Members-Only Event: Spend a Morning with the Birds!

Join the Ice Age Trail Alliance at Tallgrass Restoration Prairie in Milton for a unique opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna you find on the Trail.

  • Enjoy complimentary pastries, coffee, and juice
  • See birds of prey up close during a Hoo’s Woods presentation
  • Go on a guided prairie hike—learn about plants, restoration activities, and the important role prairies have in nature.

$10/adult, Free for kids 16 and under.

Not a member? Donate to become a member, today! Learn more about becoming a member.

 

 

 

Please bring lawn chairs to sit in. However, due the nature of this event, leave your pets at home.

Location Details:

Tallgrass Restoration, LLC
3129 East County Road N
Milton, WI 5356

Schedule of Events:

10:00 a.m.: Pastries, coffee, juice
10:15 a.m.: Guided Prairie Walk
11:00 a.m.: Birds of Prey presentation by Hoo’s Woods
12:15 p.m.: Guided Prairie Walk

Make a day of it: Since you’re nearby, make plans to visit Milton—an Ice Age Trail Community. The Trail runs through town and passes the historic Milton House Museum.

 

Fontana’s Fall Color Run – Lodi Valley Chapter

Join Fontana Sports and the Lodi Valley Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance for a great morning on the Gibraltar Rock Segment of the Ice Age Trail.

Toe the line with Ice Age Trail enthusiasts and enjoy glorious fall color along one of the Trail’s most scenic segments.

DATE: Saturday, October 8,

TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Start/Finish Line and Packet Pick-Up: Ferry Wayside Park, 12499 State Road 113, Lodi, WI 53555

Choose from three distances: 

2-Mile Fun-Run/Walk
4-Mile Run/Walk
8-Mile Run

No matter your age or ability, we’ve got an event for you!

This is not a timed event. There will be a clock at the start/finish if you’d like to track your time.

This is a good old-fashioned trail run on a beautiful (but challenging) segment of the Ice Age Trail. Enjoy amazing views of Lake Wisconsin from the top of the bluffs. Finish in the valley right next to the Merrimac Ferry Landing.

View Course Map, here. (The course will be well-marked for each distance.)

Your registration includes:

  • A $20 donation to the Lodi Valley Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance
  • FREE swag for the first 100 registrants
  • Race bib, aid stations, a drink (water, sports drink, or apple cider)
  • Seasonal snacks (apples, pumpkin muffins, cookies, etc.)

Event Schedule – Saturday, October 8:

8:00-8:45 a.m.: Race Day Packet Pick Up (Start/Finish line: Ferry Wayside Park, 12499 State Road 113, Lodi, WI 53555)
9:00 a.m.: 8-Mile Run Start
9:05 a.m.: 4-Mile Run/Walk Start
9:10-10:00 a.m.: 2-Mile Run/Walk Start
11:00 a.m.: Awards (overall Male and Female finishers of the 4-mile and 8-mile runs) and 25+ Prize Drawings (must be present to receive prizes)

We will be hanging out outside after the races end so please bring warm clothes so you are comfortable!

 

 

National Trails Day: Family Hike Along the Greenwood Segment – Waushara County Chapter

An Adventure is Meant to be Shared!

Lace up your hiking boots and gather your family and friends. Join fellow hikers, in celebration of National Trails Day, for a hike along the Greenwood Segment as it travels through the Greenwood State Wildlife Area.

The Hike:

Meander along the rolling terrain of the Greenwood Segment through savanna, grasslands, and prairie to the Pine Tree Point. From there, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of an open prairie edged by oak savanna, while relaxing on a beautifully crafted log bench.

Event Details:

Bring the whole family and enjoy this free, self-guided hike. Walk at your own pace or as a group, including our four-legged friends (please keep your dogs leashed). Participants may use this hike’s mileage toward their Walk-the-Waush goal. In case of inclement weather, the hike will be canceled. All participants will receive a 2022 National Park Service Bandana, while supplies last.

What to Bring:

Hiking boots are ideal although tennis shoes can work, too. Dress in layers to accommodate Wisconsin’s weather. Bring a filled water bottle, insect repellant, and a lawn chair for relaxing in after the hike.

Directions:

We’ll meet at the Greenwood Segment parking lot located on Brown Deer Court. From County Road C, take County Road GG to the first right which is Brown Deer Court. Follow the yellow Ice Age Trail Event signs.  Google Map Directions hereTrailhead in Hiker Resource Map here.

Questions?

