Photo by: Cameron Gillie
2024 Ice Age Trail Crew Season-at-a-Glance
Learn new skills, make new friends, build and maintain the Ice Age Trail, and improve the Trail’s surrounding habitat.
2024 Habitat Improvement Projects: Completed!
2024 Trailbuilding Events
Habitat Improvement Events
Table Bluff Segment, Dane County
Hartland Segment, Waukesha County
Gibraltar Rock Segment, Southern Columbia County
Trailbuilding and Maintenance Events
July 17 – 21, 2024: Holy Hill Segment, Washington County
A reroute of the Ice Age Trail between Pleasant Hill Road and Waterford Road will shorten a road walk and add a parking lot. This change also brings the Trail closer to a wetland, necessitating the construction of a 400-foot boardwalk to keep boots dry and protect habitat.
July 17 – 21, 2024: Plover River Segment, Marathon County
If you like stonework, this project is for you! Help shift nearby rock to create a natural-looking, stepping-stone path. This effort will jump-start the August Plover River Segment project!
July 30 – August 2, 2024: Maintenance Sweep, Lincoln County
Help tackle structure repair, tread improvement, corridor clearing, and signage updates throughout the beautiful and rugged Northwoods Chapter.
August 14 – 18, 2024: Plover River Segment, Marathon County
South of Highway 52, this much-loved and well-traveled segment is ready for a few upgrades. Help build puncheon, solidify tread with granite boulders, and maintain the existing tread to withstand many future boots.
September 11 – 15, 2024: Greenbush Segment, Sheboygan County
Enjoy early autumn color in the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit as you craft brand-new tread. Help create a new route for the Ice Age Trail south of Hwy 23, moving it from a paved multi-use trail onto a beautiful landscape of deep kettles and big trees.
October 2 – 6, 2024: Blue Hills Segment, Rusk County
At last, it’s time the Dreamer Route became reality. Join tread and corridor clearing crews for the first of many events working in this geologically significant area. We’ll also finish up bridge and boardwalk work on the Hemlock Creek Segment.
October 23 – 27, 2024: John Muir Park Segment, Marquette County
Elevate hikers’ enjoyment of the Alliance-owned Muir Preserve by building a boardwalk and loop trail, setting up the Trail for future growth. In addition, crews will help scout more Trail options in Marquette County.
Completed Trailbuilding and Maintenance Events
May 2 – 4, 2024: Training – Crew Leader Retreat, Location TBD
Crew Leaders, come together to talk about ways to improve projects and enhance the crew leader experience during the 2024 Trailbuilding Season.
May 7 – 10, 2024: Maintenance Sweep, Polk County
Be a part of a small crew dedicated to making the Trail ready for spring hiking. This project will focus primarily on tread repair and erosion control, Trail re-route, signage, and other Trail maintenance needs.
May 15 – 19, 2024: Hemlock Creek Segment, Barron and Rusk Counties
Help upgrade the Trail near the popular Murphy Flowage Recreation Area. Replace deteriorating bridges and boardwalks, refreshing the signage, and maintaining the tread.
June 6 – 8, 2024: Training – IAT-U, Dane County
Learn new skills from experienced staff and expert volunteers. A wide-range of courses offer training from Trail Plumbing to Vegetative Management to Working with Youth. View the Ice Age Trail University (IAT-U) class schedule, here.
June 20 – 23, 2024: Training – Crew Leader Skills, Dane County
Learn the skills you need to lead the next Trailbuilding generation. If you participated in past years’ Trailbuilding events and are ready to take the next step, please submit a short application. Contact Chad DuChateau, Director of Trail Operations, for details, by emailing, chad@iceagetrail.org.
June 25 – 28, 2024: Maintenance Sweep, Langlade County
Help us put the finishing touches on Trail in Langlade County! This project will focus primarily on tread work, blazing, and signage, but come ready for other Trail maintenance needs as well. You’ll also have a chance to attend hands-on blazing and signage, vegetative management, and outreach training hosted by Alliance staff.
Sign-up here to be added to our email list.