When planning a hike on the Ice Age Trail, two of the most common questions are "Where should I go?" and "What will I find when I get there?" The best way to answer those questions, and many more, is to consult the Ice Age Trail Companion Guide and the Ice Age Trail Atlas.

The Ice Age Trail Companion Guide, written for thru, section and day hikers, gives you detailed descriptions of the entire thousand-mile Ice Age Trail. It clearly identifies connecting roads, trailhead access information and resupply, dining and lodging information in nearby towns.

Since the Companion Guide doesn't contain hiking maps, we highly recommend the Ice Age Trail Atlas. It includes 72 new color 1:48,000-scale maps of all existing Ice Age Trail segments, the locations of parking areas, toilets, campgrounds, shelters, dispersed camping areas, topography and more.

Both books are written and published by the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation. All proceeds help build and maintain the Ice Age Trail. To order, visit our online store.

Your best hikes begin with a little research and planning:

Weather — Be prepared for weather conditions. Local forecasts can be obtained from the National Weather Service.

Distance — How far do you plan to hike? Distance determines what type and how much clothing, food and supplies you will need.

Destination — If you aren't familiar with the area where you'll be hiking, refer to the Ice Age Trail Atlas and Companion Guide to get a lay of the land. Also check the Trail Updates and Conditions portion of our web site for current flooding or storm damage. You may also contact the IAPTF chapter coordinator in the area.

No matter how nice the Trail, it's tough to enjoy it if you're uncomfortable. Layering synthetic-fabric clothing is a good approach, especially on longer hikes where temperatures can vary quite a bit over the duration of the hike. Cotton clothing is less desirable because once it's wet, either from rain or perspiration, it stays wet much longer than synthetic material.

Rain gear is a good idea for medium length hikes (4 to 8 hours) and essential for long ones, such as multiple-day backpacking excursions. Rain gear can get a little pricey, so consider your hiking style — For shorter hikes and scattered showers, a $20 poncho will do the job.

Walkers and hikers have fierce loyalties when it comes to footwear. Although most segments of the Ice Age Trail are unpaved and over uneven terrain, hiking boots are not essential. Sturdy hiking shoes with good ankle support are often the best option, as they support the foot well without the weight of a high-top boot.

It can be a tough pill to swallow on a hot summer day, but if you will be hiking a segment that is not through wide-open forest, long pants are recommended. They keep your legs from getting scraped and/or itchy when walking through long grass. With pants tucked into socks and shirt tucked into pants, you'll also be better protected against ticks and mosquitoes.

The Ice Age Trail has a variety of signs marking its route, though the rule of thumb is "follow the yellow blazes.” Yellow blazes are the official IAT color blaze used to mark the Trail route. These are painted or plastic yellow 2- by 6-inch vertical rectangles placed on trees and posts along the Trail. In the remote IAT sections of the Northwoods, 4- by 7-inch diamond markers may be seen. These signs are being phased out.

• Blue blazes indicate a spur or access trail.
• White blazes indicate a loop trail.
• Red blazes mark the Timms Hill National Trail.

The IAT route in some state and county parks shares existing park trails and may have no blazes. Consult local park maps or the Ice Age Trail Atlas for these segments.

Other signs

9-inch rounded triangle “Woolly Mammoth Ice Age National Scenic Trail” signs found at trailheads indicate a segment certified by the National Park Service.

3.5-inch rounded triangle signs with the woolly mammoth are confirmation markers along the route, at road crossings and intersections with other trails. These also signify the segment as certified by the National Park Service.

Other 9-inch rounded triangle or square signs found along the route may include the previous National Park Service emblem, which is footprints marking the Trail route across an outline of Wisconsin. Square emblems that show Wisconsin and the Trail route against a yellow background are noncertified segments.

The Mobile Skills Crew Project Wooly Mammoth plaque can be found posted at each end of a Mobile Skills project site with the year of the project listed.

End of Section signs are 12-inch brown decals with white text placed on brown carsonite posts. They indicate directions and distance to the next off-road Trail section.

Temporary Road Connector signs are 8-inch blue and yellow signs with a black silhouette of a hiker and labeled “Ice Age Trail Temporary Connector.” They are posted along roadways and other noncertifiable routes connecting off-road Trail segments that are less than five miles apart.

Road Connector signs are 8-inch blue and yellow signs with a black silhouette of a hiker and labeled “Ice Age Trail Connector.” IAPTF, National Park Service and DNR post these along roadways or other noncertifiable off-road routes that are considered a permanent Trail route due to lack of other foreseeable Trail options.

When venturing to unfamiliar places, always use common sense and take precautions. It is best to not hike alone. Be prepared; carry a map, compass, appropriate weather gear, water, light, matches, first aid kit, signal whistle and food, even for day hikes. Other helpful tips:

• Leave an itinerary of your trip with family or friends.
• Stay in contact with home or friends on longer hikes. Let them know your location.
• Carry a cell phone, but realize it may not work in remote sections of the Trail.
• Avoid camping within a half-mile of road crossings.
• Do not tell strangers where you are headed or plan to camp.
• If you run into a suspicious person, consider moving on to another location.
• If you must hitchhike, avoid doing it alone. Be choosy; turn down rides or get out of the car if the situation does not seem right.
• Always trust your instincts.

If you are a victim of crime or witness a crime, report the incident to the police or local sheriff's department and notify the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation. Call 911 for emergencies.

Be prepared for natural dangers. Read and learn about backcountry travel and safety before you go. Knowledge, experience and common sense are your best tools. Hiking anywhere for any length, including day hikes, can expose you to dehydration, hypothermia, heat exhaustion, contaminated water, lightning, dangerous water crossings, rabies, insect-borne diseases and poison ivy. Bear attacks are rare. Wisconsin has only two venomous snakes: the eastern massasauga rattlesnake and the timber rattlesnake. Both are endangered and the likelihood of encountering one along the Trail is extremely rare.

Be vigilant when checking for ticks. Some ticks along the Ice Age Trail can transmit Lyme disease. For more information on Lyme disease, visit the Centers for Disease Control.

Camping

The Ice Age Trail Atlas shows locations of campgrounds, camping shelters, walk-in campsites, and dispersed camping areas. The Ice Age Trail Companion Guide lists campgrounds near each segment of Trail.

South of Langlade County, almost all camping near the Ice Age Trail is at developed campgrounds that must often be reserved ahead of time, especially on weekends between mid-May and mid-September. For Wisconsin DNR campsites, this can be done at www.reserveamerica.com; for privately owned campgrounds, call the numbers listed in the Ice Age Trail Companion Guide.

The exception to the above rule is the backpacking shelters along the Ice Age Trail in the Northern and Southern Kettle Moraine State Forests. These must be reserved ahead of time at www.reserveamerica.com.

Dispersed camping and developed walk-in campsites are available primarily on national and county forest lands on the northern segments of the Ice Age Trail (i.e., between Langlade and Polk counties).

Inns

Midwestern hospitality has always been a centerpiece of Wisconsin living, and the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation’s Inn-to-Inn Hiking Program lets you experience it firsthand. Click here for more information on the program.

Many public and private lands along the Ice Age Trail are open to hunting during the proper seasons. Only private landowners and their invited guests may hunt on private land.

During gun deer season, some segments of the Trail are closed. Traditional gun deer season runs nine days in late November. Special deer hunts have expanded to most of the year in some counties. When hiking on non-closed segments during gun deer hunting season, wear blaze-orange clothing and use caution.

For exact dates, hunting zones and other hunting-related information, contact the DNR at 608-266-2621 or visit http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/.

Dogs are not permitted on some parts of the Trail, including the Trail in the City of Janesville from May 15th to September 15th, all state nature trails, most beaches, state park picnic areas and buildings. If you choose to hike with your dog, be responsible. Keep your dog under control at all times. All state park trails and forests require dogs be on a leash, preferably one with a maximum length of eight feet. Do not allow your dog in water sources. Carry a water bowl. Bury your dog’s waste as you do your own. Bring plastic bags to pack it out in urban settings.

Pack animals and horses are not permitted on most segments of the Trail.

Those who seek solitude will find it on the Ice Age Trail. Thru-hikers hike the Trail entirely in one long journey, and they report meeting few other hikers along the way. The Trail goes through mixed forests, open prairies, marsh and wetland areas, along wide gravel rail-trails and established state park trails. It traverses farm fields, urban and residential areas, small communities and remote state and national forests. Proximity to town services can range from trailside to 20 miles away.

Planning Your Thru-hike

A long-distance section or thru-hike requires a great deal of preparation and organization. The IAPTF has a growing list of people who have completed a section or thru-hike of the Trail that you can contact.

Mail Drops

Many long-distance hikers use mail drops to send themselves supplies along the way. The Ice Age Trail Companion Guide lists towns close to the Trail with post offices and their zip codes, in each county section under the “town services” heading. The appendix also provides post office and town information.

Shuttles

Local IAPTF chapter volunteers welcome long-distance hikers and will assist with shuttling and other needs. Some civic groups also provide shuttles for a small donation. Contact the local chapter or the IAPTF for more information.

Starting a Thru-hike

The IAT’s eastern terminus is in Potawatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay. Sturgeon Bay has no bus, train or air service. Green Bay, 45 miles away, is the closest major city offering these services. Contact the Sturgeon Bay Visitors Center at (920) 743-3924 or www.sturgeonbay.org for information about shuttle service between Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay.

The western terminus is in Interstate State Park in St. Croix Falls. St. Croix Falls has no bus, train or airport service. Nearest services are in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, 45 miles away. Contact the Polk County Information Center at (800) 222-7655 or www.polkcountytourism.com for shuttle service between St. Croix Falls and Minneapolis/St. Paul.