Let’s gather under the moon for a candle lit hike with friends! The trail will be glowing with luminaries to guide you through nature. Headlamps optional; let the moon and candles guide you! There will be smoldering fires along the trail from crews that worked that week on the property. Come for the S’mores, stay for the good company.
Event details:
Friday, February 18th at 7:30 pm
Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather. If conditions are slick, wear proper footwear. This will be a leisurely stroll up to the “big bench”. A low key, family friendly walk. Watch for the yellow Ice Age Trail Event signs.
Location details:
We will meet at the Merrimac Ferry Wayside parking lot;
Ring in the holidays and join us for a hike with Santa! Let’s treat ourselves to a spectacular evening walking on the Ice Age Trail.
Sweet tooth required as we will have Hot Chocolate and Candy Canes! We will cross over the Rainbow Bridge, stroll through the prairie and small woods, and view the moon from the top of the Lodi golf course.
Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather. This will be a short (about a mile or more one way) low key, family friendly walk. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Join the LVC on Saturday, December 18 for a holiday Tyke Hike. We’ll take a walk to experience the Ice Age Trail in winter and then return to the parking area to enjoy cookies and cocoa….and a visit from Santa!
(Look for yellow Tyke Hike signs)
Location details:
We will meet Saturday at the Lodi High School Trailhead at 10:00 am.
Greetings Trail Friends and all you walkers, hikers, saunterers, runners, gawkers, and plodders.
We will be returning to Full Moon Hikes as we treat ourselves to a spectacular evening walking on the Ice Age Trail!
Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather. This will be a short (about a mile or more one way) low key, family friendly walk. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Scuppernong Trails include three color-coded loop trails ranging from just over 2 miles to 5 miles. The Scuppernong area provides convenient parking, water, and a vault toilet. The trails head through rolling hills of oak forests and pine plantations. After going in and out of several kettles we will eventually end up at a beautiful overlook.
Details:
We will hike the Ice Age Trail north to where it connects to the orange loop trail. At this point you will have an option to take one of several trails back to the parking area. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes/boots. Layers are helpful this time of year! Bring water for the hike.
Location:
This hike will start out at the Scuppernong Trails Parking Lot located on the north side of Hwy ZZ in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest. A state park vehicle sticker is required.
Contact Information:
These hikes are organized by Mark Miner with help from Dick Haas and Jeff Romagna. Email comments or questions to Mark, your hike leader, and he will answer them for you.
A mature maple forest is the setting for much of the Monches Segment. The approximately 25-acre Oconomowoc River Conservancy Park provides passive recreational activities such as walking, hiking, skiing, wildlife observation and bird watching. It has been developed through a partnership between the Town of Merton and the Tall Pines Conservancy.
Details:
Meet at the Ice Age Trail Parking Lot on Kilbourne Rd. (formerly Funk Rd) east of North Lake, WI. We will then hike the Monches Segment north to where we pick up the connector trail to the Oconomowoc River Conservancy Park. We will then hike the Conservancy Park and return to the parking area on Kilbourne Road. The hike will be between 3 and 4 miles long. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes/boots. Layers are helpful this time of year! Bring water for the hike.
Location:
This hike will start out at the Ice Age Trail Parking Lot on Kilbourne Rd. between Hartland and North Lake.
Contact Information:
Questions? Mark Miner, your hike leader, will answer them for you.
Greetings Trail Friends and all you walkers, hikers, saunterers, runners, gawkers, and plodders.
We will be returning to Full Moon Hikes as we treat ourselves to a spectacular evening walking on the Ice Age Trail!
Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather. This will be a short (about a mile or more one way) low key, family friendly walk. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Event details:
Wednesday, October 20th at 7:30 pm
Location details:
We will meet at the Riddle Road/Lodi-Springfield Road/Robertson Trailhead ;
This hilly segment features wooded moraines with towering oaks, and trail side kettles. Enjoy outstanding views of Rice and Whitewater lakes from atop a steep rise.
Details:
Meet at the Ice Age Trail parking lot on Hwy 12 near LaGrange. We will leave some cars there and drive to the Whitewater Lake Visitor Center of the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit. We will hike 5.5 miles from the Whitewater Lake Visitor Center back to the Hwy 12 lot. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes/boots. Layers are helpful this time of year! Bring water for the hike.
Greetings Trail Friends! Guides from the Lodi Chamber of Commerce and Lodi Valley Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance will escort you though beautiful parks, historical district and Main Street. Afterwards, enjoy time shopping and dining in Lodi before your next hike adventure. This will be a short low key, family friendly walk. Leashed well behaved dogs are welcome.
Greetings Trail Friends and all you walkers, hikers, saunterers, runners, gawkers, and plodders.
