange. These days can be fleeting–be sure to take in every minute. Here are a few of Oshkosh’s best fall color routes.
Heading south
Taking Highway 45 (Fond du Lac Road) south out of Oshkosh, enjoy the beauty of the fall season with a trip along Lake Winnebago. You’ll pass the Oshkosh County Club and Far Vu Golf Course, two great examples of Oshkosh’s plentiful golfing facilities. The highway is part of the historic Yellowstone Trail, the first transcontinental automobile highway in the northern United States. The route was chosen because it’s a great drive, which you’ll find is still true as you head down Highway 45.
Heading north
County Road A north of Oshkosh is another great fall driving route that is part of the Yellowstone Trail. It follows the Lake Winnebago shore north and passes Winnebago County Park, home to beautiful trails, dog exercise areas and an historic archaeological site. On the north side of the park is Sunnyview Expo Center, a facility that houses everything from car races to horse shows.
Heading west
Highway 21 will take you west out of Oshkosh on the south side of Little Butte Des Morts. This 8,800 lake, which means “Hill of the Dead” in French, was named after a nearby Indian burial site. The lake is about a mile north of Highway 21. To get a look at the lake, and enjoy fall colors on the water, swing north on Marquart Lane and take a left on Leonard Park Road, where you’ll find an entrance to a lakefront park and boat launch. You can continue to work your way around the lake on an assortment of town and country roads. It’s a pleasant fall drive and on the west side of the lake between Omro and Winneconne you’ll find Roo’s Apple Orchard, which sells 10 varieties of apples, plus plums and pears.
Stay the night in Oshkosh—click here for overnight options!