While written specifically for ice age trail hikers who are curious about the landforms in front of them, it will be of interest to anyone wishing to learn about how the most recent glaciation molded wisconsins landscape. The section begins at oak opening hardwood forest and and continues on through the southern kettle moraine state forest. There were many new bridges and also fresh cuts of timber where trail maintainers had recently cleared the trail with a chainsaw. Journal map photos gear food expenses supporters stats. The ice age trail highlights the landscape and features left by a glacier thousands and thousands of years ago. It picks up again in the blue hills, then skips over to haugen, seven miles north of rice lake. We hiked the ice age trail section that was easy if madison. Hiking the ice age trail in wi rice lake, wi tourism. Today the ice age trail, designed to link together the nine units of the reserve, is taking shape. Students at wauwatosa west high school examined how the ice age trail, a thousandmile scenic footpath that allows visitors to explore this unique landscape, is. The chippewa moraine unit in the heart of northwest wisconsin. Ice age trail backpacking in the chequamegon national forest.
Geology of the ice age national scenic trail is a well researched and written book packed full of useful illustrations, maps and pictures. The ice age national scenic trail is a thousandmile footpath that highlights these landscape features as it travels through some of the states most beautiful natural areas. Elevated boardwalks totaling 800 feet, 4 bridges and numerous rock retaining walls will protect fragile resources in remote, glacial. Hike a landscape carved by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago on this 32. The ice age trail alliance is a volunteer and memberbased nonprofit organization whose mission is to create, support and protect a. After spending all that time behind a desk working on a computer, i wanted to set up a more active lifestyle in retirement. Beginning in potawatomi state park in sturgeon bay, door county, the trail travels through 30 counties before ending in interstate state park in st. The trail is entirely within wisconsin and is one of only eleven national scenic trails.
Adventures on wisconsins ice age trail, arpin, wisconsin. The ice age national trail traverses approximately miles in wisconsin. Since the trail passed by many small towns, parks, and farms, there was never a need to. Theres no better time than august to hike the ice age national scenic trail, one of 11 national scenic trails in the united states thats federally protected thanks to its natural beauty.
But in southwestern wisconsin, the trail dips into the driftless area, an ancient landscape of twisting valleys and ridges untouched by the ice. How to buy a vehicle admission sticker or state trail pass. Ice age trail encyclopedia of wisconsin environmental. The wisconsin glaciation extended from approximately 75,000 to 11,000 years ago, between the sangamonian stage known globally as the eemian stage and the current interglacial, the holocene. The ice age national scenic trail, built in 1980, is a 1,200milelong path that traces the edge of the former. The ice age trail atlas 2014 features 105 color, shaded reliefstyle maps at 1. The ice age national scenic trail iat is one of very few endurance backpacking opportunities in our nations middle. Part guide book, part personal essays of our adventures on the trail, and filled with color photographs, we invite others to. Dayhiking the ice age trail, wisconsin sierra club. The ice age trail traverses the entire state of wisconsin. Melanie mcmanus poses at the eastern terminus of the ice age trail in potawatomi state park in sturgeon bay in april 20. The ice age trail guidebook, atlas, databook show the locations on and near the trail of the available types of camping, making them indispensable resources for ice age trail backpackers. My pack weighed under 23 pounds with food and water.
The trail is administered by the national park service, and is constructed and maintained by numerous private and public agencies including, most notably, the ice age trail alliance, a nonprofit member and volunteerbased organization with 21 local chapters. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. Ice age trail history in wisconsin the ice age trail was the dream of ray zillmer, a milwaukee attorney, outdoorsman and hiker. Spanning 1,200 miles and situated entirely within wisconsin, the iat traces the border of the ice mass that defined the last ice age the wisconsin glaciation.
Ice age trail, kettle moraine state forest, wisconsin. The maximum ice extent occurred approximately 25,00021,000 years ago during the last glacial maximum, also known as the late wisconsin in north america. My ice age trail hike i hiked the ice age trail from august 3 to september 28, 20. In contrast to the smaller map excerpts in the ice age trail guidebook 2014, each map in this package is printed on an 8. I was definitely impressed with the condition of the trail. The ice age trail goes through several state and federal lands in wisconsin, including traveling many miles through county and private lands. The ice age trail atlas 2014 is a set of 105 color, shaded reliefstyle maps at 1. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is jump river 3 e which is approximately 12 miles away and has an elevation of 1,265 feet 100 feet lower than ice age trail.
