March Hike on the Cross Plains and Table Bluff Segments of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Another sunny March day beckoning, I headed to Cross Plains for a walk on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. After so many months of overcast skies, March sun and geese honking overhead provide welcome signs spring will soon arrive. Today's hike covered the Cross Plains Segment, a finish up of the Table Bluff Segment, and the connecting route between the segments.





I parked behind the Ice Age Trail Alliance Headquarters. After stopping in to thank the folks there for all they do, I headed down the connecting route on Main Street (US Highway 14) and detoured around side streets to avoid the flurry of digging going on Main Street's sidewalks. From busy US Highway 14, I took County Road KP north, then Scheele Road west, to reach the Table Bluff Segment of the Ice Age Trail. After finishing Table Bluff, I backtracked to Cross Plains to hike the Cross Plains Segment of the Ice Age Trail.

Both segments offered spectacular views of the surrounding hills, although many of the views on the Cross Plains Segment are obscured by trees even in the winter. The steeper declines on these trail segments contained hard-packed ice, making my trekking poles and Yaktrax useful. These well-blazed trails were well trodden and easy to follow.

If you hike the Cross Plains Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, stop in to say hello to the staff at the Ice Age Trail Alliance headquarters on Main Street (US Highway 14) in Cross Plains. According to the Ice Age Trail Alliance website (2015), their mission is to "create, support, and protect a thousand-mile foot path tracing the ice age formations across Wisconsin -- the Ice Age National Scenic Trail." I can think of no finer purpose, and appreciate their dedication.

Table Bluff trail head.

View from Table Bluff Segment of the Ice Age Trail.

View from Table Bluff Segment of the Ice Age Trail.

Along the connecting route on US Highway 14.

View from Cross Plains Segment of the Ice Age Trail.

Cross Plains Segment of the Ice Age Trail.

The Cross Plains Segment leaves a wooded area between 2 homes on Lewis Street.

Ice Age Trail Alliance Headquarters, downtown Cross Plains.

Trail Conditions - Well groomed trail in Cross Plains. Areas of slippery hard-packed ice and snow on the steep portions of hills. Well-blazed and easy to follow. Sunny with starting of 23°F (-5°C).

Distance Covered Today - 9 miles (14.5 km).

Difficulty - Moderate due to a few hilly spots.

Location - Dane County in and near the Cross Plains. Parked behind the Ice Age Trail Alliance headquarters on US Highway 14 (Main Street).

Highlights - Views of the surrounding hills, the Ice Age Trail Alliance headquarters.

Total Official Ice Age Trail Miles Completed to Date - Total official Ice Age Trail distance completed 62.3 miles (99.6 km). Trail 34.5 miles (55.1 km), connecting route 27.8 miles (44.5 km).

Total Additional Backtracking Miles Completed - 57.2  miles (91.4 km). 

Concerns - The stretch of US Highway 14 without sidewalk is short, but contains fast moving heavy traffic and was not fun to walk. Be careful when crossing US Highway 14 (Main Street) in town. The steep downhill portions of both trail segments were covered with hard-packed ice and very slippery. Watch out for the plethora of dog droppings underfoot on the Cross Plains Segment of the Ice Age Trail.

to create, support and protect a thousand-mile footpath tracing Ice Age formations across Wisconsin — the Ice Age National Scenic Trail - See more at: http://www.iceagetrail.org/iata/mission-vision/#sthash.4U2uSYyT.dpuf

to create, support and protect a thousand-mile footpath tracing Ice Age formations across Wisconsin — the Ice Age National Scenic Trail - See more at: http://www.iceagetrail.org/iata/mission-vision/#sthash.4U2uSYyT.dpuf