We will be returning to Full Moon Hikes as we treat ourselves to a spectacular evening walking on the Ice Age Trail!
Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather. This will be a short (about a mile or more one way) low key, family friendly walk. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Greetings Trail Friends and all you walkers, hikers, saunterers, runners, gawkers, and plodders.
We will be returning to Full Moon Hikes as we treat ourselves to a spectacular evening walking on the Ice Age Trail!
Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather. This will be a short (about a mile or more one way) low key, family friendly walk. Leashed dogs are welcome.
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.
Greetings Trail Friends and all you walkers, hikers, saunterers, runners, gawkers, and plodders.
We will be returning to Full Moon Hikes as we treat ourselves to a spectacular evening walking on the Ice Age Trail!
We will walk up to the mesic prairie for a good look at the sun setting over Devil’s Lake State Park to the west and the moon rising in the east.
Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather. This will be a short (about a mile or more one way), low key, family friendly walk…and there might even be birthday cake! Leashed dogs are welcome.
July’s full moon is known as the Buck Moon. July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month’s Moon was the Hay Moon or as some knucklehead might say, “Hey! Moon”.
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 Lapham Peak 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. Lapham Peak requires a State Parks sticker or a day use pass to park your vehicle.
Join us on a family-friendly hike to explore Wisconsin’s own Ice Age National Scenic Trail! 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 are short, slow-paced hikes. Specifically, they can cover up to 1.5 miles over the course of 1-2 hours. Kids explore, discover and participate in natural play on these hikes. In addition, service opportunities may be included. Peter Dargatz leads the Tyke Hike. He is a forest kindergarten teacher as well as an Ice Age Trail volunteer. He often includes a picture book story, educational materials and certificates for children.
Tyke Hike Details:
This hike will start out at the beginning of the Hartland Segment trailhead. We will hike for approximately 45 minutes and return. There will be occasional stops for play and exploration. Hikers should dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes/hiking boots. Bring water.
Location Details:
The yellow Tyke Hike Signs will guide you to the meeting point at Hartland’s Centennial Park parking lot.
The Hike: – CANCELLED – With the wet conditions, more rain possible, and little chance of significant drying, tonight’s Tyke Hike is canceled. Sorry for any inconvenience, but we hope to see you next Tuesday at 10AM at Centennial Park in Hartland.
Join us on a family-friendly hike to explore Wisconsin’s own Ice Age National Scenic Trail! We will explore a tyke-sized portion of the Merton Segment in Waukesha County. Families with children of all ages are encouraged to attend!
Tyke Hikes are short, slow-paced hikes. They last approximately 1-2 hours and can cover up to 1.5 miles. These hikes focus on exploration, discovery, service opportunities and natural play. Peter Dargatz, a forest kindergarten teacher and Ice Age Trail volunteer leads the Tyke Hike. He often includes a picture book story, educational materials and certificates for children.
Tyke Hike Details:
This hike will start out at the beginning of the Merton Segment trailhead. We will hike for approximately 45 minutes and return, occasionally stopping for play and exploration. Hikers should dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes/hiking boots. Bring water.
Bohn Lake Segment, Washara County. Photo by Dave Caliebe.
The weather is perfect: sunshine, a light breeze, blue sky. It’s ideal hiking conditions. However, our nation is in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic. What’s a responsible hiker and Ice Age Trail enthusiast to do?
Help Flatten the Curve:
Stay Local. Limit travel to within your community (or county). If you do not live near an Ice Age Trail segment, please enjoy your local county or city parks, or your own back yard.
Let Go. Set aside your Thousand-Miler goal, whether it was to section-hike segments, or to begin a long-distance, multi-day thru-hike.
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 →
The Hartman Creek Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Photo by Cameron Gillie.
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.”
~John Muir, environmentalist and author of Our National Parks, 1901
Mountains are hard to come by in Wisconsin. Yet, we have the excellent fortune of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail wending its way through the state. The Ice Age Trail provides us with the necessary wildness and opportunity to come home. A vigorous hike or leisurely walk on a favorite segment of this thousand-mile footpath lets us, the “tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized,” reacquaint ourselves with a vital source of well-being, nature. Continue reading →
A glowing moon suspended, a jewel in the sky. A shadowy landscape illuminated in pale light. With the rustle of grasses and wakeful, nocturnal creatures, full moon hikes offer a unique perspective of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
Join a chapter-led, Full Moon hike near you on March 7th, 2020!Continue reading →
There can be a lot of details to navigate when you hike the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin’s fall and winter seasons: hunting season dates, trail closures on private property, and public lands where the Trail is open and hunting is also allowed.