Contact: Jenny Addis, Chapter Coordinator, (call: 715-802-3456, email: addisjenny@yahoo.com)

This event is generously sponsored by:

 

National Trails Day Hike – Washington/Oz Co Chapter

Pike Lake Segment

Please join us as we partner with the Friends of Pike Lake for their Discovery Day event.  As part of that event, and to celebrate National Trails Day, we will offer a guided hike on the Pike Lake Segment of the Ice Age Trail.  As we hike the IAT and other trails in the park, we see glacial features and climb a large glacial kame (Powder Hill).

No Wisconsin state park sticker is required, as this is the DNR’s Free Fun Weekend.

LOCATION: Beach Parking Lot, Pike Lake Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest, east of Hartford. Click here for driving directions. Watch for yellow “Ice Age Trail Event” signs.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: We will take the Ice Age Trail east from the beach parking lot entrance, making a quick side trip to climb the observation tower on top of Powder Hill.  We will return to the parking lot using the orange trail, which runs along the shore of Pike Lake.  Total hike distance will be approximately 3 miles.  (Participants can return on the green trail on their own to reduce the distance.)

WHAT TO BRING: Wear comfortable hiking boots and dress appropriately for the weather. Bring water and insect repellant.

HIKE LEADER: Mark Muellenbach

This event is generously sponsored by:

Waukesha/Milwaukee Co. Chapter – Tyke Hike: Hartland Segment

Photo by Christopher White

The Tyke Hike:

Join us on a family-friendly hike to explore Wisconsin’s own Ice Age National Scenic Trail on a paved trek along the Bark River! We will explore a tyke-sized portion of Waukesha County’s Hartland Segment. Families with children of all ages are encouraged to attend!

Tyke Hikes give kids the opportunity to explore, discover and participate in natural play. Specifically, they can cover up to 1.5 miles over the course of 1-2 hours. They last approximately 1-2 hours and can cover up to 1.5 miles. Tyke Hikes are led by Peter Dargatz, a forest kindergarten teacher and Ice Age Trail volunteer.

Tyke Hike Details:

This hike’s picture book is A Fall Ball For All by Jamie Swenson. We will start our hike at the beginning of the Hartland Segment trailhead. After reading this book, we will hike for approximately 30 minutes at a child-led pace and then return. There will be occasional stops for play and exploration –  stops at the playground are likely! Hikers should dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable footwear. Bring water.

Location:

The yellow Tyke Hike Signs will guide you to the meeting point at Hartland’s Centennial Park parking lot.

Contact Information:

Questions? Peter will answer them.

 

Get lost in the right direction with us!

 

Walla Hi Segment National Trails Day Hike – Lakeshore Chapter

The Hike:

Join us for a 2.3-mile (total) out-and-back hike along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail as it travels through the 160-acre Walla Hi County Park (Manitowoc County). The route offers both beauty and challenge as it meanders up and down through heavily forested oak and beech trees and around moss-covered erratics to Slab Hill.  Walla Hi is one of the northernmost examples of the high hummocky terrain found in the kettle moraine.

Event Details:

We expect the hike to take about 1.5 hours. Wear appropriate clothing, and bring water and mosquito repellent. Hikers should be aware of the logging operation in the park removing the dead Scotch pine and ash trees.

Location Details:

Walla Hi County Park. Meet in the lower parking lot by the bridge. The hike is 2.3 miles and will take about 1.5 hours. Atlas 91f, Walla Hi Segment

 

 

National Trails Day Hike – Rock County

Join us in hiking from the North Pavilion in Riverside Park to the rustic cabin in the Janesville School Outdoor Lab. We first hike the Devils Staircase Trail and on to the Arbor Ridge segment. 5.2 miles round trip with a stop at the cabin for snacks and drinks.

This event is generously sponsored by:

 

Trail Community Event: Light Up Cross Plains

Light Up Cross Plains 

Saturday, December 4 at Twenty Twenty Main (2020 Main Street, Cross Plains WI 53528)

Photo Cameron Gillie, Around Wisco.

The Cross Plains Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to the first ever Light Up Cross Plains event on Saturday, December 4  at Twenty Twenty Main (2020 Main Street, Cross Plains).

Join us for a guided hike at 3:00 pm. Look for the Ice Age Trail Alliance canopy tent.

The hike will be approximately 3-miles. We will explore part of the Cross Plains Segment to the north of Highway 14/Main Street.  Enjoy woodlands, the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s Andersen Preserve, a savanna restoration area, the Hickory Hill Conservation Park and of course, the lighting of the  tree at 4:45 pm.

Other activities include:

  • Deliciously Deebs cookie decoration and purchase from 2:30-4:00pm
  • Lighting of the Hickory Hill Tree at 4:45pm
  • Fire pits, hot chocolate and s’mores from 2:30 – 6:00 pm

For more information, visit the Cross Plains Chamber of Commerce Facebook event.

