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.
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 here. Trailhead in Hiker Resource Map here.
June 4, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Dunes Segment, Manitowoc County
Nature princesses use dip nets to catch snails, dragonfly larva, and other pond creatures. They meet frogs, toads and salamanders and learn what they sound like. Princesses stomp through puddles and follow yellow blazes. They will also enjoy a healthy snack and make a nature crown.
Woodland Dunes Nature Center, Two Rivers Cost: $5/child
Registration is now OPEN.
Contact Woodland Dunes directly to register: Jessica Johnsrud,[email protected],or call the Nature Center at 920-793-4007.
We love dogs, but we ask that you not bring them to Trailtessa events.
Trailtessa [treyl-tes-sah], noun: a woman or girl who gets out on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail to experience adventure, freedom and a new way to be. Trailtessa Retreats are events designed by women for women. Re-discover YOU with plenty of permission. Be any way you want to Be.
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.
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
Celebrate National Trails Day – Saturday, June 4 – with a family-friendly, great-for-all-ages Mammoth Fun-Run & Hikehosted by the Lodi Valley Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance and sponsored by AKHG. Enjoy the beautiful Lodi Marsh Segment as you run or hike to the Finish Line in Lodi, an Ice Age Trail Community!
Location:The event will START and END atDoctor’s Park (220 S. Main Street). A shuttle will take participants to the start along the Lodi Marsh Segment of the Ice Age Trail. Participants will run or hike their way back into Trail Community, Lodi, WI.
Event Check-In: All participants need to check in with event volunteers at Doctor’s Park prior to boarding the shuttle. Registration and Check-In begins at 8:00 a.m. The last shuttle to the trailhead will leave from the registration site at 8:40 a.m. (Please leave Fido at home. Dogs are not allowed on the shuttle bus. Thank you for understanding.)
Race start:The Fun-Run & Hikewill begin at 9 a.m.
Registration: Register online now. Day-of event registrations will also be accepted.
About the Event:
Expect:
A beautiful trail with lovely views.
Trail prizes.
Homemade treats.
Good times for all!
Come for the event and stay for the Lodi Sausage Company brat stand on Main Street, the Lodi Library portable climbing wall, and the Spring Street Market.
Donations: Donations to the Lodi Valley Chapter are encouraged to further corridor protection, trailbuilding, and trail maintenance.
Donate $25.00 and receive an Ice Age Trail bandana while supplies last!
This National Trails Day Event is generously sponsored by:
Come hike in the Southern Kettle Moraine on National Trails Day. The landscape changes form forests to open prairie over the 20 mile route. Free parking is available all day in all DNR parking lots. Shorter hikes are provided by volunteers that can shuttle you back to your car along the route. We stop at Olsen Cabin for a BYO lunch. The full day hike starts at the Rice Lake parking lot and ends at the Emma Carlin Trailhead.
Celebrate summer’s arrival with a hike! A National Trails Day hike on Saturday, June 4, offers the perfect opportunity to slow down and recharge before summer activities – graduations, weddings, festivals, yard work, and vacations – speed up the pace of life.
A mother and son enjoy a spring saunter on the Lodi Marsh Segment in Dane County. Photo by Joshua Fager.
Imagine…hikers safely sauntering along the entire Ice Age National Scenic Trail from end to end in a single day!
Imagine…if 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.
Imagine…a 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.
Join us for the Central Moraines Chapter’s inaugural Hike-A-Thon!
In celebration of National Trails Day (Saturday, June 8th, 2019), join hikers, friends, family, and colleagues to explore the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Marathon County and raise funds to build, maintain, and protect the Trail.
Participants can choose one of two hikes along the Ice Age Trail:
State Road 52 to County Road HH: 2.6 miles
Sportsman Drive to County Road HH: 5.7 miles
Supporting the Ice Age Trail
Our goal is to work together to raise more than $3,000 for the Central Moraines Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. We are asking all participants to make a tax-deductible gift or collect pledges of $20 or more (individuals) or $30 or more (families).
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.
Event Details
Shuttles and refreshments will be provided.
Participants should check in anytime between 9 and noon on the day of the event. Check-in headquarters will be at the Plover River Segment’s County Road HH parking lot (driving directions).
