Ice Age Trail: Monches

Other guides in Ice Age Trail: Walk the Wauk

view the Ice Age Trail: Walk the Wauk guide bundle

Nearby Guides

Viewed 1118 times

(1 vote)

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2.7 miles / 4.3 km
Duration: 1-3 hours

Family Friendly • Dog Friendly

Download to Phone

View Large Map

View Photos

Overview: The Ice Age Trail travels through the hardwoods of the Carl Schurz forest, along the clear Oconomowoc River, and over a brook bubbling over tumbled boulders.

This complete and detailed guide covers the Monches segment of the Ice Age Trail and all it's access points, trailheads, parking, connecting trails, communities, parks, preserves, and facilities. This guide contains almost 10 points of interest for the trail, viewable via your browser at home, or on the fly trailside via your mobile phone.

The Ice Age Trail is a thousand-mile footpath highlighting the remnants left behind by glaciers during the last ice age over 12,000 years ago. Designated as a National Scenic Trail, the Ice Age trail follows the terminal moraine of the last glaciation throughout Wisconsin providing some of the world's best examples of glacial formations such as kettles, moraines, and drumlins.

Enjoy!

WisconsinGuide

Tips: Water

There is no on-trail water.

Parking

Parking is available at either trailhead.

Camping

There is no on-trail camping.

Points of Interest

map

Monches Trailhead

The Monches Segment start at the intersections of CTH-K and CTH-Q in Monches, WI. The trail enters the Carl Schurz Wood just west of the intersection, marked by a bench and large sign memorializing Carl Schurz and heads south.

On the opposite side of the intersection, the trail continues north on the Ice Age Trail:Loew Lake segment.

Parking is allowed south of the intersection in Waukesha County on CTH-E and a wide gravel shoulder accommodates a few cars. Parking is also available 0.5 miles east on the north side of CTH-Q.

The Monches segment enters the woods Photo

map

Trails Junction

Many side trails branch off in this area. The Ice Age Trail:Monches segment heads to the left to join the Oconomowoc River.

map

Oconomowoc River

The trail intersects the Oconomowoc River and follow it south. The trail does not cross the river here.

map

Bridge

An elaborate bridge and boardwalk system takes you across the Oconomowoc River.

Looking down river from the bridge Photo

map

Scenic brook

A bench overlooks a small bridge which crosses a small brook flowing over tumbled rocks and boulders.

map

Funk Road

The Ice Age Trail:Monches segments ends at Funk Road.

The trail continues east on Funk Road on the Ice Age Trail:Merton segment.

Across Funk Road, a short spur trail leads to the Monches/Merton trailhead.

map

Monches/Merton Trailhead Spur Trail

A short spur trail leads to the Monches trailhead, where you will find a small gravel parking lot off Funk Road.

map

Merton Segment

The Merton Segment leaves Funk Road and enters the woods.

map

Monches/Merton Trailhead

A small gravel parking area on the south side of Funk road makes up the Monches Trailhead. A short spur trail on the east side of the lot leads to the meeting of the Monches and Merton segments.