Tyke Hike – Waukesha/Milwaukee Co. Chapter

The Hike:

Join us on a Tyke Hike to explore Wisconsin’s own Ice Age National Scenic Trail! We will explore a tyke-sized portion of the Waterville Segment in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Families with children of all ages should attend!

These hikes give kids the opportunity to explore, discover and participate in natural play. Most hikes include a picture book story and educational materials as well as certificates for children. In addition, service opportunities may be included. They last approximately 1-2 hours and can cover up to 1.5 miles. Tyke Hikes are led by Peter Dargatz, a forest kindergarten teacher and Ice Age Trail volunteer.

Hike Details:

We will hike for approximately 45 minutes and then return. There will be occasional stops for play and exploration along the way. Hikers should dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes/hiking boots. Most importantly, bring water.

Location Details:

This hike will start out at the UW-Waukesha Fieldstation, W349 S1480 Waterville Rd, Oconomowoc, WI 53066.

Contact Information:

Questions? Peter will answer them for you.

 

 

 

“Get lost in the right direction” with us!

Fall Colors Hike and Potluck, Trade River Segment – Indianhead Chapter

Get a start on your Mammoth Hike Challenge miles with a scenic hike along a portion of the Trade River Segment. Enjoy a three-mile hike that traverses a serpentine boardwalk and meanders over and around bedrock. Stroll through a prairie and woods, and don’t miss a photo op next to a beautiful basalt rock dropped by the Superior Lobe of the last glaciation!

You’re invited to join the Indianhead Chapter for an end-of-the-season potluck.

Volunteer shuttles will take hikers back to their vehicles.

HIKE DETAILS:
Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024
Start Time: 2:00 p.m.
Distance: 3 miles
Hike Start: Trail Access and Parking off 280th Ave and 130th Street
End Point/Shuttles: 140th Street parking area

 

 

 

Recommendations:

  • Know your activity tolerance and respect that.
  • Dress for the weather: wear layers, a hat, etc.
  • Bring bug repellant, water, and a snack.
  • Bring a dish to pass for the potluck.

Note: Inclement weather will cancel the hike.

Questions? Please call hike leaders, Cheryl (715-371-0048) or Barb (715-410-8069)

 

Photo credit: Roberta Smith

Enhance Biodiversity Through Seed Collecting!

By Eva Ballering, Land Steward at the Ice Age Trail Alliance
Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Prairie, Sunset, Summer
A blooming prairie in summer: insects buzz from flower to flower, enriching themselves on sweet nectar. Thick leaves rustle loudly in the hot humid air. Purples and yellows blend together at the horizon. Photo by Eva Ballering.
Following the phenology of the season can be one of life’s greatest pleasures for prairie enthusiasts. With the late summer burst of color, in its final hurrah for the season, the majority of plants start to wind down and prepare for winter. Although this is a notable event, the prairie has been busy all season.  By the time the prairie is in full bloom, many species have already taken their turn to flower, attract pollinators, and produce seed.

Continue reading

Mammoth Beauty Celebration!

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Mammoth Steps, National Trails Day, Lodi Marsh Segment, Dane County
A mother and son enjoy a spring saunter on the Lodi Marsh Segment in Dane County. Photo by Joshua Fager.
Imaginehikers safely sauntering along the entire Ice Age National Scenic Trail from end to end in a single day!

Imagineif they photographed the best features of the Ice Age Trail along the way: the expansive views, tread unfurling ahead, and ephemerals peeking up from the forest floor.

Imaginea snapshot of the Ice Age Trail, in its entirety, as it looks on a single day!

This vision could become a reality with your help.

We have 120 Ice Age Trail segments waiting for you to enjoy, camera in hand and eyes finely-tuned for beauty, as part of our National Trails Day celebration on Saturday, June 6.

Continue reading

Spring’s Woodland Beauties

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Woodland flowers on the IAT, Refuge in uncertain times, COVID-19, pandemic
Hepatica blooms along the Gibraltar Rock Segment of the Ice Age Trail. Photo by Nazan Gillie.
It’s a pleasant surprise to find small, dainty wildflowers peeking up through rough, brown leaves scattered across the forest floor. Such delicate beauty after a stark, frozen winter. Their emergence is a less a lesson about timing and patience, than it is of hardiness. They barely wait for a thawing earth before they surface and each year, it seems, their hardiness is tested as they endure one last snowy lashing of winter.

As you turn your face to the sun and head out on a hike, be on the look out for these woodland beauties:

Continue reading

Give Forest Bathing a Try!

Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Forest Bathing, Shinrin-Yoku, Milwaukee River SEgment
Along the Milwaukee River Segment of the Ice Age Trail. Photo by Cameron Gillie.
The term “forest bathing” may bring up some odd images and a few questions, but in Japan, forest bathing, called “Shinrin-yoku” in Japanese, is a leisurely visit to a forest. Shinrin means “forest,” and yoku means “bath.” So Shinrin-yoku means bathing in the forest atmosphere, or taking in the forest through our senses. The aim of forest bathing is to slow down and let ourselves become immersed in the natural environment around us. Continue reading

Celebrate Spring with a Hike!

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Spring Hikes, Chapter-led hikes

Bring your tribe hiking on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.                                                         Photos by: Luke Kloberdanz, James Mills, Cameron Gillie

As the snow melts, trees bud out, and wildflowers begin adding a glimmer of color to the Trail, chapter-led hikes begin populating the Ice Age Trail Alliance calendar in earnest.

Continue reading

Be a Nature Princess … At Any Age!

Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Force of Nature, Trailtessa Retreats

Be Fanciful. Be a Force of Nature. Be a Nature Princess…at any age! Make a crown, dust off your boots, and come explore the wild kingdom on the Dunes Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Photo by Woodland Dunes Nature Center staff.

Be Adventurous. Do Princesses climb trees and get dirty? Absolutely. This program, inspired by the children’s book, “Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?”, is designed to be a royally good time, packed with opportunities to get out and get messy. Continue reading

Backpacking the Ice Age Trail

We’ve hit our group-size limit for this event. We hope you’ll join us next time!

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Join us for a 4-day backpacking trip in one of the most pristine sections of the Ice Age Trail – the Chequamegon National Forest. This outing is a collaboration of the Ice Age Trail Alliance and the Verona Ice Age Trail Community.

Trip Details

Dates: Monday, September 18th – Thursday, September 21, 2017 (departing at 7:30 a.m. from the Old County Road PB park & ride in Verona) Continue reading

Cross Plains Celebrates the Ice Age Trail

The Cross Plains Segment shows off its best summer look. Photo Credit: Lou Ann Novak

In 2017 the Village of Cross Plains became one of eight Ice Age Trail Communities. This designation is more than a sign on the highway and a ribbon cutting. It is an invitation to use the Ice Age National Scenic Trail to celebrate the local culture, history, landscape, and businesses.

This July 14 and 15 the Village, in collaboration with the Cross Plains Chamber of Commerce, and the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s Dane County Chapter, will be taking up the invitation to celebrate! Continue reading

Get Out & Give Back – May 20th & 21st

Trail Happenings!

Photo by Dave Caliebe

GET OUT: Hikes

Boost your happiness; immerse yourself in a healthy dose of nature (vitamin Green!).

Dane County Chapter, Cross Plains Segment: Birding Hike

Early spring mornings are the time to see and hear migrating and newly-arrived birds of the woodlands, savanna and prairie habitats along the loop in the highlands above Cross Plains. Bring binoculars; hike leader will help identify avian friends! Continue reading

Explore the Kettle Moraine

Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Parnell Segment Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest

Photo credit: B. Bednarek, Parnell Segment, view from Parnell Tower

Did you know, world famous glacial landscape features are within an easy drive from your front door?

This might not seem like such a big deal until you consider that walking across the high ridge of an esker, or peering down into a kettle lake is a bit like time travel, giving you a peek into how the landscape of Wisconsin was formed.

Conveniently, the almost 30,000 acres of the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest contains some of the most stellar glacial remnants of the last Ice Age. In fact, this region was formed as two tongue-shaped ice sheets collided, creating a valley of ice some 10,000 years ago. As these huge sheets of ice melted, the meltwater cascaded into crevasses carrying sand, gravel, and boulders, depositing them along the way. This is what shaped the rolling ridges and deep kettles – large crater-like depressions – that make up the topography of this beautiful forest. Continue reading

Explore a Trail Segment Near You!

Ice Age National Scenic Trail John Muir County Park

A trail flows through a sea of wildflowers in the John Muir County Park.
Photo credit: K. Mcgwin

Trails do not just magically appear in the woods or along a ridgeline for our hiking pleasure. It might seem like it as we take a stroll down a long, shaded path, with a glimpse of it unfolding ahead of us. Most of us don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how a trail is constructed or the dedicated hours of design and layout (about a 100 hours) involved for every mile of trail, not counting the hours dedicated to the actual building, mile per mile, of trail.

In fact, most of us have a limited knowledge of exactly how many miles of trails exist in our country, not thinking perhaps beyond the trails in our own county or state parks, or the few mountain trails we’ve hiked, in Colorado, perhaps. It turns out, according to the American Hiking Society, there are 200,000 miles of trail throughout the United States. Continue reading