In recognition of National Public Lands Day, the Walworth/Jefferson County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance will sponsor a free 2-5-7-mile guided hike on September 28 as an introduction to Wisconsin’s 1200+ mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Roughly following the southernmost edge of the last glaciation, this narrow primitive trail travels through some of the most dramatic and varied terrain in the state.
Details:
Hike 2, 5, or 7 miles!
Two-mile or Seven-mile Hikers:
Meet at 9:00 am at the Esterly Road Ice Age Trail parking lot for a varied and scenic two-mile hike along the eskers, ending at Highway 12.
After a short break (with snacks and water), the two-mile hikers will be shuttled back to the starting point.
Those hiking seven miles will continue to the end point at the Oleson cabin where you will be shuttled back to your vehicle.
Five-mile Hikers:
Join us at the Highway 12 Ice Age Trail trailhead parking lot by 9:45 am to join those hiking on to the historic Oleson cabin.
This section of trail features dramatic long-range views, a lake, and colorful prairies — followed by challenging hills, a pine woods, and a series of ponds and springs.
Five-mile hikers and seven-mile hikers who parked at Esterly Road or Highway 12 will be driven back to their cars by chapter volunteers.
Snacks and water will be available both at the Highway 12 lot and at the Oleson cabin.
Family Hikes!
Guided exploration hikes for families with school-age children will leave from the cabin at 10:30, 11:30, and 12:30 to explore a wooded section of the Ice Age Trail about a mile in length. Long pants and sturdy shoes are strongly recommended.
The historic Oleson cabin will be open to visitors between 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. Parking is available along Duffin Road. (Insider’s tip: to avoid roof and hood damage, do not park under the walnut trees!)
Lake La Grange along the Blackhawk Segment offers a scenic moment along the 7-mile hike! Photo by Ellen Davis.
In celebration of National Trails Day, join hikers, friends, family, and colleagues on the Ice Age Trail to explore Dane County and raise funds to build, maintain, and protect the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
Participants can choose one of two hikes along the Ice Age Trail:
Prairie-to-Prairie Hike – 5 miles from Prairie Moraine County Park in Verona to Badger Prairie County Park in Verona
Hike-a-Thon – 20 miles from Brooklyn State Wildlife Area to Badger Prairie County Park in Verona
Supporting the Ice Age Trail
Over the last 7 years, the Hike-A-Thon has raised more than $30,000 for the Ice Age Trail Alliance and its Dane County Chapter.
In 2019, our goal is to work together to raise more than $6,000 for the Ice Age Trail Alliance. We are asking all participants to make a tax-deductible gift or collect pledges of $30 or more ($40 after May 24th).
Those who are not currently Alliance members who donate or raise $50 or more have the option to start a one-year Alliance membership.
To register yourself for the event or to make a gift in support of someone else, please follow the link at the bottom of this page.
The first 72 participants to register will receive a pair of Wigwam socks courtesy of Fontana Sports Specialties.
Event Details
Those participating in the 20-mile Hike-a-Thon will meet at 8 a.m. at Badger Prairie County Park, in the parking lot adjacent to Shelter #1. Park entrance is at 4654 Maple Grove Drive, Verona (driving directions). Buses will leave at 8:30 a.m. to take you to the start at the Brooklyn State Wildlife Area. Bring a lunch and at least 16 ounces of water. We will provide three (3) water stops with snacks every 3-5 miles. Porta-potties will be available along the route.
Those participating in the 5-mile Prairie-to-Prairie Hike will meet at 12:30 p.m. at Badger Prairie County Park, in the parking lot adjacent to Shelter #1. Park entrance is at 4654 Maple Grove Drive, Verona (driving directions). Buses will leave at 1 p.m. to take you to the start at Prairie Moraine County Park. Bring at least 16 ounces of water.
We anticipate that participants from both hikes will arrive at the finish line at Shelter #1 together starting around 3:30 p.m. There will be refreshments, snacks, and a celebration! Please bring a folding chair if you plan to stick around for the party.
Please Note
In the event of severe or threatening weather, we may need to cancel the Hike-a-Thon at the last minute for safety reasons. If this happens, we will be unable to refund donations. If the cancellation of the event is necessary due to weather, every effort will be made to contact all participants by email on May 31st.
We love dogs, but please leave yours at home for this event.
Thanks to these local businesses for supporting and sponsoring the 2019 Hike-A-Thon!
Beginning June 1 through August 19th, challenge yourself, family, friends, and co-workers to lace up their walking shoes and walk as many miles as you can in 80 days and explore Waushara County’s beautiful parks and trails. (Bonus: become eligible for awards and prizes!) (Waushara County Chapter) Continue reading →
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.
The Hike:
