Donors Instrumental in Protecting Rice Lake Preserve

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Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Rice Lake, Rice Lake Preserve
Sunrise on Rice Lake bog in Marathon County. The efforts of 111 donors will help us conserve 64-acres along Rice Lake and Rice Lake Creek. Photo by Roger Zimmerman.

Wow! For the second time this year, generous donors stepped up to help the Ice Age Trail Alliance permanently protect a future home of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The support of 111 donors will help create a 64-acre preserve along Rice Lake and Rice Lake Creek in Marathon County.

Fundamental to this campaign’s success was Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust, which also kindly supported our efforts to protect and expand the Rice Lake Preserve.

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Rice Lake, Rice Lake Preserve, Bog Laurel
The Rice Lake Preserve is host to a variety of unique habitats and wildlife. Pictured above is a bog laurel in bloom. Photo by Roger Zimmerman.

The preserve will permanently protect:

  • 1 mile of future Ice Age National Scenic Trail, interrupting up a 26-mile-long road walk;
  • A pre-settlement northern white cedar forest;
  • Majestic hemlock and white pine stands;
  • 2,620 feet of pristine, structure-free shoreline.

We look forward to building a new section of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and expanding access to a Dispersed Camping Area for long-distance hikers. The trail layout and design process will begin in 2021, with construction slated for 2022!

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Rice Lake Preserve, Locator Map, Map
The Rice Lake Preserve is located along a 26-mile connecting route in Marathon County. Expanding and protecting the preserve will allow for Ice Age Trail to be built on the property.

Thank you for your support!