@ @
@ @ @ @
@ @
@ @
Ice Age Trail
Dane and Green Counties
COLUMBIA
DANE
@
Lodi Marsh
Wildlife Area
Sauk
City
@
@ @ @ @
@ @ @ @ @
Lodi Marsh
Segment
(
/
12
39
%
Æ
@ @@
@
90
ÆP
ÿ
@
94
@ @
@
@
Dane and
Green
Counties
@
@
Indian Lake
Segment
@
78
Æ
%
§
¦
¨
§
¦
¨
§
¦
¨
113
@
@ @ @ @ @ @
19
Æ
%
@ @
Table Bluff
Segment
Ice Age Trail Alliance
www.iceagetrail.org
@ @ @ @ @
@
@
19
Æ
%
Indian Lake
County Park
@ @ @@
@
@
@
(
/
@
@
@ @ @
§
¦
¨
@ @@
94
@ @ @ @ @
@
@
12
@
@ @
@@
78
Æ
%
@
(
/(
/
14
Madison
Segment
il
12
18
Valley View
Segment
Verona
151
Verona
Segment
18
78
Æ
%
(
/
51
Prairie
Moraine
Park
@ @ @
151
18
(
/
Æ (
/
ÿ
PD
(
/(
/
(
/ (
/
12
Elver
Park
@ @
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Valley View
Preserve
@
dg
Ri
90
ÆS
ÿ
@ @ @ @ @
ary
Milit
39
@ @
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
@ @ @ @
Blue
Mounds
§
¦
¨
§
¦
¨
Madison
Shoveler
Sink
@
4
(
/
Cross Plains
Segment
@
Cross
Plains
151
51
%
Æ
14
(
/
(
/
113
@ @
@ @ @ @ @
PB
Æ
ÿ
69
Æ
%
%
Æ
138
92
Æ
%
Montrose
Segment
(
/
14
te T
ra il
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39
%
Æ
New Glarus
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Brooklyn
State
Wildlife
Area
Brooklyn
Wildlife
Segment
Brooklyn
59
Æ
%
92
Æ
%
B
GREEN
ROCK
Æ
ÿ
W
@
ad
Existing Ice Age Trail,
subject to change as it
evolves toward completion
S ta
69
Æ
%
@ @ @ @
DANE
GREEN
@
Belleville
@ @
@ @
Unofficial Connecting Route
(unmarked)
Monticello
Segment
(
/
14
County Boundary
%
Æ
104
Public or IATA Land
2
3
4
5
S tate Trail
River
Sugar
Albany
213
@
ÆF
ÿ
%
Æ
59
Æ
%
ÆA
ÿ
@
February 15, 2014
69
Æ
%
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
1
1 : 250,000 compilation scale
@ @
0
Albany
Segment
Monticello
@ @ @ @ @ @
Miles
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
@
Other Trail
@@
Table Bluff Segment
and Cross Plains Segment
(Atlas Map 65f)
Snapshot
Table Bluff Segment—2.5 miles: Table Bluff Rd. to Scheele Rd.
1.9 mile Connecting Route
Cross Plains Segment—2.8 miles: Hickory Hill St. to Bourbon Rd.
The Table Bluff Segment offers long ridgetop views and showcases the
results of some remarkable land stewardship efforts.
3 2
No reliable sources of water.
Dogs must be leashed.
The southern two-thirds of the segment crossing private land are closed
during gun deer season.
Two white-blazed loop trails and additional informal trails.
The diverse Cross Plains Segment highlights a Trail Town, the Ice Age
Trail Alliance headquarters and the surprisingly remote-feeling bluffs, prairies and
woodlands north of town. 4 2
other uses
At the public library, public pool and
IATA headquarters.
From Black Earth Creek.
At Legion Park, 1 block west of the
Trail on American Legion Dr.
At Legion Park and town pool.
Portions follow town streets and
sidewalks.
Additional informal trail in Hickory Hill
Conservation Area.
other uses
Portions of this segment may be suitable for those using wheelchairs or
similar devices.
Trail Access and Parking
Table Bluff Rd.: From the Ice Age Trail Alliance headquarters in Cross Plains, take USH-14 west 1.2
mi At CTH-KP turn right and go north 2.4 mi. At Table Bluff Rd. turn left and go west 0.3 mi to the
parking area on the south side of the road.
Bourbon Rd.: From west of Madison on the Beltline Highway (USH-12/14) near Middleton, take Exit
251 for University Ave. (USH-14) and go west on University Ave. (USH-14) for 7.2 mi to Cross Plains.
At CTH-P turn left and go south across Black Earth Creek then immediately turn right at Bourbon Rd.
The segment begins a short distance west where a paved path intersects the road. Roadside parking.
Additional Parking: (i) Roadside parking at Hickory Hill St. near the gated access road for Hickory
Hill Conservation Park. (ii) Roadside parking at Lewis St. Trail access. (iii) Parking area at Village of
Cross Plains Municipal Park pool at 2106 Lewis St. (behind the library). (iv) Parking area behind IATA
headquarters (DA26), 2110 Main St.
Note: USH-14 will be rebuilt through Cross Plains in 2015. Hikers should expect delays when accessing the Trail in this area during construction.
The Hike
I
Located in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin, the Table Bluff Segment traverses restored prairie as well as steep, rocky slopes. There is approximately 200 feet of total vertical relief and several vistas from the heads of two valleys
216
Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014
i
gf
in
r
Sp
P
Thinnes St.
Ch
s
wi
Le
ur
St ch
.
Scherbel
Rd.
and two prominent
4.8-mi CR to Indian Lake
goat prairies that
Rd.
Bluff P
Table
Segment. East on Table
offer great views of
DA23
Bluff Rd., north on CTH-KP,
KP
north on Pine Rd., east on
the Driftless Area.
Spring valley Rd., north on
Meltwater from the
Schumann Rd., north on
DA22
CTH-K, east on STH-19.
Laurentide ice sheet
poured
through
0
½
1
a preglacial valley
miles
depositing sand and
gravel and partially
KP
filling the lower valFestge
ley floors, which
County
Andersen
Park
now hold extensive
Preserve
wetlands and a tribu- P
tary stream of Black
Scheele Rd.
Earth Creek, a Class
14
DA14
k
I trout stream. The
c
a
l
B
area is home to variCr
Earth
ee
DA26
Cross
Bourbon Rd
k
ous types of wetland, 8.0-mi CR to
.
KP
Valley View
Plains
prairie oak opening
Segment
IATA
office
and forest plants.
From the Trail
access on Table Bluff Rd., the segment heads south across a 73-acre IATA-owned
property. After passing through a prairie and then an old orchard Parea hikers will
come to an intersection (DA23) with a white-blazed loop trail that offers a 0.5mile “bubble” to the west of the main Ice Age Trail route. The loop trail traverses
Stagecoach
up a ridge through a mixed hardwood forest containing a grove of several
largeRd.
oak trees and offers views of the valley floor to the east.
Back on the main segment, from its initial encounter with the white-blazed
loop trail the segment continues south across a large prairie restored to its natural
state. A thriving population of the rare pale purple coneflower can be found here.
Hikers will find this area to be a wildflower treasure trove—shooting star, rattlesnake master, stiff gentian, hoary vervain, pasque flower, prairie smoke, leadplant,
bird’s-foot violet, compass plant, harebell, cream gentian and cream baptisia have
all been identified here. The segment then enters a wooded area and dips down
onto a valley floor. After crossing an open area the segment makes its second connection with the white-blazed loop trail (DA22).
The remainder of the segment traverses the privately owned Swamplovers
property. From the valley floor, the segment climbs up a ridge and traverses
nearly a mile of woodlands of oak and hickory before entering a prairie/oak
savanna area that is being faithfully restored to its native state by owners of the
Swamplovers property. This area, including a second white-blazed loop, features
dramatic rock outcroppings of Ordovician dolomite and views southwest to the
Blue Mounds. At the top of the bluff area is a shelter with picnic tables that is
available to hikers when not already in use by the property owners. From the top
of the bluff the segment drops precipitously on a series of switchbacks to the seg.
St
Dane County
217
Bl
ac
k
No
rth
Birch
quarry
ment’s endpoint on the Swamplovers property access road.
To reach the Cross Plains Segment, hikers should follow the 1.9-mile connecting
route by heading south on the access road to its intersection with gravel Scheele Road.
From there, hikers should turn left and head east on Scheele Road, turn right and head
south on CTH-KP, turn left and head west on USH-14 (Main Street in Cross Plains),
turn left and head north on Hickory Street which jogs slightly to the right, then turn left
and head north on Hickory Hill Street.
The Cross Plains Segment shows off the village of Cross Plains, which is situated along Black Earth Creek in a valley between tall bluffs. It sits at the boundary
of the most recent glaciation to the east and north and the Driftless Area to the
west and south. Meltwater from the receding glacier eroded and carried the terminal moraine downstream from the site of the village. Cross Plains is named for the
intersection of two early roads: the military road from Fort Crawford (Prairie du
Chien) to Fort Howard (Green Bay) and the lowland road from Arena to Madison.
The segment starts at the end of Hickory Hill Street, where a gate crosses an
access road that leads north uphill into to the Hickory Hill Conservation Park.
Departing from the access road, the segment enters a former agricultural field
being restored to native prairie which shows great variations and color over the
seasons. Shortly after entering the former agricultural field, hikers will encounter
signage for a “cut-off ” path that heads east. To continue with the full segment
hikers should veer northwest at this junction. The segment continues across the
former agricultural field and soon enters a woodland that features not only native
flora such as jack-in-the-pulpit, shooting stars and wild ginger but also the glacial
drainage network known as “Three Gorges.”
The segment exits the forest and once more crosses the former agricultural
field. After passing by the cut-off path, hikers will continue southeast through
an oak savanna in the midst of a restoration. The segment continues southeast,
gaining elevation up the side of a dolomite ridge. At the head of the ridge hikers
will find a Leopold bench and views to the south and east displaying what conservationist Increase Lapham described as the “Great Dividing Ridge.” On the
distant ridge to the south hikers may see a lone majestic white pine, marking the
approximate location of a future Ice Age Trail segment through the Cross Plains
National Scientific Reserve. The Blue Mounds are also clearly visible to the west.
At this point the segment drops steeply 150 feet down a series of switchbacks
to emerge at Lewis Street (DA14) between two houses. From here, the segment
continues on sidewalks and roads through residential Cross Plains.
The segment heads east 0.2 miles on Lewis Street to its intersection with Caesar Street, where hikers should turn right and head southwest on the east side of
Caesar Street, passing the Rosemary Garfoot Public Library and Village of Cross
Plains Municipal Park and Pool.
At the intersection of Caesar Street and Julius Street signage directs hikers to continue southwest on Caesar Street but first to cross to the opposite (west) side of the
street.
The segment reaches busy Main St. (USH-14), which hikers should cross cautiously and then turn left to head east down Main Street.
Hikers will soon encounter the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s headquarters building
(DA26) on the south side of the road at 2110 Main Street. The headquarters building
218
Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014
is open 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays except in the case of special events. Though not a
true “Visitor Center” hikers are urged to stop in—IATA staff love to chat with Trail
users! Restrooms and drinking water are available for all, as are shower and laundry
facilities for thru-hikers. Ice Age Trail merchandise can be purchased here as well.
The segment leaves Main Street and turns southwest to cross the IATA headquarters property, which features a rain garden, lawn with native prairie plants
and boulders along the segment route bearing the names of the IATA’s 21 volunteer chapters and the organization’s key partners—the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources and the National Park Service.
The segment exits the IATA headquarters property and crosses Black Earth
Creek on a bridge then heads east on a paved path through H.M. Zander Community Nature Park to the segment’s terminus on Bourbon Road.
Mobile Skills Crew project site, 2004, 2006, 2009
Points of Interest
Cross Plains National Scientific Reserve and Future National Park Service Interpretive Area: From the
IATA Headquarters in Cross Plains: Take Main St. (USH-14) east 2.6 mi. At Cleveland Rd. turn right and
go south 0.9 mi. At Old Sauk Pass Rd. turn right and go west 0.5 mi to entrance gate. Roadside parking.
Do not block the gate with vehicles. From west of Madison on the Beltline Highway (USH-12/14) near
Middleton: Take Old Sauk Rd. exit and go west 4.0 mi. At Timber Ln. turn right and go north 0.5 mi. At a
bend in the road, continue west on Old Sauk Pass Rd. 0.7 mi. Additional parking: Shoveler Sink, a U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Area, on Timber Ln.
This area features a complex of lands owned by Dane County, the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources and the National Park Service and includes the Cross Plains Unit of Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, one of nine such units. The area represents a world-renowned example of the interface
of glaciated and unglaciated terrain. The relationship between moraine and glaciated landscapes on
one side of the moraine and unglaciated bedrock landscapes on the other side is strikingly exhibited.
Rugged ridges of the moraine formed during the Wisconsin Glaciation meet the eroded Driftless Area
to the south and west. Oak savanna, oak forest, wetlands and prairies cover the area.
Unmarked hiking trails penetrate both the DNR land north of Old Sauk Pass and the NPS-owned
land south of the road. Dogs are welcome on leash. There are no public restrooms or other visitor
facilities available at this time. The National Park Service is in the process of developing a general
management plan for the area. This area will be home to a segment of the Ice Age Trail in the future.
Details are available at parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=21764.
Area Services
Cross Plains: Restaurants, grocery store, convenience store, general shopping, lodging, library, medical care. On Trail. Most services on Main St. (USH-14). Meals at Crossroads Coffeehouse (2020 Main
St., 608-798-2080, crossroadscoffeehouse.net) and Coach’s Club (1200 Main St., 608-413-0400,
coachsclub.com). Area info available from the Cross Plains Chamber of Commerce (608-843-3166,
crossplainschamber.net).
Mendota County Park: Camping. From the IATA headquarters go east 7.0 mi on USH-14. Pass under
the Beltline Highway and continue east on University Ave. for 1.0 mi. At Branch St. turn left and go
north 0.6 mi. At CTH-M/Century Ave. turn right and go east 1.3 mi to the park entrance (5133 CTH-M,
Middleton, 608-224-3730, reservedane.com).
Cedar Hills Campground: Camping. From the IATA headquarters go ~8 mi west on USH-14. At STH-78
go 3.0 mi north to the campground entrance (seasonal; 6406 STH-78, Mazomanie, 608-795-2606).
Middleton: See Valley View Segment and Madison Segment, p. 220. From the IATA headquarters on
USH-14 go east ~8 mi. Also see Trail Access and Parking directions, above.
Madison: See Valley View Segment and Madison Segment, p. 220. From the IATA headquarters on
USH-14 go east ~13 mi.
Dane County219
Must-Have Ice Age Trail Books!
The Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014 features more than 100 detailed segment-by-segment descriptions and
maps to help you connect with the thousand-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Written for those seeking a
wide range of adventures on the Ice Age Trail, the softcover Guidebook includes these items and more:
-
A detailed written description of each segment along the Ice Age Trail’s thousand-mile route.
A helpful map excerpt for each segment from the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s popular Ice Age Trail Atlas.
Ratings for each segment on a variety of criteria to help hikers find the Ice Age Trail excursion that’s right
for them.
The Ice Age Trail Atlas 2014 is a set of 105 color, shaded relief–style maps at 1:48,000 scale. In contrast to the
smaller map excerpts in the Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014, each map in this package is printed on an 8.5” x 11”
sheet and includes not just the Ice Age Trail route but also a wider snapshot of the area around the Trail.
Both books were written and published by the Ice Age Trail Alliance. All proceeds for each book help build and
maintain the Ice Age Trail. Please call the IATA at (800) 227-0046 with any questions.
To order, visit www.iceagetrail.org or complete the order form below.
Name:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
Email:
Item
Quantity
Price
Guidebook
x $24 (members) or $30 (nonmembers) =
Atlas
x $18 (M) or $22.50 (NM) =
Shipping
$6 for one book, $1.50 extra for each additional book =
Sales Tax
5.5% for orders shipped to a Wisconsin address =
TOTAL =
I have enclosed a check or money order payable to the Ice Age Trail Alliance
Please charge my Visa or MasterCard
Card number:
Please send this form to:
Expiration date:
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Amount:
2110 Main Street
Signature:
Cross Plains, WI 53528