Photo by Stu Brandel
This hike was originally scheduled for Saturday, January 20, 2024.
The Hike:
Join the Ice Age Trail Alliance – Waukesha/ Milwaukee County Chapter and the Waukesha County Land Conservancy for a peaceful outing in nature with a guided hike at the stunning Hartland Marsh Preserve and the IAT’s John Muir Overlook loop trail. We’ll enjoy the winter wonderland and discover what makes this place so unique with IAT Hike Leader, Jeff Romagna, and Wisconsin Master Naturalist and Land Management Director, Helen Holtz.
Details:
This is an easy hike suitable for hikers of all ability levels. There is very little elevation gain on this route and the biggest challenge may be navigating snowy and/or icy conditions. All ages are welcome but ages 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Leashed dogs are welcome. Dress for the weather. If conditions are unsafe we will cancel. This event is free to the public and family friendly.
If you would like to join us afterwards, we’ll head to the Culver’s for some free custard – after all, we’re Wisconsinites and frozen custard (and maybe some cheese curds) is the perfect way to warm up!
Location:
We will meet at the Cottonwood Wayside.
Contact Information:
Email comments or questions to Jeff, one of your hike leaders.
Photo by Stu Brandel
THIS HIKE HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024.
The Hike:
Join the Ice Age Trail Alliance – Waukesha/ Milwaukee County Chapter and the Waukesha County Land Conservancy for a peaceful outing in nature with a guided hike at the stunning Hartland Marsh Preserve and the IAT’s John Muir Overlook loop trail. We’ll enjoy the winter wonderland and discover what makes this place so unique with IAT Hike Leader, Jeff Romagna, and Wisconsin Master Naturalist and Land Management Director, Helen Holtz.
Details:
This is an easy hike suitable for hikers of all ability levels. There is very little elevation gain on this route and the biggest challenge may be navigating snowy and/or icy conditions. All ages are welcome but ages 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Leashed dogs are welcome. Dress for the weather. If conditions are unsafe we will cancel. This event is free to the public and family friendly.
If you would like to join us afterwards, we’ll head to the Culver’s for some free custard – after all, we’re Wisconsinites and frozen custard (and maybe some cheese curds) is the perfect way to warm up!
Location:
We will meet at the Cottonwood Wayside.
Contact Information:
Email comments or questions to Jeff, one of your hike leaders.
Photo by Pat Witkowski
About:
The Waukesha/Milwaukee County County IATA Chapter is offering a series of Weekender Hikes. These hikes take place on one Saturday morning a month for the remainder of the year meeting at 10:00 a.m. Hike details will be available on the Chapter Calendar and on the Waukesha/Milwaukee IAT Chapter Facebook page. Notice! There is a topic/theme for each hike. All are welcome to bring information, stories, and trivia to share before, during, and/or after the hike.
The Hike:
Join us for a celebratory weekend hike on the Waterville Segment! We will do an out and back hike heading south to the brand new addition to the trail recently finished by volunteers. Our theme is the history of the Waterville Community.
Details:
This easy hike will be about 4 miles. Bring water and dress appropriately for the weather. We will cancel if weather or conditions are unsafe. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed and cleaned up after.
Location:
This final 2023 Weekender Hike will start at The UWM at Waukesha Field Station overflow parking area. Look for the IAT event sign as you approach the hike event.
Contact Information:
Questions or comments about our Weekender Hikes can be made through our Waukesha/Milwaukee IAT Chapter Facebook page or through our chapter email.
Photo by Tim Hahn
About:
The Waukesha/Milwaukee County County IATA Chapter is offering a series of Weekender Hikes. These hikes take place on one Saturday morning a month for the remainder of the year meeting at 10:00 a.m. Hike details will be available on the IATA Calendar and on the Waukesha/Milwaukee IAT Chapter Facebook page. Notice! There is a topic/theme for each hike. All are welcome to bring information, stories, and trivia to share before, during, and/or after the hike.
The Hike:
Join us for a weekend walk on the
Blue Spring Lake Segment in Jefferson County. We will hike a loop using the Bald Bluff Nature Trail to the Blue Springs Lake Segment to the Stone Elephant, then take the trail behind the Stone Elephant to the horse/snowmobile trail to reconnect with the Blue Springs and Bald Bluff trails to return to the parking lot. Our discussion theme is the History of Blue Spring Lake.
Details:
The hike will be about 4 miles, and of medium difficulty. There are some moderate hills so hiking poles will be helpful. Bring water and dress appropriately for the weather. We will cancel if weather or conditions are unsafe. For your safety during hunting season, wear blaze orange or other bright colors. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed and cleaned up after.
Location:
Look for the IAT event sign as you approach each hike event and park at the Bald Bluff Scenic Overlook parking lot. This parking lot will fit 12-15 cars parked smartly; roadside parking is available south of the lot (north of the lot says private property).
Contact Information:
Questions or comments can be made through our Waukesha/Milwaukee IAT Chapter Facebook page or through our chapter email.
The Presentation
Have you ever wanted to walk along the Ice Age Trail. Ever wonder how the Kettle Moraine was formed? Experience and enjoy Wisconsin’s own Ice Age National Scenic Trail!
