Holy Hill Segment of the Ice Age Trail and Connecting Route to the Loew Lake Segment

Love fall colors, kettles, kames, and hilly glacial terrain in general? The Holy Hill Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) in Washington County, Wisconsin might just be the October walk your looking for. From the Loew Lake Segment the connecting route heads east along Emerald Drive and then north along Donegal Road with some peek-a-boo views of hte Holy Hill basilica between the trees. Along the connecting route I also saw turkeys, an eagle, and plenty of playful squirrels.


The Holy Hill Segment of the IAT leads up and down kames (conical glacial hills), past kettles (glacial depressions), through the grounds of the Holy Hill Shrine and beyond. The remarkable maples along the segment provide serene shade and remarkable fall color. The occasional open areas allows the opportunity to marvel at a full view of the seasonal changes and glacial terrain.

View of the Holy Hill Basilica from the connecting route between the
Loew Lake and Holy Hill Segments of the IAT.

Along the Holy Hill Segment of the IAT, I glimpsed an occasional peek at the Holy Hill Basilica between the trees, but found no nice views along the IAT. I caught my best views on the connecting route between Loew Lake and Holy Hill Segments of the IAT. With a sign for a "kame view" on a blue spur trail, I thought I'd be seeing the basilica, but the kame view offered no view of the basilica. However, I did enjoy huffing and puffing my way up to the the bench at the top and checking out a small shelter someone built at the summit.

Kame view at summit.

Along the Holy Hill Segment of the IAT.

Along the IAT on the Holy Hill Segment.

Thank you land-owners for allowing the trail through your property along the Holy Hill Segement of the IAT.

On trail - October 2017.

Picturesque farms - a common sight along the IAT.

Holy Hill Segment of the IAT.

Near the top of one of the many kames along the Holy Hill Segment of the IAT.

Hiking through the grounds of the Holy Hill Shrine.

Gorgeous maples along the IAT.

On the connecting route from the Loew Lake Segment to the Holy Hill Segment of the IAT.

Along the connecting route.

Someone shot up the road sign along the connecting route.

October sun on maples.

This is a busy and popular segment of the IAT relatively near the city. If it is solitude you are seeking, seek on. If you don't mind the social aspect of hiking near the city, then you will enjoy hiking the Holy Hill Segment of the IAT.

Map of the Holy Hill Segment of the IAT.

Map of the connecting route from the Loew Lake Segment to the Holy Hill Segment of the IAT.

That's all for now. Let's get outdoors and keep our wild places wild.

  

Trail Distance Covered- The Holy Hill Segment is 6.9 miles (11.1 km) one way, and the connecting route from the Lowe Lake to Holy Hill Segments is 1.2 miles (1.9 km).

Difficulty - Moderate and hilly.

Trail Conditions - The trail is well-blazed and highly used. Ran into a number of hikers a on the trail, 60°F (14°C).

Highlights -  Gorgeous maple trees, views of the Holy Hill basilica atop a 1,300+ foot kame, autumn colors.

    

Total Ice Age Trail Miles to Date - Total official trail distance completed to date - 306 miles (492 km).

Amenities - Parking at the Shannon Road parking area with a short blue-blazed spur trail leading to the IAT. Holy Hill shrine.

Location - Parked at Shannon Drive parking area in Erin, Wisconsin near Hartford.