The Statewide Ice Age Trail Is A Hike You Can Take From Nearly Any Corner Of Wisconsin

Thousand of years ago, the glaciers left a big mark on Wisconsin's landscape. Massive ice sheets sculpted the land, leaving behind large and unusual boulders, scores of elongated hills, and thousands of little lakes and rivers. An epic foot path takes hikers though this amazing landscape and it can be picked up from trailheads that are all over the Dairy State. It’s called the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, and it's a Wisconsin hike that is, quite literally, a step back in time. If you’re new to the trail, here’s what you need to know.

While Wisconsin is known for its long and cold winters, it’s downright balmy compared to the climate of long ago, About 15,000 years ago, a huge ice sheet blanketed the land that’s now Wisconsin. In those days, mammoths and saber tooth cats called North America home.

The 1,200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail roughly traces the southern edge of the glacier and the terrain is unique to a glaciated area.

The trail was first conceived by conservationist Ray Zillmer in the 1950s. He envisioned an "Ice Age National Park" of 500 miles starting at St. Croix Falls, going south through Madison, northeast through the Kettle Moraine areas ending near Sturgeon Bay.

In 1980, the vision came true. The trail is stitched together with segments that pass through city, county, and state-managed public lands. Many of the state’s popular parks have a segment of the trail passing through.

The trail can be picked up in numerous Wisconsin towns and cities. It travels through 30 of Wisconsin's 72 counties, from the Polk County in northwestern part of the state to the Green Bay shoreline in Door County in the east.

Because the trail is point to point, it lends itself to out and back hikes. It’s well marked with signed and yellow blazes. Look for them on the trees and posts that line the trail.

While some of the trail is well-developed, other segments are delightfully rustic. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather and follow basic trail safety precautions – some segments are very remote. A hike on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail can be as long or short as you want. While some people hike the whole route, even a short stroll will treat you to rewarding scenery and the chance to see some diverse Wisconsin wildlife.

Learn more about the Ice Age National Scenic Trail on the National Park Service website. If you love epic hikes (and who doesn't?), here are some more incredible Wisconsin trails that you’ll want to explore. They will keep you busy all year!