The IAT is one of only eleven National Scenic Trails in the country, a 1,200 mile footpath found entirely within the state of Wisconsin. It traverses through some of the state’s most beautiful natural areas, including Walworth/Jefferson counties. Ancient glaciers carved the path through rocky terrain, opened prairies, kettle lakes, and peaceful forests. Today, hikers, backpackers and outdoor lovers of all ages step out on the Trail to unplug, relax, explore and enjoy all that nature has to offer.
The Presenters
Join Ice Age Trail Thousand-Miler Diana Matthews, and Ice Age Trail Alliance volunteer Mark Ormsby for this introductory presentation.
Details
Come learn about the IAT — its history and glacial features. Learn tips and tricks for spending time on the IAT. Hear about the wildly popular wildly popular October Mammoth Hike Challenge. Leave with plenty of resources to have a safe and successful journey. Whether hiking or sauntering, be inspired for adventures on the Trail!
Location
This is an in-person presentation at the Powers Memorial Library in Palmyra.
The Tyke Hike:
Join us on a family-friendly stroll along Wisconsin’s own Ice Age National Scenic Trail! We will explore a tyke-sized portion of the Delafield Segment which is adjacent to Cushing Memorial Park. This year, we will focus on Wisconsin-based picture book authors and Ice Age Trail Segments. Our tyke hike will begin after this month’s featured picture book, Boom! Boom! Boom! by Jamie Swenson. Families with children of all ages should attend!
These hikes give kids the opportunity to explore, discover and participate in natural play. 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:
We will hike for approximately 30 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:
This hike will start out at Cushing Memorial Park. Watch for yellow Tyke Hike signs to guide you the the meeting point.
Contact Information:
Questions? Peter will answer them for you.
“Get lost in the right direction” with us!
The Event:
Join the Waukesha/Milwaukee Co. Chapter for a celebration of National Trails Day®! We will meet at the Evergreen Shelter in Lapham Peak State Park. Register at the outreach table located in the picnic shelter near Evergreen Shelter which is located in the lower parking area. Admission to the park is free on June 3. All ages are welcome. 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. We hope to see you there to share one of our favorite trails with you!
Enter a free raffle for a stuffed Monty the Mammoth or an Ice Age Trail Mug! Enjoy a snack and possibly a cold can of non-alcoholic beer donated by the Athletic Brewing Company.
The American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® dedicates a day for public events focused on advocacy and trail service. It’s the perfect opportunity to give back to and celebrate the trails that bring people together.
Contact info:
Questions? Email: waukmkectychapter@iceagetrail.org
Photo by Samantha Koppelkam
The Hike:
Please join us as we hike the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail. This prairie segment is in the bed of the former Glacial Lake Scuppernong. The trail segment also weaves through the outcroppings of Brady’s Rocks, where a unique fern population is found growing out of cracks in the dolomite bedrock.
Details:
We will shuttle cars to the small parking lot at the Eagle Segment’s southern trailhead where we will begin our hike. We will hike north and east ~4 miles to the Hwy 67 Trailhead. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed and cleaned up after. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring water for the hike.
Note: We do not cancel hikes ahead of time due to weather predictions. If that morning we have a deluge, or lightning, Mark will send out an email canceling…if you are not sure, stay home.
Location:
We will meet at the Hwy 67 Trailhead south of Highway Z. We will leave some cars there and drive to the small parking (see above link) area along Hwy N near Eagle, Wisconsin where we will begin our hike.
Contact Information:
Dick Haas and Jeff Romagna help Mark Miner organize these hikes. Email comments or questions to Mark, your hike leader, and he will answer them for you.
Photo by Vicki Christianson
The Hike:
Please join us as we hike the western portion of the IAT’s Blue Spring Lake Segment. This up & down segment features panoramic views from the top of Bald Bluff, and the Stone Elephant, a massive granite erratic.
Details:
We will shuttle cars to the Bald Bluff Nature Trail parking lot where we will begin our hike. We will hike north and east ~3 ½ miles to the Horseriders Campground. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed and cleaned up after. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Hiking poles will be helpful. Bring water for the hike.
Note: We do not cancel hikes ahead of time due to weather predictions. If that morning we have a deluge, or lightning, Mark will send out an email canceling…if you are not sure, stay home.
Location:
We will meet at the Horseriders Campground, leave some cars there and drive to the Bald Bluff Nature Trail parking lot.
Contact Information:
Dick Haas and Jeff Romagna help Mark Miner organize these hikes. Email comments or questions to Mark, your hike leader, and he will answer them for you.
Photo by Diane Clauer-Hauser
This hike has been CANCELLED!
The Hike:
Please join us as we hike the Milwaukee River Segment in Fond du Lac County. Paralleling the Milwaukee River, this Ice Age Trail segment traverses the densely wooded hillsides of the Northern Kettle Moraine and follows an irregular hummocky sand and gravel ridge for most of its length.
Details:
We will shuttle cars to the New Fane Trailhead where we will begin our hike. We will hike approximately four miles from there to the Mauthe Lake Recreation Area. Additional hiking can be added at Mauthe Lake. Bring a lunch if you wish to picnic after the hike at Mauthe Lake. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed and cleaned up after. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring water for the hike.
Note: We do not cancel hikes ahead of time due to weather predictions. If that morning we have a deluge, or lightning, Mark will send out an email canceling… if you are not sure, stay home.
Location:
We will meet at the Mauthe Lake Recreation Area.
Contact Information:
Dick Haas and Jeff Romagna help Mark Miner organize these hikes. Email comments or questions to Mark, your hike leader, and he will answer them for you.
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!
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!
