Hiking the Connecting Route from the Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment to the New Hope-Iola Ski Hill Segment

Waupaca County will forever be known to me as a land where dogs chase hikers down the road. I started the connecting route between the Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment to the New Hope-Iola Ski Hill Segment after I parked in the DNR parking area on Gilman Road. From there I hiked south on Gurholt Road. 

Hiking the Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment of the Ice Age Trail

 

On a clear February morning, I parked at the Skunk and Foster Lakes State Natural Area along N. Foley Drive in Scandinavia, Wisconsin. I exhaled long, white streams into the frigid air, and zipped my down jacket all the way up to my chin. I pulled my hood up over my hat. It was time to begin my section hike of the Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT). 

Hiking the Waupaca River Segment of the Ice Age Trail

 

On the cold, snowless first morning of 2024, I hiked the Waupaca River Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT). I started at the State Highway 54 trailhead parking circle, hiking north and then west through a narrow corridor of trees around a farmer's field. When I arrived at Townline Road, I began walking north. I walked up a hill near Nelson's Tree Farm only to find police blocking the road. Due to the police presence, I began to head back towards the Highway 54 trailhead parking area.

Hiking the Ice Age Trail through Fond du Lac and Sheboygan Counties

If you love to hike up and down rolling hills and along the tops of wooded esker ridges, you will thoroughly enjoy the Fond du Lac and Sheboygan County portions of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT). This stretch consists of a delightful 30 trail miles through the Northern Kettle Moraine in Fond du Lac and Sheboygan Counties and only 10 road miles. The Kettle Moraine is known for its eskers and kames with kettles and small lakes. 

Hiking the Connecting Route between the Deerfield Segment and the Emmons Creek Segment of the Ice Age Trail

I set out on a crisp fall morning to walk the the connecting route between the Deerfield and Emmons Creek Segments of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT). With October colors popping and geese calling overhead, I left my bike at the terminus of the Deerfield Segment of the Ice Age Trail on County Road O and parked at Roberts Park in the Village of Wild Rose. Cold wind rustled the leaves as I began walking through Wild Rose. I enjoyed an outpouring of Halloween decorations and seeing wildroses still in bloom. 

Hiking the Forestville Segment of the Ice Age Trail

 

On a rainy October morning my husband and I hiked the Forestville Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT). The Forestville Segment follows the Ahnapee River along the multiuse Ahnapee State trail from the corner of State Highway 42 and County Highway H in Maplewood to Birch Road (County Highway S) in Algoma. This crushed limestone trail runs through Kewaunnee and Door Counties. Built on a transformed rails to trails railroad track bed, the segment is named for the Village of Forestville, with the Forestvivlle Dam County Park near its halfway point. 

The Connecting Route from the Kewaunee Segment to the Forestville Segment of the Ice Age Trail

To connect the Kewaunee River Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) to the Forestville Segment, I did not follow the recommended roadwalk in the Ice Age Trail Guidbook. The official IAT segments are connected by roadwalks, but the choice of which connecting route to take is optional. This means any on-foot method of connecing two segments is acceptable. 

Hiking the Kewaunee Segment of the Ice Age Trail

The Kewaunee River Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) follows a portion of the  crushed limestone Ahnapee StateTtrail along the Kewaunee River from Harold Ruckelberg Park in Casco Junction to Kewaunee. The multiuse Ahnapee State Trail is does not require the purchase of a trail pass. I hiked a portion of the Kewaunee River Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) on a cold winter day and returned on a warm May day to finish. 

Hiking the Emmons Creek Segment of the Ice Age Trail

Even on a wet, foggy morning in the October cold, a hike on the Ice Age Trail (IAT) is worth the dealing with the drive through the fog. I parked at the 2nd Avenue IAT trailhead parking area realizing the fog had delayed the already October-late first light of morning, and I had forgotten to pack a headlamp. I waited until first light made a faint outline of the trailhead, and began hiking into the cool fog. My shoes soaked through cold and wet and a glaze of water on my glasses blurred my vision before I had hiked more than a couple yards.

Hiking the Plover River Segment of the Ice Age Trail

The Plover River Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) offers a 5.9 mile (9.5 km) forested hike with manageable hills, swampy low lying areas filled with small boulders, and gorgeous views of the peaceful Plover River. Hiking this segment in late November offered my husband and me bug-free conditions in the swampy areas. That said, extra care is a must when hiking this segment during the snow season due to hard-packed ice and snow on boardwalks, rocks and slippery hills.

