Chippewa Moraine Segment - iceagetrail.org · n n Circle Trail Chippewa County Forest Chippewa County Forest Chippewa County Forest Chippewa Moraine National Scientific Reserve Morris-Erickson

54 Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014

Chippewa Moraine Segment (Atlas Map 15f)

SnAPShoT

7.6 miles: 267th Ave. (Oak Ln.) to 167th St. (Plummer Lake Rd.)

4 2 Th is very scenic segment passes nearby more than 20 kett le lakes and highlights several signifi cant ice-walled lake plains, including the one the Obey Ice Age Interpretive Center is built on.

TRAIL ACCeSS AnD PARKInG

267th Ave. (oak Ln.): From USH-53 take the CTH-M/New Auburn exit. Follow CTH-M east for 7.0 mi. At STH-40 turn left and go north 0.7 mi. At 267th Ave. (Oak Ln.) turn right and go east 0.7 mi to the Trail access on the south side of the road. Roadside parking just west of the Trail access. No overnight parking.

167th St. (Plummer Lake Rd.): From USH-53 take the CTH-M/New Auburn exit. Travel east 12.6 mi on CTH-M. At 167th St. (Plummer Lake Rd.) turn right and go south 1.0 mi to the parking area on the west side of the road near the boat landing area. No overnight parking. The segment begins 0.2 mi north on Plummer Lake Rd. just south of the intersection with 260th Ave. (Rattlesnake Hill Rd.).

Additional Parking: (i) Circle Hiking Trail parking area on CTH-M near western boundary of Chippewa Moraine National Scientifi c Reserve. (No parking at CTH-M Trail access farther east.) (ii) Chippewa

LittlePlummerLake

DamLake

KnickerbockerLake

HorseshoeLake

DamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamDamLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLake

KnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerKnickerbockerLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLake

OddLake

SandLake

HorseshoeLake

TamarackLake

StarLake

Hay MeadowFlowageSilver

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Burnt WagonLakeMud

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RockLake

HayLake

PickerelLake

TramLakeFishpole

Lake

RattzLake

KettleLake

Bass LakesNo. 1Lake

RatLakeO'neil Creek

Flowage No. 1

O'neil CreekFlowage No. 2

Roger Lake DeerLake

Metcalf Lake

HighlandLake

RassmussonLake

LittlePlummerLake

TownLine

Lake

HorseshoeLake

DumkeLake

South Shattuck Lake

JeanstowLake Dam

Lake

WeeksLakes

KnickerbockerLake

DorothyLake

BeaverLake

HarwoodLakes Rock

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NorthShattuckLake

PayneLake

HorseshoeLake

North ofNorth ShattuckLake Fur

FarmLake

Ace-In-The-HoleLake

HodgeLake

CalkinsNorthLake

ChickLake

TwoIslandLake

TaylorLake

DarkLake

LoggerLake

SalisburyLake

SnakeLake

Triple LakesRileyLake

LarrabeeLake

TamarackLake

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Chippewa MoraineNational Scientific Reserve

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Segment 14 Chippewa Morainepage 80-8101/29/14

21.5 mi CR to Southern Blue hills Segment

At the Obey Interpretive Center.

From numerous lakes.

Primitive camping on portions of the Chippewa Moraine Reserve. Two walk-to campsites (Ch13, Ch14) near the Interpretive Center.

A small private campground on Salis-bury Lake on STH 40, 0.7 mi from the western end of the segment.

Restrooms available at the Obey Interpretive Center and at the two primitive campsites (privy) just off the Trail. Please respect those who have reserved the sites.

other usesSmall portion overlaps with 260th Ave. (Rattlesnake Hill Rd.).

Chippewa Moraine National Scientifi c Reserve trail network.

