Island Park Trail Little Chute 2025 02

Island Park Trail is a trail I have been wanting to do for a while. When I was a kid my family traveled down the Fox River Lock System. So when I saw that they had turned the island formed by the Locks in Little Chute into a trail, I knew this was a trail that I would review.

Key Features

• Paved trail: The main trail is paved with asphalt, making it easily accessible for walking, running, biking, strollers, and wheelchairs.
• Scenic views: The trail offers beautiful views of the Fox River and the surrounding parks, including Island Park and Heesakker Park.
• Connections: The Island Park Trail connects to the Heritage Parkway Trail and the Nelson Family Heritage Crossing, providing access to even more trails and destinations.
• Amenities: Island Park itself features a playground, picnic areas, restrooms, a sand volleyball court, a rugby field, fishing areas, and more.
• Accessibility: The trail and many of the amenities in Island Park are ADA accessible.
• Seasonal activities: In the winter, there is a sledding hill and ice skating rink available.

Review

Last Friday I needed something to distract me from the job hunt. So I grabbed my camera and traveled to Doyle Park in Little Chute. Island Park is formed by the channel that was created for boats to go around the two dams in the Fox river between Little Chute and Combined Locks.

At Doyle Park I parked in the lot near the Doyle Park Pool. Exiting my car I walked toward the channel. Currently the channel is drained. Why I am not sure, quick web searches to find out what the project is resolved without an answer. But I can see culverts and new concrete pylons being constructed in the channel.

I started to walk west to the bridge across to the trail. The bridge is near the Little Chute dam and the start of the channel. A small lagoon sits between the bridge and the first lock that forms this channel. I start walking south pausing only to take pictures of some geese laying in the snow and a small tree covered in red berries.

The island at this end of the park is large enough to have grass area for picnicking and there is a dock for fishing. Signs indicate that there is no swimming or wading in the waters below the dam. But as I walk east the Island becomes narrow with only room for the trail and some old telephone polls that have been adapted for eagle nests.

Continuing east I reach the second dam that crosses the river to a paper mill. At this point the Island expands again. The channel to the north of the trail where the boats would travel between locks should be at Five feet below the trail. However the river drops almost 50 feet below the trail to the south after the dam.

At this part of the island the trail ascends a hill that the channel was cut through. At the top of this Hill is a bridge connecting the trail to Heesakker Park. But before I cross the bridge I decided to check out the beginning of a new trail. Signs indicate that this is the beginning of the Nelson Family Heritage Crossing.

As I walk down the Nelson Family Heritage Crossing I can see that the crossing is a walking trail bridge that connects the east end of the island to the south side of the Fox River. But the rest of that trail will need to be another blog post in the future.

I took a few pictures of the bridge and of the river around it before walking back to the bridge to Heesakker Park. The eastern lock of the channel is clearly seen from this part of the trail and as I walk back I can see deer foraging on the opposite side of the lock.

Crossing the bridge to Heesakker Park I neared the end of the trail. But now I needed to get back to my car. So I took the streets of Little Chute to return to Doyle Park. Garfield Ave to Buchanan St to Park Ave to the entrance to Doyle Park and back down the hill to my car. My walk was about 3 miles in the chilly Wisconsin air.

While I could have walked back the way I came the wind chill was turning my beard in to an ice sculpture. So I opted to take the city streets. On a warm summer day I would have probably walked back on the trail. Even on Friday I could hear birds in the trees around the trail. I can only imagine the photos I could take during the summer.

Island Park Trail is a trail I will walk again with my family. And I recommend anyone that wants a different view for their hikes. Though I do recommend coming on a warmer day.

Once again thank you for reading my weekly blog post. Feel free to make any comments you would like below. However notes on the trail or suggestions for other trails I might hike would be appreciated.