Portage County Chapter

PORTAGE AND WAUPACA COUNTIES
Features formed by several glacial advances during the late Wisconsin Glaciation dominate the landscape of eastern Portage County and all of Waupaca County. The Green Bay Lobe moved into the area from the east, with its furthest advance extending a few miles east of Stevens Point. Successive glacial advances often stopped short of previous ones, each leaving its own set of moraines. The Trail along the county border passes over several Elderon Moraines, deposited about 13,000 years ago. These moraines, like several others to the west, are narrow and non-continuous — broken by channels cut by westward torrents of glacial meltwater and pitted outwash.

A wide range of plant communities, including oak barrens, prairie and northern hardwood forest occur here. Hartman Creek State Park is a good place to camp, swim or use restrooms or other facilities. The Farmington Drumlins are a few miles north of the park. The Trail also passes through several state fishery areas.