Event Sponsors
Thanks to these local businesses for supporting and sponsoring the 2019 Hike-A-Thon!
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.
Pets are welcome but must be on leash at all times.
Online Registration Is Now Closed. Please Register/Donate On-Site.
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!
Celebrate National Trails Day in Chippewa County. Appreciate the beauty of the North woods as trees and flowers unfurl in late-spring. This hike, led by members of the Chippewa Moraine County Chapter, starts at 9:00 a.m. and is about 4-miles in length. Plan to meet new friends, bring your own water, insect repellent, and to complete the hike by noon. (Chippewa Moraine County Chapter) Continue reading →
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 →
Splash along with Chaffee Creek as it ambles through a viaduct and then scamper up a hill into the meadows of the Chaffee Creek Segment (2.5 miles). Depending on how far you’d like to go, you have the option of hiking on the Mecan River Segment, too. This 7.5 mile segment offers outstanding views of the Mecan Springs where migratory and wetland birds congregate.
Event Details:
Besides a beautiful day outdoors, snacks will be provided by Fresh for Life Organics, Genie Metoyer and Russ Brown. Bring a water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, and a friend!
It’s hard to find a more scenic trail with it spectacular overlooks, mature forest, and the long meander along the shore of Picnic Lake, the highlights of this recently rebuilt and rerouted section.
Portage County, Emmons Creek Segment: Wildflower Hike (Portage County Chapter)
The Emmons Creek Segment highlights the charming Emmons Creek State Fishery Area and oak woodland and savanna areas. Continue reading →
We’ve joined forces with our neighboring chapter, Marquette County to commemorate National Trails Day. We will hike and explore the John Muir Segment of the Ice Age National Trail in Marquette County.
Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a little comradery with fellow hikers, prior to the hike, at the park shelter.
The hike will take a scenic route around Lake Ennis, approximately 1.7 miles. Depending on your pace, the hike could take an hour or less. Please feel free to start your hike on your own any time after 12pm and hike at your own pace.
The hike starts at the John Muir County Park (8 miles South of Montello on County Hwy F). Follow the Ice Age Trail Event signs.
WHO: Everyone! No experience is necessary. Groups and families are welcome.
WHERE: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
CHECK-IN LOCATION: West end of Library/Elm Park (900 Block of West Main Street)
PARKING: Metered Parking on Main Street; Non-Metered North of Main Street
HIKES:
Segment
Distance
(miles)
Hiking Difficulty
Lake Geneva to Chapin Road
3.5
Easy walking
Chapin Road to Williams Bay
3.5
Easy Walking
Williams Bay to Fontana
3.5
Moderate to rugged
Fontana to Shadow Lane
2.3
Easy with some hills
Shadow Lane to Linn Pier
2.9
Rugged with steep paths
Linn Pier to Big Foot State Park
3.3
Mostly easy – marshy in areas
Big Foot State Park to Lake Geneva
2
Challenging
How it works:
When you register (between 9 am and 10 am), you will be able to decide which portion of the trail you’d like to hike. Volunteers will be on hand to help shuttle you to and from the start and end points of segments.
Please bring your own snacks to supplement what volunteers will be providing. Please plan on bringing your own lunch. There will be a map with known public restroom facilities and eateries along the trail.
Join us on National Trails Day to explore the Lapham Peak segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
This hike offers beautiful views of woods and wetlands, as well as a variety of birds and wildlife. Two guided hike options will be offered: a moderate 4.5 mile hike to the observation tower and a 2 mile, family-friendly hike.
We will gather at the Evergreen Shelter.
Plan to wear sturdy hiking shoes/boots, bring water, and dress for the weather. Sunscreen and bug spray are recommended.
Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under the owner’s control at all times. No State Park sticker is required for National Trails Day.
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 →
St. Croix Falls is the “City of Trails” for good reason. Miles of city-limit trails wind through this ancient, glaciated valley on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and alongside the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.
Take the opportunity to celebrate National Trails Day through health, wellness and physical activity with four great running/hiking events on the trails of St. Croix Falls. Events include a 5K run/walk, a 10K trail run/hike, and a kids’ 1K trail run.
