Places to Explore • Wisconsin

Petrifying Springs

Woodland paths, spring wildflowers, and small discoveries beside the Pike River.

Somers • Kenosha County, Wisconsin • Petrifying Springs & UW–Parkside trails

My visits here mostly take me into the forested area east of the golf course, south of Berryville Road and toward the UW–Parkside campus. This collection follows that wooded side of the wider trail network, with flowers at my feet, birds overhead, and changing views along the water.

A spring path through the woodland

A connected woodland landscape

Beyond the picnic areas

Locally known as “Pets,” Petrifying Springs is the oldest park in Kenosha County’s park system. Its hardwood forest and rolling landscape connect with trails on neighboring UW–Parkside land.

The woods I explore are part of this broader park-and-campus trail setting. The official map is useful here: it distinguishes hiking routes, rustic multi-use paths, paved pathways, and purpose-built mountain bike trails.

Why “Petrifying” Springs? The Village and Town of Somers’ history describes lime-rich spring water coating sticks and other objects with mineral deposits. That coating gave the springs their name; it is different from organic material being replaced by stone.

A narrow spring path follows the river — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A narrow spring path follows the river

Woodland paths through the seasons

Most of my hiking here is in the forest east of the golf course, toward UW–Parkside. These photographs follow narrow paths beneath summer leaves, bright spring groundcover, and bare branches.

A spring path through green woodland groundcover — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A spring path through green woodland groundcover

A narrow trail curving beneath leafy trees — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A narrow trail curving beneath leafy trees

A woodland bend beside a fallen log — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A woodland bend beside a fallen log

A shaded corridor through summer greenery — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A shaded corridor through summer greenery

Dappled sunlight along the woodland trail — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Dappled sunlight along the woodland trail

A winding path through lush undergrowth — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A winding path through lush undergrowth

The trail curves around a large tree — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — The trail curves around a large tree

A leafy passage through the woods — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A leafy passage through the woods

Load additional woodland paths through the seasons photographs (6)

Fresh green growth beside a spring trail — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Fresh green growth beside a spring trail

Bare branches above a leaf-lined path — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Bare branches above a leaf-lined path

A narrow path along the water — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A narrow path along the water

Bare woodland and a carpet of fallen leaves — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Bare woodland and a carpet of fallen leaves

The forest in its leafless season — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — The forest in its leafless season

A wooden footbridge leading into the trees — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A wooden footbridge leading into the trees

The Pike River and waterside views

Water brings a different rhythm to the walk: open river views, wooded banks, and paths that follow the edge.

A spring trail beside the river — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A spring trail beside the river

Pike River between wooded banks — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Pike River between wooded banks

Blue sky above the winding river — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Blue sky above the winding river

A leaf-covered path along the riverbank — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A leaf-covered path along the riverbank

River channel framed by trees and stone-lined banks — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — River channel framed by trees and stone-lined banks

Bare trees across the water — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Bare trees across the water

Wetland habitat and river health restoration sign — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Wetland habitat and river health restoration sign

Petrifying Springs trail map photographed during a visit — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Petrifying Springs trail map photographed during a visit

Flowers and plants of the forest floor

Spring flowers are a highlight of these walks. Later visits bring other details into view, from red fruit and seedheads to pale ghost pipe emerging among fallen leaves.

Twinleaf flower — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Twinleaf flower

Twinleaf leaves beside a fallen log — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Twinleaf leaves beside a fallen log

Dutchman’s Breeches in bloom — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Dutchman’s Breeches in bloom

Cutleaf Toothwort beside fallen wood — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Cutleaf Toothwort beside fallen wood

False Rue Anemone flower — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — False Rue Anemone flower

Virginia Spring Beauty blossoms — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Virginia Spring Beauty blossoms

White Trout Lily with recurved petals — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — White Trout Lily with recurved petals

White Trout Lilies among mottled leaves — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — White Trout Lilies among mottled leaves

Load additional flowers and plants of the forest floor photographs (26)

Wild Blue Phlox flower cluster — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Wild Blue Phlox flower cluster

A closer look at Wild Blue Phlox — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A closer look at Wild Blue Phlox

Wild Ginger flower close to the forest floor — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Wild Ginger flower close to the forest floor

Wild Ginger foliage and a low-growing flower — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Wild Ginger foliage and a low-growing flower

