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Isle of Ferns Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 227 Google reviews · Running trail in Wausau, Wisconsin · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Isle of Ferns Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Tranquil riverside park, reached by a bridge, for walking and hiking, plus fishing.
What runners say about Isle of Ferns Park
“Very clean, beautiful park by the river for picnicking, walking, relaxing.”
“A small island park with a nice short trail, and some absolutely beautiful water views.”
The bridge has a classic feel with its strung lights. Nice walks, would definitely come back EDIT: I’ve come back here a few times since my first review in 2019, and still really enjoy this location. Spent a lot of time here in winter and spring and have since been back in the summer and now fall.
Wow! What a great place to walk, hike, or take a bike ride! There are also small rapids just up the riverwalk. Very cool. This weekend is a national free-style white water event. I saw them practicing today! I'll stop here every time that I come to town!
This was our first time visiting. You walk across a bridge to an island that has views of the water and some trails, with a few little wooden bridges. There's a large open space as well. We visited in March. So trees were still bare and no greenery yet. This place would be beautiful in the fall!
A small island park with a nice short trail, and some absolutely beautiful water views. Ample parking at the entrance which is adjoined to another park. There is a large open space with street lamps, and a few picnic tables, but not much else on the island itself (no restrooms, grills, trashcans, or shelters, though…
Trail conditions & character
“You walk across a bridge to an island that has views of the water and some trails, with a few little wooden bridges.”
“The bridge has a classic feel with its strung lights.”
Plan your run at Isle of Ferns Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- Websiteci.wausau.wi.us
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–11 PM |
Running trails near Wausau
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