Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ice Age Trail?

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a thousand-mile-long footpath located entirely within Wisconsin. It is one of only eleven National Scenic Trails in the country.

How long is the Ice Age Trail?

If you were to hike the entire route of the Ice Age Trail, you would cover around 1,100 miles.

Of that total, around 600 miles would be official Ice Age Trail segments marked with yellow Ice Age Trail blazes. The large majority of these miles conform to hikers' ideas of a traditional, off-road hiking experience. Some segments, however, lead hikers right down the main streets of charming Wisconsin communities.

The remaining miles would be "connecting routes", typically quiet country roads lacking Ice Age Trail signage. While these miles are part of the current Ice Age Trail route, they are not technically recognized as official Ice Age Trail segments. One of the main goals of the Ice Age Trail Alliance is to convert connecting routes into permanent (generally off-road) segments of the Ice Age Trail.

You can find detailed information on the Ice Age Trail route in the Ice Age Trail Atlas and the Ice Age Trail Companion Guide 2008.

What types of activities are suitable for the Ice Age Trail?

Walking, hiking, backpacking and snowshoeing are popular on the Ice Age Trail, as it offers a wide range of distances and landscapes. Many segments support cross-country skiing, too. Whether you seek a short stroll over gentle terrain or a multi-day deep-woods adventure, there’s a perfect segment for you.

Can I bike, horseback ride or camp on the Ice Age Trail?

The Ice Age Trail is intended for low-impact activities like walking, hiking, backpacking and snowshoeing. Biking is only allowed on a few segments of the Trail where it coincides with state bike trails. Ownership of the Trail varies by segment (some is private land, for example), and owners will often dictate usage. Some segments of the Trail have designated campsites or are near public camping facilities. It is best to consult the Ice Age Trail Companion Guide for further information. Chapter coordinators may also help answer any questions. Their contact information is listed in each issue of the Ice Age Trail Alliance's magazine, Mammoth Tales, as well as on the IATA Chapters portion of our website.

How do I find the Ice Age Trail?

Check out our Hike by County page for starters. For each region of the state, we provide a free downloadable Trail description and regional map.

Once you're hooked, you'll want to check out our Ice Age Trail Atlas and the Ice Age Trail Companion Guide, which are the best resources available for detailed directions to Trail segments and descriptions of what you'll find on the Trail.

What does the Ice Age Trail have to do with the Ice Age?

The route of the Ice Age Trail generally follows the last outline (“terminus”) of Wisconsin’s most recent glacier, which retreated from the state more than 10,000 years ago. It diverges in some places to include other features of the glacial landscape as well as parts of the “Driftless Area”.

What and where is the “Driftless Area”?

It is the southwestern quarter of Wisconsin that was untouched by glaciers during the last Ice Age. This area was deeply cut by ancient streams into narrow, twisting valleys and ridges. The surface landforms there are much older than the rest of the state, which was shaped by the relatively recent glacier.

What glacier? When?

Wisconsin’s most recent large glacier, consisting of six large lobes, flowed into the state about 25,000 years ago. It reached its greatest extent, covering approximately two-thirds of the state (all but the southwestern part), about 14,000 to 16,000 years ago before melting back. The last Ice Age endured from 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. It covered most of northern North America, as far south as the Missouri and Ohio River Valleys. The last stage of glaciation is called the “Wisconsin Glaciation” because its effects are more noticeable here than anywhere else in the United States.

What can I see along the Ice Age Trail that was caused by the glacier?

A variety of geological landforms, associated almost exclusively with glaciation, are better seen in Wisconsin than anywhere in the world. These include moraines, eskers, erratics, kettles, drumlins, kames, dells (dalles) and outwash plains. Check out our glossary for definitions of these and other Trail-related terms.

How did the Ice Age Trail get started?

It began in the 1950s as the dream of Milwaukeean Ray Zillmer who had vision of a thousand-mile-long park winding through Wisconsin along the terminal moraine. Zillmer founded the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation (now the Ice Age Trail Alliance) in 1958 to make the dream a reality. In 1980 Congress recognized the national significance of the Ice Age Trail by designating it a National Scenic Trail (NST). In 1987 the State of Wisconsin gave it the second designation of State Scenic Trail.

Who owns and manages the Ice Age Trail?

No one entity owns all the land through which the Ice Age Trail passes. The Trail passes through a patchwork of lands owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Ice Age Trail Alliance, county parks, local municipalities and hundreds of generous private landowners.

The Ice Age Trail Alliance, the National Park Service and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources cooperatively manage the Ice Age Trail. Other partners manage certain segments; the U.S. Forest Service, county and municipal park and forestry departments and other civic entities and private landowners. The Ice Age Trail Alliance delivers much of its management responsibility through local volunteer chapters.

Where does the money come from to buy land for the Ice Age Trail?

Because the Ice Age Trail is only half-complete, new land must be purchased through federal, state and private funding. The Ice Age Trail Alliance, much like The Nature Conservancy, purchases land with privately donated funds and grants from government partners. The State of Wisconsin acquires land for the Trail through its Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

Is the Ice Age Trail like the Appalachian Trail?

Not entirely. The Appalachian Trail is about twice as long (about 2200 miles) and runs through 14 states. It seldom intersects a town or community. The Ice Age Trail is totally within Wisconsin. One of the virtues of the Ice Age Trail is its involvement with the diverse communities along its route. It was designed to connect communities, not avoid them. In fact, approximately 60% of Wisconsin residents live within 20 miles of the Trail. The Ice Age Trail was also designed very specifically to preserve and protect Wisconsin’s cultural and glacial heritage.

What is the Ice Age Trail Alliance?

The Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA) is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization headquartered in Cross Plains, Wisconsin. Its mission is to create, support and protect a thousand-mile footpath tracing Ice Age formations across Wisconsin. More than 2,900 members nationwide work and support the IATA in the completion of its mission.

How can I support the Ice Age Trail?

Becoming a member of the Ice Age Trail Alliance is a great way to support our mission. Dues begin at $25.00 for students and seniors. Contributions can be any amount and all dues and contributions are tax deductible. Members receive a subscription to Mammoth Tales, discounts on Ice Age Trail merchandise and an invitation to the IATA annual membership conference. Visit our membership page for more information.

Can I volunteer to work on the Ice Age Trail?

We hope you will! Without volunteers and their continuous efforts, the Ice Age Trail would be little more than a line on a map. Volunteers are the heart, soul, hands and backbone of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. More than 42,000 volunteer hours are spent annually to build new trailway, maintain existing segments and generally support and promote the Ice Age Trail. It’s a lot of work, and more help is always welcome.

To learn more about your local chapter, its events and contact information, visit IATA Chapters.

Another volunteer option is the Mobile Skills Crew (MSC). Each year, the Mobile Skills Crew holds at least six trail-building projects throughout Wisconsin. The goals of the projects are to build high-quality, sustainable trail; to train volunteers in trail-building techniques and safety and most importantly, to have fun. Projects typically start on a Thursday and run through the weekend, but volunteers are welcome to contribute what time they can.

Check the calendar for a schedule of upcoming local and statewide events.