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Dane County Chapter Hike – Table Bluff Segment
June 11, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Photo Credit: Black-eyed Susans in full bloom along the Table Bluff Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail by Gary Hegeman.
The Hike
Come out for a hike on this showcase IAT property! The southern end of this segment was formerly owned and manged by the non-profit Swamplovers, before they donated the land to the IAT. The wetlands across from the parking lot are the result of meltwater from the Laurentide ice sheet pouring through a preglacial valley and depositing sand and gravel and partiality filling the valley floors, which now hold wetlands and a tributary stream of Black Earth creek, a Class I trout stream. The hike starts out with several switchbacks to climb to the top of the bluff, featuring dramatic rock outcroppings of Ordovician dolomite and views to the southwest to the Blue Mounds. There is a white-blazed loop trail in addition to the main IAT trail on the hilltop. After a prairie/oak savanna that is being restored to its native state, the IAT traverses nearly a mile of of woodlands of oak and hickory before descending to the valley floor. In the valley is a second white-blazed loop trail that offers a half mile ‘bubble’ to the west of the IAT. The trail continues across the valley to rise up the opposite hillside and into a wooded area. Enjoy the more than 20 years of prairie restoration efforts in the large restored prairie with a thriving population of rare pale purple coneflowers, plus shooting star, rattle-snake master, stiff gentian, hoary vervain, prairie smoke, cream gentian, and cream baptisia have all been identified here. Exiting the prairie and heading downhill, you will encounter the other end of the second white-blazed ‘bubble’ trail. The trail then begins climbing through another prairie/oak savanna before ending at the Table Bluff Road parking lot.
Event Details
Hike through the prairies and wooded areas near Table Bluff — out in the driftless area. Round trip is 4.8 miles with a couple moderate hills. There’s a couple of white loop trails in that area we can take to vary this hike a bit, so not a complete out and back. We’ll explore the restored prairies and oak savannas along the trail and hopefully have a great view overlooking the Black Earth Creek valley with Blue Mounds off in the distance. And of course be on the look out for the Swamplovers alligator!
We can also offer a one-way 2.5 mile option with shuttle back to the start.
Well behaved dogs on leash are OK to join us.
Location
Hikers will meet at the Swamplovers end of the trail on Scheele Rd. From HWY KP, turn onto Scheele Road, which has a right turn before entering Swamplovers. The parking lot is on the right.