Hiking the Connecting Route between the Tisch Mills Segment and the Kewaunee Segment of the Ice Age Trail

Sometimes in life you find yourself thinking there's got to be a better way to do a thing. Preparing for this hike, I looked at the suggested 25.3 mile route between the Tisch Mills and Kewaunee Segments of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAG). Being that I am a section hiker, not a thru-hiker, no compelling reason exists to do the entire IAT and all of it's connecting routes in a manner that traverses purely east to west, or purely west to east.

Hiking the Connecting Route between the East Twin River Segment and the Tisch Mills Segment of the Ice Age Trail

To officially complete the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT), one must hike all trail segments and connect them by foot along connecting routes of one's choice. Last spring I finished the East Twin River and Tisch Mills Segments of the IAT, but not the road walk joining the two. Our family's summer canoe trips and camping adventures took center stage starting in May. This weekend, with an autumn chill in the air and bright maples leaves blowing across the driveaway, I felt that old urge calling me back to the IAT. 

Hiking the Sturgeon Bay Segment of the Ice Age Trail

The majority of the Sturgeon Bay Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) overlaps with the Ahnappee State Trail. Starting near the corner of County Road H and State Highway 42 in Maplewood, the trail heads northeast on a raised railway bed that has been converted to a multiuse trail. A swamp lines this raised railbed and is a good viewing spot for deer and water birds. This segment of the IAT is a favorite of mine.

Hiking the Tisch Mills Segment of the Ice Age Trail

 

A small brown sign on a hill overlooking County Highway B marks the southern terminus of the Tisch Mills Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic trail. On a windy April morning, I headed up the grassy hill from County Highway B onto the trail. I nearly missed the small trail sign, as it is on a hill up off the road and follows private property along the edge of a farm field. When you do this segment, keep your eyes open!

Hiking the Mishicot Segment and the East Twin River Segment of the Ice Age Trail

On a windy February morning, I hiked the Mishicot and East Twin River Segments of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) and the connecting route that links the segments. With piercing wind gust up to 39 miles per hour, I put on a balaclava and pulled a large rain jacket over my fleece as a wind shell. After cinching up the hood of the rain jacket around my balaclava, I began the hike.

Hiking the Connection Route between the Point Beach Segment and the Mishicot Segment of the Ice Age Trail

On a cold January morning I arrived in Mishicot planning to park at the Mishicot Village Park and begin hiking only to find the lot unplowed. Having difficulty seeing where the parking lot ended and the park greens started, I drove around Mishicot looking for a place to park off the snowy streets. Since it happened to be the weekend, I decided to park in a freshly plowed visitor's spot in front of the Mishicot Elementary School.

Hiking the Two Rivers Segment of the Ice Age Trail

On a crisp, sunny December morning, I hiked the Two Rivers Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) in Manitowoc County. This segment provides an easy 3 mile stroll through town with plenty to see and do along the way. The Two Rivers segment of the IAT passes through residential areas, the historic downtown, and along the waterfront passing historic sites, shops, restaurants, bars and views of scenic waterways.

The Dunes Segment of the Ice Age Trail

 

Want an easy fall hike along a wooded footpath near the amenities of a trail town? The Dunes Dunes Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) provides exactly that. The Dunes Segment is a fairly flat, short 2.7 miles (4.3 km). Starting from the Mariner's Trail, the Dunes Segment crosses Highway 42 (Memorial Drive) and heads towards the Aurora Medical Center. The IAT nearly circles the complex, then follows a footpath through the Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve. I enjoyed my time admiring the gold and red autumn colors along the Dunes Segment of the IAT on an idyllic, crisp fall day.

Hiking the Manitowoc Segment of the Ice Age Trail

The iconic Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) experience includes walks through picturesque trail towns. As a hiker fond of quiet places and solitude, I avoided the Manitowoc Segment for a time in favor of forested footpaths and road walks through the countryside. Finally, on a cold, clear October morning, I walked the 7.5 mile (km) Manitowoc Segment of the IAT. What a surprise! 

Hiking the Deerfield Segment of the Ice Age Trail

On a late September morning I hiked the Deerfield Segment of the Ice Age Trail (IAT) in Waushara County, Wisconsin. I parked in the sandy IAT trail head parking lot about 0.2 miles from the trailhead kiosk on Beechnut drive and took the white-blazed loop trail over to the IAT trailhead.