Brady’s Rocks are part of an exposed portion of the Niagara Escarpment, which extends through to Door County (and further east to end at Niagara Falls) and is found on a white-blazed loop trail off of the Eagle Segment. The loop trail weaves between 8-foot-high outcroppings of dolomite are named for Irish immigrants Michael and Kathleen Brady who settled here in 1855.
The Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter was established in 1984 and currently has approximately 1000 members. We regularly sponsor trail improvement days, hikes (some of which are designed specifically for kids), and work with our partners in Delafield and Hartland on Trail Community Events. Our Chapter has bi-monthly meetings, and volunteer work groups that meet weekly. We participate in outreach events to promote the IAT. See our CALENDAR to learn about upcoming events. SUBSCRIBE to Chapter Emails by clicking on this link.
We are responsible for maintaining 45.5 miles of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Waukesha County – much of which is located in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest. The Segments (from South to North) in our Chapter include:
- Stony Ridge CTH Z to STH 59 — 3.1 Miles
- Eagle STH 59 to STH67 Wayside — 5.6 Miles
- Scuppernong (with connecting route) STH67 Wayside to CTH-D — 5.6 Miles
- Waterville (with connecting route) CTH-D to UW-Waukesha Field Station — 5.8 Miles
- Lapham Peak UW- Waukesha Field Station to Cushing Park Rd — 6.1 Miles
- Delafield Cushing Park 3.3 Rd to STH 83 — 3.2 Miles
- Hartland (with connecting route) STH 83 to CTH K at Centennial Park — 6.8 Miles
- Merton (with connecting routes) CTH K at Centennial Park to E Kilbourne Rd — 5.2 Miles
- Monches E Kilbourne Rd 3.1 toCTHQ — 3.1 Miles
Walk the Wauk Hiking Award Program
The Hiking Award program patch of the Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter.
Our Walk the Wauk program rewards hikers who have walked all Ice Age Trail segments in the Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter’s territory. Download the Walk the Wauk program brochure [PDF] to learn how you can join the ranks of “Walk the Waukers.”
Once you have completed the program, you will receive a Walk the Wauk patch and an Ice Age Trail Alliance sticker. Let Kris know if you or your family would like to be highlighted for completing the Walk the Wauk program.
Trail Communities
Enhancing awareness of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail is mutually beneficial to both the Ice Age Trail Alliance and our local Wisconsin Communities. Our Ice Age Trail Communities are hiker destinations for Ice Age Trail enthusiasts, improving the quality of life for residents and visitors while promoting the natural and cultural heritage of Wisconsin along the trail. Our Chapter is home to two wonderful Trail Communities: Hartland and Delafield. Follow our Calendar to learn about Community events our Chapter is involved in.
Volunteer With Us
Trail maintenance is a big part of what we do! Keeping a well-maintained trail requires a variety of tasks and skill sets. Volunteers are trained and have access to all necessary tools. Follow this link to learn more.
Our volunteers do more than build and maintain the Trail. There are many other important activities that help promote the Trail and our Chapter. Do any of these interest you?
Hike Coordinators and Leaders
We can always use people who are willing to coordinate and lead hikes. We have seen a steady increase in the number of hiking participants recently.
Two of our most popular hikes, the First Day Hike, on January 1st of every year, and the National Trails Day Hike, which always takes place on the first Saturday in June, are in need of coordinators.
Hike leaders educate people on plant life and geological formations along the Trail, and answer questions that may arise. If you enjoy exploring the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest area and sharing your knowledge of the great outdoors, please consider becoming a volunteer hike leader. Training will be provided.
Please contact Barb or Diana if you would like to coordinate and/or lead hikes.
Greeters at Meetings
Greeters are a vital part to making people feel welcome at our chapter meetings. They arrive about 30 minutes before the meeting to hand out name tags, ask people to sign in, and answer any questions newcomers may have. This has been very successful and we are always looking for new faces at the door. Please contact Barb or Diana if you would like to be a Greeter.
Outreach Event Participants and Presenters
Presenting and Outreach events are a great opportunities to spread the word about the Ice Age Trail. If you enjoy meeting people in public and talking about hiking, volunteer opportunities, and the benefits of becoming a member of the Alliance, this may be a perfect match for you. For outreach events, we are looking for people who can hand out informational materials and answer questions about our Chapter and the Trail.
Additionally, our chapter provides presenters to local organizations for a variety of trail-related topics. Presentations are generally part of an organization’s meeting and can take place during the day or early evening. If you are interested in helping out with Outreach Events or becoming a Presenter, contact Diana.
Reporting Your Volunteer Hours
Volunteers need to track their hours for both the activity involved and the travel time to and from it. Download the individual volunteers hours log [MS Word]. Follow this link to learn more about Tracking Volunteer Hours.
2024 “In the Mud” Award Winners
Each year we vote on one or two individuals who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to support and protect the Ice Age Trail. The recipients of the prestigious “In the Mud” Awards for 2023 are Mike Drebohl and Diana Matthews.
Contact Us
- Chapter Co-Coordinators – Barb and Diana
- Chapter email
- Membership Coordinator – Christi
- Secretary – Mike
- Social Media and Website Coordinator – Ann
- Trail Coordinator – Pat or 262-490-3515
- Thru-Hiker Liaisons – Jeanne & Dave
- Treasurer – Sanjay
- Volunteer Hours Coordinator – Beth
- Walk the Wauk Coordinator – Kris
Connect with us on our Facebook page.