0 1miles

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Chippewa County 55

LittlePlummerLake

DamLake

KnickerbockerLake

HorseshoeLake

LittleLittleLittleLittleLittleLittleLittleLittleLittleLittleLittleLittleLittleLittleLittlePlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLake

Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe HorseshoeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLake

OddLake

SandLake

HorseshoeLake

TamarackLake

StarLake


Lake

Burnt WagonLakeMud

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RockLake

HayLake

PickerelLake

TramLakeFishpole

Lake

RattzLake

KettleLake

Bass LakesNo. 1Lake

RatLakeO'neil Creek

Flowage No. 1

O'neil CreekFlowage No. 2

Roger Lake DeerLake

Metcalf Lake

HighlandLake

RassmussonLake

LittlePlummerLake

TownLine

Lake

HorseshoeLake

DumkeLake

South Shattuck Lake

JeanstowLake Dam

Lake

WeeksLakes

KnickerbockerLake

DorothyLake

BeaverLake

HarwoodLakes Rock

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NorthShattuckLake

PayneLake

HorseshoeLake

North ofNorth ShattuckLake Fur

FarmLake

Ace-In-The-HoleLake

HodgeLake

CalkinsNorthLake

ChickLake

TwoIslandLake

TaylorLake

DarkLake

LoggerLake

SalisburyLake

SnakeLake


LarrabeeLake

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HerdeLake

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Chippewa MoraineNational Scientific Reserve

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Segment 14 Chippewa Morainepage 80-8101/29/14

Moraine National Scientifi c Reserve’s David R. Obey Ice Age Interpretive Center off CTH-M. (iii) 260th Ave. (Rattlesnake Hill Rd.) parking area 0.2 mi west of where the Trail heads off on the north side of the road. Parking area in the corner of a fi eld. Overnight parking permitted.

The hIKe

ITh is segment traverses dramatic high-relief hummocky terrain with numer-ous scenic kett le lakes. Th e fi rst portion of the segment travels through the North of North Shatt uck Lake State Natural Area, a southern dry mesic forest.

Th is area is heavily used by birds during spring migration, including red-headed woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, scarlet tanagers, American redstarts, yellow-throated vireos and eastern wood-pewees.

From its starting point on 267th Avenue (Oak Lane) the segment heads east and soon reaches the northern tip of the fi rst of two lakes named “Horseshoe” that hikers will pass while hiking the segment. On the way toward the southeast-ern corner of the lake the segment climbs a hill; during leaf-off seasons hikers can see fi ve bays from this point (Ch15). Coming down from the hill the segment soon intersects with the Chippewa Moraine Reserve’s Circle Trail. To stay on the Ice Age Trail, hikers should turn left at this junction and continue east. Th is is the fi rst junction with the reserve’s “other” trails; signage is excellent throughout the trail network making it easy for hikers to navigate.

Aft er the segment passes between North Shatt uck Lake and the aptly named North of North Shatt uck Lake, the route bends south and soon intersects with a spur trail that leads 750 feet to a walk-to primitive campsite (Ch14). Th is is one of two primitive campsites on the reserve, each with a privy and fi re ring. Hikers wanting to spend a night at either site should fi rst check in at the interpretive center; there is a small fee.

A short distance south of the campsite spur the segment intersects with the reserve’s Dry Lake Trail and Mammoth Nature Trail, which branch off the Ice

Age Trail route to the east. From this junction the Ice Age Trail continues southeast toward the interpretive center.

From the interpretive center, the segment heads north and wraps around the northern tip of a small lake, then continues southeast toward CTH-M. A short distance before the CTH-M crossing a 300-foot spur trail leads north to the reserve’s second walk-to primitive campsite (Ch13).

East of CTH-M the segment reaches the eastern junction with the Circle Trail and passes by another scenic cluster of lakes before cross-ing 144th Street (Ice Age Drive). As the seg-ment makes its way east, it skirts the north shore of the segment’s second Horseshoe Lake and crosses 160th Street (Town Line Road).

Th e Trail shortly arrives at a bench overlook-

harwood Lakes Segment


ing Dumke Lake (Ch12). The view here can give a hiker a visual appreciation of how ice-walled lake plains formed.

During the Wisconsin Glaciation period, small lakes filled depressions in the ice surface and became walled off by enormous ice blocks. Lakes often formed on debris-covered parts of the glacier, and over time, fine sediment accumulated on the lake’s floor. When the ice surrounding the lake melted, the sediment that accumulated in the lake remained. This formed a high, flat-topped area on the landscape. Often dish-shaped, these plateau-like areas have rich soil for farming. The coarse material deposited near the ice block wall and glacial lake’s shore-line forms a higher “rim-like” ridge around the lake plain. After the glacial lake drained, parts of the ice wall continued to melt and water flowed across the now dry lakebed, carving a channel that the segment crosses just east of the bench. The channel actually flowed away from Dumke Lake, demonstrating that the ice wall continued to melt long after the original glacial lake was dry. The ice block disappeared last, leaving Dumke Lake well below.

From Dumke Lake the segment continues east, intersects and briefly follows 260th Avenue (Rattlesnake Hill Road) and passes by one final lake (Plummer) before reaching the segment’s terminus at 167th Street (Plummer Lake Road).

Mobile Skills Crew project site, 2004

PoInTS oF InTeReST

Chippewa Moraine national Scientific Reserve and the David R. obey Ice Age Interpretive Cen-ter: On Trail (13394 CTH-M, New Auburn; 715-967-2800, dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/chipmoraine/ naturecenter.html).

The Ice Age Interpretive Center has many hands-on and interactive activities, including activity books, short films and various displays about geologic, cultural and natural history. The Center is generally open year-round Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed Monday) and has maps, drinking water and helpful staff. Hikers should stop here for information and check-in for the property’s two walk-to primitive campsites. Three loop trails start here and share parts of the Ice Age Trail: the Circle Trail (4.5 mi), Dry Lake Trail (1.8 mi) and Mammoth Nature Trail (0.7 mi). These trails feature numerous interpretive signs described in Hiking Field Trip Guide for Glacial Landforms, avail-able at the center.

AReA SeRVICeS

new Auburn: Convenience store, restaurant, camping. Restaurant and convenience store at the inter-section of STH-40 and CTH-M, 2.0 mi west of the Obey Interpretive Center. Camping at Salisbury Campground (715-967-2782) on Salisbury Lake, 1.0 mi north of the intersection of STH-40 and CTH-M. Convenience store in town, ~8 mi west of the Interpretive Center.

Cornell: See Firth Lake Segment and Chippewa River Segment, p. 60. From the Obey Interpretive Center on CTH-M go east ~19 mi.

Favorite noises were my nightly forest bedrooms that would “come alive” after sunset, with all kinds of noises and every crunch of forest floor or snap of a branch seeming to be caused by a huge critter, probably a 400-pound bear. One of the most memorable night awakenings was from an hourly tail slap by the resident beaver of a pond 25 feet from my tent.

TIM OBUKOWICz (AKA “REx”), ICE AGE TRAIL THOUSAND-MILER

Chippewa County 57

Harwood Lakes Segment (Atlas Maps 15f, 16f)

SnAPShoT

5.8 miles: 167th St. (Plummer Lake Rd.) to CTH-E

note: It is anticipated that volunteers will build a new section of Trail in 2014 between the southern boundary of the Chippewa County Forest and the Picnic Lake bridge. The new route is shown as “Future Trail” on the accompanying map. Check with the Ice Age Trail Alliance (800-227-0046, iceagetrail.org) for more details.

4 3 This beautiful segment features large beaver dams, a massive glacial erratic and several scenic pristine lakes and wetland areas.


167th St. (Plummer Lake Rd.): From USH-53 take the CTH-M/New Auburn exit. Travel east 12.6 mi on CTH-M. At 167th St. (Plummer Lake Rd.) turn right and go south 1.0 mi to the parking area on the west side of the road near the boat landing area. No overnight parking. The segment begins 0.2 mi north on Plummer Lake Rd. just south of the intersection with 260th Ave. (Rattlesnake Hill Rd.).

CTh-e: From Cornell take STH-64 west across the Chippewa River. At CTH-CC turn right and go north 1.0 mi. At CTH-z turn left and go west 5.0 mi. At CTH-E turn right and go north 3.0 mi. Roadside parking.

Additional Parking: Deer Fly Trail. From CTH-M and Deer Fly Trail (gravel road), go south 2.6 mi on Deer Fly Trail to the parking area on west side of road.

The hIKe

IFrom the segment’s starting point on 167th Street (Plummer Lake Road) just south of the road’s intersection with 260th Avenue (Rattlesnake Hill Road) hikers should head south along the road for 0.2 miles across a narrow cause-

way between Plummer Lake and a wetland. Across from the Trail access parking area the segment then departs from the road and heads east through the eastern-most portion of the Chippewa Moraine Reserve property, which is relatively flat compared with the dramatic high-relief hummocky topography of the remainder of the segment. The wide path enters a second-growth forest with a high canopy and diverse understory of ferns and woodland plants. Hikers should note that primitive camping is not permitted on this part of the Reserve, but is permitted on county forest lands farther east.

The segment leaves the Reserve and enters Chippewa County Forest lands just before arriving at a bench (Ch17) that provides lovely views of the Harwood Lakes. About 200 feet east of the bench, a spur trail leads north steeply downhill

From numerous lakes, streams/creeks and wetland areas.

A walk-to primitive campsite (Ch11) between the two Harwood Lakes, a Dispersed Camping Area (DCA) (Ch7) on the west shore of Picnic Lake and primitive camping on county forest lands.

Portion of segment crossing private land between the southern boundary of the Chippewa County Forest and the Picnic Lake bridge is closed dur-ing gun deer season.

other usesSmall portion overlaps with Plummer Lake Road.

Spur trail to primitive campsite at Har-wood Lakes, blue-blazed spur trail to DCA and Girl Scout Camp Nawakwa trail network.


LittlePlummerLake

DamLake

KnickerbockerLake

HorseshoeLake

LittleLittleLittleLittlePlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerPlummerLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLake

LittleLittleLittlePlummerPlummerLakeLakeLakeLakeLakeLake

OddLake

SandLake

HorseshoeLake

TamarackLake

StarLake


Lake

Burnt WagonLakeMud

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RockLake

PickerelLake

TramLakeFishpole

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RattzLake

KettleLake

Bass LakesNo. 1Lake

RatLake

Roger Lake DeerLake

Metcalf LakeWestLake

DogIsland

LakeLowlandLake

HighlandLake

RassmussonLake

TownLine

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HorseshoeLake

DamLake

KnickerbockerLake

DorothyLake

BeaverLake

HarwoodLakes

Fur FarmLake

CalkinsNorthLake

ChickLake

TaylorLake

LoggerLake


TamarackLake

FosterLakeHenneman

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PlanningLake

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Segment 15 Harwood Lakespage 8402/10/14

to a small but picturesque primitive campsite (Ch11) (no privy) on the narrows between the two Harwood Lakes.

East of the Harwood Lakes in rolling topography, the segment crosses Mud Brook on a series of bridges off ering a view of the Mud Brook Valley (Ch10). Th e Trail climbs steeply to the top of a well-defi ned hummocky ridge then drops down to follow alongside a swamp. Along the north side of the Trail, hikers may detect ruts from when loggers cut trenches in the ground and fi lled them with water to create iced tracks to run their logging sleds on.

Th e segment crosses a boardwalk/bridge (Ch9) over a low wet area and passes a bench off ering a quiet respite as it sits near the boardwalk surrounded by several old white pine trees.

Th e Trail climbs up out of the swamp and crosses a distinctive county ATV trail. It then outlines the edge of another swamp/wetland area with toppled trees exposing their roots and soon arrives at Deer Fly Trail (a gravel road).

East of Deer Fly Trail, the segment passes a massive glacial erratic just 40 feet off trail and shortly crosses a footbridge at the base of an enormous beaver dam. Th e dam creates a fl owage to the south with several heron nests. Th e seg-ment then continues along to another bridge (Ch8), known as “Kim’s Crossing,” spanning a small gulch. Th e spot is named “Kim’s Crossing” in memory of Kim Heidtke. Kim’s family funded the bridge project to commemorate her love of the Ice Age Trail. Th is spot was home to an earthen beaver dam until backed up water overtook the dam and carved the gulch in its place. A wetland pond remains as habitat for waterfowl and other wetland creatures.

Th e segment continues along through mixed forest of aspen, pine, maple,

Chippewa Moraine Segment

PickerelPickerelPickerelPickerelPickerelPickerelPickerel

1.8-mi CR to Firth Lake Segment.

South on CTH-E, east on 245th Ave. (Moonridge Trail).

0 1miles

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Chippewa County 59

hemlock, oak and fir. Before the segment exits Chippewa County Forest lands, the Trail offers multiple views of a tamarack bog.

Volunteers will be building a new section of the Trail here in 2014 that will stay in Chippewa County Forest and swing north then east toward Picnic Lake.

The current segment route crosses onto private property, climbs a ridge and continues northeast to the south shore of Picnic Lake. The segment intersects a blue-blazed spur trail that leads to a Dispersed Camping Area (DCA) (CH7) on the west shore of Picnic Lake. The campsite comes complete with a rustic crafted “loveseat” and “couch.”

Back on the Trail, the segment reaches a bridge on private property spanning an intermittent stream draining into Picnic Lake. It is immediately west of the bridge that the new section of Trail will intersect the existing Ice Age Trail. Continuing on the current route, the segment crosses the bridge and wraps around the eastern edge of Picnic Lake on Girl Scout Camp Nawakwa property, offering many views of the pristine lake. The segment intersects with and shares portions of the Camp Nawakwa trail network. Just before reaching its terminus on CTH-E, the Trail skirts above a scenic hemlock-rimmed pond.

Mobile Skills Crew project site, 2013, 2014

AREA SERVICES

New Auburn: See Chippewa Moraine Segment, p. 54. From the 167th St. (Plummer Lake Rd.) Trail access go north and west ~13 mi. Also see Trail Access and Parking directions, above.

Cornell: See Firth Lake Segment and Chippewa River Segment, p. 60. From the CTH-E Trail access go south and east 9.0 mi. Also see Trail Access and Parking directions, above.

Enjoying a backpacking adventure in the Chippewa Moraine.

AAR

ON

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Firth Lake Segment and Chippewa River Segment (Atlas Map 16f)

SnAPShoT

Firth Lake Segment—6.5 miles: 245th Ave. (Moonridge Trail) to CTH-CC

Chippewa River Segment—1.8 miles (1.4 IAT, 0.4 CR): CTH-CC to CTH-z

note: It is anticipated that volunteers will sign a new section of the Chippewa River Seg-ment in 2014 on the west side of CTH-CC. The new route is shown as “Future Trail” on the accompanying map. Check with the Ice Age Trail Alliance (800-227-0046, iceagetrail.org) for more details.

3 3 Th e Firth Lake Segment, an interesting and scenic hike, crosses an ice-walled lake plain and beaver dams in a generally forested sett ing and highlights beautiful Firth Lake.

3 2 Th e short Chippewa River Segmenthighlights Perch Lake and features dramatic views of the Chippewa River.


245th Ave. (Moonridge Trail): From Cornell take STH-64 west across the Chippewa River. At CTH-CC turn right and go north 1.0 mi. At CTH-z turn left and go west 5.0 mi. At CTH-E turn right and go north 2.0 mi. At 245th Ave. turn right and go 0.9 mi. Roadside parking; use caution as this is a narrow, curvy road.

CTh-Z: From Cornell take STH-64 west across the Chippewa River. At CTH-CC turn right and go north 1.0 mi. At CTH-z turn left and go west 0.2 mi to the Trail access on the north side of the road. Roadside parking.

Additional Parking: (i) 250th Ave. parking area and boat launch, located south down a gravel drive. From the parking area, walk around a gate and follow the access trail 1⁄4 mile to the Ice Age Trail. (ii) CTH-CC parking area on east side of road, 1.2 mi north of CTH-z intersection. Note: The CTH-CC parking area is the main parking area serving these two segments. (iii) Perch Lake parking area on the west side of CTH-CC, 0.3 mi north of CTH-z intersection.

Spring CreekFlowage No. 1Spring Creek

Flowage No. 1Flowage No. 1Flowage No. 1Flowage No. 1Flowage No. 1Flowage No. 1Flowage No. 1Flowage No. 1Flowage No. 1Flowage No. 1Flowage No. 1

PlanningLake

Fisher River

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NutLake

FirthLake

PaulsLake

PicnicLake

Spring CreekFlowage No. 1

BassLake

BoilerLake

MudLake

MeadowsLake

Big Twin Lake

JeromeLake

Little TwinLake

HolcombeFlowage

ClarkCreek

Creek

Bob

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Nor

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Cranb

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BrunetIslandStatePark

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Segment 16 Firth Lake & Chippewa Riverpage 86-8702/10/14

1.8-mi CR to harwood Lakes Segment. West on 245th Ave. (Moonridge Trail), north on CTH-E.

From Firth Lake and a few intermittent streams/creeks.

Primitive camping on county forest lands.

Eastern portion of the segment cross-ing private land is closed during gun deer season.

other usesPortions overlap with logging/forest roads.

A short spur trail leads to a parking area next to Firth Lake.

From the Chippewa River and Perch Lake.

At nearby Brunet Island State Park (see Area Services).

At nearby Millyard Park, Brunet Island State Park and the Cornell visitor Center.

other uses

Small portion overlaps with CTH-CC.

Chippewa County 61

The hIKe

IT he Firth Lake Segment traverses a second-growth northern mesic forest of birch, red maple, ash and balsam, with an understory of fern, clintonia, blue bead lily, bloodroot, Indian pipe and red baneberry. Th is segment can be very

wet in spring due to beaver activity in the many lakes and ponds. Th ere are fence stiles and board bridges throughout.

From its starting point on 245th Avenue (Moonridge Trail) to Firth Lake, the segment traverses rolling high-relief hummocky topography. Heading north and then east, the segment reaches a bridge (Ch6) near a small stream; just beyond the bridge hikers can look north to a view of trailing arbutus on the north slope of the moraine.

Aft er crossing 245th Avenue (Moonridge Trail) and continuing south the seg-ment intersects with logging roads while meandering through old-growth forest of white and red pine, spruce, aspen and oak. As the segment nears Firth Lake, it enters a nice ravine just before coming to the lake, then intersects with a spur trail (Ch5) heading north to the 250th Avenue parking area and boat launch. From the spur trail junction the segment turns sharply to the south.

Leaving behind the high-relief hum-mocky topography, the segment skirts the southwest side of Firth Lake, a shal-low kett le lake situated in an outwash plain. Located within the Firth Lake State Ice Age Trail Area, the 52-acre lake is surrounded by a northern sedge meadow and is home to water lilies, cat-tails, swamp milkweed, beaver lodges and loons.

Th e segment crosses a 500-foot boardwalk over an old beaver dam that hikers should traverse cautiously and


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Segment 16 Firth Lake & Chippewa Riverpage 86-8702/10/14

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continues east into low-relief hummocky topography, re-entering Chippewa County Forest and passing through an alder swamp. The segment’s final 1.3 miles are on private property and feature a 0.3-mile walk through an extensive ice-walled lake plain (Ch4) and a crossing of part of the Maple Hill End Moraine (Ch3).

The Chippewa River Segment starts out from the large CTH-CC parking area and heads south through a forest featuring stunning Chippewa River views from the edge of rolling bluffs, with braided, steep topography and vertical gains up to 70 feet. Several deep ravines transect the segment west to east and water drains seasonally to the river. The forest cover includes various species of ash, oak and maple, with an undergrowth of several varieties of seasonal woodland flowers.

After passing through the thin strip of land between the road and river, the segment reemerges onto CTH-CC, where hikers will follow the road south for 0.4 miles.

Volunteers will be building a new section of the Trail in 2014 on the west side of CTH-CC that will eliminate most or all of the road walk to the Perch Lake parking area.

About 400 feet north of the DNR’s Perch Lake parking area, the current seg-ment route resumes an off-road course (Ch2), heading west from CTH-CC. The segment bends around the western shore of Perch Lake, then steers southeast away from the lake, crossing an open power line area before reaching the seg-ment’s endpoint on CTH-Z.

Mobile Skills Crew project site, 2006, 2014

AReA SeRVICeS

Cornell: Restaurant, grocery store, convenience store, lodging, library. From the CTH-z Trail access, go east 0.2 mi. At CTH-CC turn right and go south 1.0 mi. At STH-64 turn left and go east 0.6 mi. Most services are on Bridge St. (STH-64/27) or 1 block north on Main St.

Brunet Island State Park: Camping. In Cornell, from Park St. and STH-64 (just east of Millyard Park), go north on Park St. 1.8 mi (715-239-6888, dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/brunetisland; reservations: 888-947-2757, reserveamerica.com).

Hiking on my own, I enjoyed the solitude and independence it offered. My constant companions were “Woodrow,” a hiking stick made of locust, and “Sweetheart,” my backpack, with whom I had an on-again, off-again love affair. (Our relationship was dependent on her weight.)

TOM TEEPLES (AKA “LRRP”), ICE AGE TRAIL THOUSAND-MILER

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: Ice Age Trail Alliance Amount: 2110 Main Street Signature: Cross Plains, WI 53528

Documents

Chippewa Moraine Segment - iceagetrail.org · n n Circle Trail Chippewa County Forest Chippewa County Forest Chippewa County Forest Chippewa Moraine National Scientific Reserve Morris-Erickson