Adventures hiking the ice age trail mcmanus, melanie radzicki on. It is feeling your lungs labor, your muscles tighten and relax, and all your senses bringing new information into your brain. On the first saturday of october, the local ice age volunteer chapter holds a parade of colors fall hike from the center, providing a shuttle and refreshments at the hikes end. Regardless of the scope of your next ice age trail trek, reading up on the following topics can help ensure your experience will be fun, safe and rewarding. The ice age trail is a walking path that traverses the state of wisconsin, highlighting the geological features resulting from the wisconsin glaciation. Some of the best evidence of this glacier is found in wisconsin such as the states many lakes, river valleys, gently rolling hills, and ridges. The trio all work for the ice age trail alliance, a nonprofit based in cross plains that builds, maintains and promotes the trail. The ice age trail is a nationally significant resource, and this appealing book paints a picture of the trail that is both engaging for a general audience and. You will receive a link to download the book pdf file as part of the. The ice age trail began with the idea of an ice age glacier national forest park to be established along the entire length of the moraines marking the edge of the last glacier in wisconsin. Information about the ice age national scenic trail, a national and state scenic trail located entirely within wisconsin. Along wisconsins ice age trail is a pictorial guide to the ice age trail captured in photographs by bart smith. In addition to the state parks and forests listed below from west to east along the trail, the ice age trail travels through many state wildlife and fishery areas and some state natural areas. He first envisioned a great national park 800 miles long, which would preserve the evidence of the great wisconsin glacier, and how our land was formed.
Ice age trail backcountry huts tend to book up quickly, especially in spring and summer, so plan in advance to secure a cabin ahead of a weekend or extended backpacking trip. The trail is administered by the national park service, and is constructed and maintained by private and public agencies including the ice age trail alliance, a nonprofit and membervolunteer based organization with 21 local chapters. Hike the ice age trail in the southern kettle moraine state forest in wisconsin with the sierra club. Hiking the ice age national scenic trail in all four seasons, smith has captured stunning images of the wisconsin landscape in along wisconsins ice age trail book. The essence of hiking is to leave life behind, if only for a few hours, and explore the world around you using only the power of your body. For your eversion, you will receive a link to download the book pdf file, 73 mb as part of. Trail construction and stewardship of the ice age national scenic trail summary the ice age trail alliance will conduct largescale volunteer events resulting in 3 new miles of sustainable trail and 5 additional miles substantively improved. What should i know about hiking the ice age national. After almost 40 years of working, i was scheduled to retire at the end of january 2016. It winds through 30 different wisconsin counties between interstate state park in st. Wisconsin ice age trail alliance american hiking society. The ice age trail is a designated national scenic trail that will run some 1,200 miles through wisconsin once completed. The most touching chapter features veterans and the emotional need to walk off the war before transitioning back to home life. A hike on the ice age trail can be as simple as an afterwork jaunt on a suburban segment or as challenging as a onceinalifetime thruhike.
While there are lots of activities in the vicinity neighborhoods, soccer games, festivals, biking paths, the ice age trail miraculously finds itself in solitude in various sections of this trail. The ice age trail is a national scenic trail stretching 1,200 miles 1,900 km in the state of wisconsin in the united states. The ice age trail alliance gives the name miler to anyone who completes the entire trail, all at once or in sections. The ice age trail is a national scenic trail stretching 1,200 miles 1,900 km in the state of. For more information such as trail conditions, recommended hikes or to order an ice age trail databook, guidebook. This is another outstanding section of ice age trail going right through the southwest side of madison into verona. The best way to answer those questions, and many more, is to consult the ice age trail guidebook and the ice age trail atlas.
