Difficulty: Easy
Length: 3.5 miles /
5.6 km
Duration: 1-3 hours
Family Friendly
• Dog Friendly
Overview:
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.
The Waterville segment of the Ice Age trail is just north of the southern segment of the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit. Wildlife, flora, and fauna all abound as the trail winds, climbs, and dips it's way through this natural setting.
This complete and detailed guide covers the WAterville 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 20 points of interest for the trail, viewable via your browser at home, or on the fly trailside via your mobile phone.
Enjoy!
WisconsinGuide
Tips:
Trail Signage:
Yellow blazes, small rectangles painted or hung on trees or post along the trail, are the official trail blaze of the Ice Age Trail. Trailheads of sections certified by the National Park Service will include the "Woolly Mammoth Ice Age National Scenic Trail" rounded triangle sign.
Safety:
Always share your trip itinerary with family or friends before leaving for the back county.
Keep your itinerary private from strangers.
Carry a cell phone.
The trail and weather are always changing. Layering clothing is the best way to regulate your temperature during changing weather conditions and activity level such as climbing or descending bluffs. Be prepared with protective clothing for wet weather.
Be prepared by always carrying the appropriate gear: water, snacks, map, compass, matches, whistle, weather gear, and first aid gear. Your best tools are knowledge, experience, and common sense. Obtain and exercise them before venturing out.
Hunting is permitted in season in certain parts of the trail. Blaze orange and bright colors are required if in these areas in season.
Camping:
Camping vary greatly along the trail, from frequently and developed, to sparadic and undeveloped. Camping areas include: developed campgrounds, camping shelters, Walk-in campsites, and areas of dispersed camping in the back county.