Blue Cohosh flowers and leaves — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Blue Cohosh flowers and leaves

Early Meadow Rue flowers — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Early Meadow Rue flowers

Prairie Trillium beside the water — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Prairie Trillium beside the water

Skunk Cabbage emerging through leaf litter — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Skunk Cabbage emerging through leaf litter

Wild Leek flower cluster — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Wild Leek flower cluster

A closer look at Wild Leek flowers — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A closer look at Wild Leek flowers

Upright Carrion Flower beneath the trees — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Upright Carrion Flower beneath the trees

Green Dragon foliage — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Green Dragon foliage

Jack-in-the-pulpit fruit — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Jack-in-the-pulpit fruit

White Baneberry fruit — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — White Baneberry fruit

Indian Tobacco flowers — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Indian Tobacco flowers

American Germander flowers — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — American Germander flowers

American Black Nightshade flowers and foliage — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — American Black Nightshade flowers and foliage

Purple aster flowers — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Purple aster flowers

Dead-nettle flowers — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Dead-nettle flowers

Giant Chickweed flowers — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Giant Chickweed flowers

Hispid Buttercup flower and leaves — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Hispid Buttercup flower and leaves

Cancer-root among fallen leaves — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Cancer-root among fallen leaves

Ghost pipe rising from leaf litter — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Ghost pipe rising from leaf litter

Ghost pipe beside decaying wood — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Ghost pipe beside decaying wood

A closer look at ghost pipe — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A closer look at ghost pipe

Tall Thimbleweed seedhead — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Tall Thimbleweed seedhead

Birds and smaller wildlife

Birds along the water and woodland insects add small encounters to the trail. The photographs below keep those discoveries together.

Solitary Sandpiper in shallow water — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Solitary Sandpiper in shallow water

Belted Kingfisher perched above the water — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Belted Kingfisher perched above the water

A woodland flycatcher holding an insect — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A woodland flycatcher holding an insect

A flycatcher perched on a slender branch — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A flycatcher perched on a slender branch

European Goldfinch against a blue sky — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — European Goldfinch against a blue sky

A young grackle perched on a fixture — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A young grackle perched on a fixture

Northern Pearly-eye resting on a leaf — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Northern Pearly-eye resting on a leaf

A green caterpillar on a twig — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A green caterpillar on a twig

Load additional birds and smaller wildlife photographs (2)

Spined Micrathena suspended in its web — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Spined Micrathena suspended in its web

A closer view of Spined Micrathena — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A closer view of Spined Micrathena

Fungi along the way

Clusters of mushrooms and branching fungi reward a closer look at fallen wood and the bases of trees.

Orange Jack-o’-lantern mushrooms on the forest floor — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Orange Jack-o’-lantern mushrooms on the forest floor

A cluster of mushrooms at a mossy tree base — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — A cluster of mushrooms at a mossy tree base

Pale branching coral fungus — Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside woodland area, Wisconsin — Pale branching coral fungus

Before you go

Plan a woodland walk

Find the park

Kenosha County lists the park address as 5555 7th Street, Kenosha, WI 53144. The park is in Somers, with entrances from 7th Street / County Highway A and Petrifying Springs Road / County Highway JR.

Choose the right trail

Use the combined Petrifying Springs / UW–Parkside trail map to choose a route and parking area. Follow posted trail-use and direction signs, especially where hiking and multi-use routes meet mountain bike trails.

Seasonal changes

These photographs span past visits. Spring groundcover, summer foliage, and leafless woodland offer very different views; flowers and wildlife vary with the season. Check local trail notices before heading out.

Park facilities

The county lists restrooms, picnic amenities, playgrounds, hiking trails, and a public spring-water fill station among the park’s facilities. Check the official park page for current hours and visitor information.

The photographed trail sign records a past visit. Use the linked official map and current on-site signs for route planning.

Petrifying Springs

Beyond the picnic areas

Woodland paths through the seasons

The Pike River and waterside views

Flowers and plants of the forest floor

Birds and smaller wildlife

Fungi along the way

Plan a woodland walk

Find the park

Choose the right trail

Seasonal changes

Park facilities

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Beyond the picnic areas

Woodland paths through the seasons

The Pike River and waterside views

Flowers and plants of the forest floor

Birds and smaller wildlife

Fungi along the way

Plan a woodland walk

Find the park

Choose the right trail

Seasonal changes

Park facilities

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