Mammoths, saber tooth cats and cave lions roamed the earth. For your e version, you will receive a link to download the book pdf file, 73 mb as part of. Malzhan, kloberdanz and caliebe all did their hikes in summer. The ice age trail began in the 1950s as the dream of milwaukeean ray zillmer, who had a vision of a long, linear park winding through wisconsin along the glaciers terminal moraine. Hemlock creek segment, ice age trail travel wisconsin. One of only 11 national scenic trails, the ice age trail is a footpath of more than 1,000 miles through the wisconsin landscape and scenery. In thinking of some options, i thought back to my youth and an activity i took part in during my boy scout. Today, the ice age trail has over one million users yearly and is one of only eleven national scenic trails in the united states.
In contrast to the smaller map excerpts in the ice age trail guidebook 2014, each map in this book is printed on an 8. Marquette county ice age national scenic trail expansion. Chances are youve heard of the appalachian trail, the hiking path that runs 2179 miles 3507 kilometers from georgia to maine. Be sure to also check online trail map to read any trail conditions reports for the section you plan to hike. One of 11 trails in the nation designated by congress as a protected trail of particular natural beauty, the ice age national scenic trail is a work in progress that covers more than 1,100 miles. From there, the trail stretches 88 miles to the ice age interpretive center in interstate state park, the longest developed stretch so far. The ice age trail miles of adventure in wisconsin all of this planning and thinking about the appalachian trial somehow sidetracked my thoughts to a long distance trail in my home state wisconsin, the ice age trail. The overall trail is incomplete, with many miles of roadside walking between short segments of hiking trails. Below youll find some of our favorite day hikes from all parts of the ice age trail. Along wisconsin s ice age trail sherman, eric, hanson iii, andrew, smith, bart, obey, david on. Most of the ice age traila thousandmile work in progresstraces the edges of the states last glacier, which melted more than 10,000 years ago.
The nearly 1,200 mile ice age national scenic trail, established in 1980, traces the glaciers edge. This segment of the ice age trail crosses pigeon creek and passes through a small stand of evenage aspen and birch before reaching a prairie, which gives way to a stand of oldgrowth mixed hardwoods. The ice age national scenic trail is a 1,000 mile trail within the state boarders of wisconsin. They may be purchased online at our store, or inperson at the iata headquarters. The ice age trail area attractions city of merrill. Adventures on wisconsins ice age trail home facebook. All proceeds help build and maintain the ice age trail. Winter hikers should remember to pack crampons, as the rolling hills along the. Croix falls, polk county, near the wisconsinminnesota border. Both books are written and published by the ice age trail alliance. This original concept eventually led to the creation of the nine unit ice age national scientific reserve through federal legislation in 1964 and 1970.
Adventures hiking the ice age trail wisconsin public radio. The maps come threehole punched in a shrinkwrapped set. Ice age trail guidebook 2017 2019 edition ice age trail alliance on. The book is intended to be paired with ice age trail atlas maps. The blue spring lake segment is a hilly and densely forested section of of the ice age national trail.
Take a hike on the ice age trail wisconsin bed and. We talk to melanie mcmanus about her journey across wisconsin on the ice age trail. Following the ice age trail in a new book, thousandmiler. The expansion of the ice age trail in marquette county was predetermined, however, variations in both the planning and. The trail itself was well defined as i am sure this is a popular stretch, so it was well worn down. As always, i welcome this transition, but each time i do so with a small dose of seemingly incurable apprehension. Ice age national scenic trail madison 2020 all you. Thousandmiler weaves together practical advice, hiker profiles and cultural tales the author collected while setting a record for completing the more than 1,000mile ice age national scenic trail across wisconsin in 36 days. There are no fees or permits required to hike the ice age trail. Nearly 15,000 years ago, much of north america was buried under a large sheet of ice.
The climax viewing area is at a large beaver pond with an osprey nest and great blue heron rookery. Reuss, who in 1976 authored the book on the trail of the ice age. Ice age trail hartland, wi official website village of hartland. Croix falls and potawatomi state park in sturgeon bay. The ice age trail guidebook features more than 100 detailed. Perhaps youve hiked portions of it it has multiple access points and traverses a wide variety of landscapes.