Ice Age Trail – Sauk County

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a 1,000+ mile hiking trail that meanders throughout Wisconsin and follows the edge of what once was a large glacier that extended into Wisconsin from Canada approximately 25,000 years ago before it melted approximately 14,000 or so years ago.  The trail is one of 11 designated National Scenic Trails supported in part by the National Park Service (NPS).  The Trail is managed and maintained through a three-way collaboration between NPS, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and a very active and successful non-profit organization, the Ice Age Trail Alliance comprised of hundreds of volunteers who help maintain the Trail.

Due to the parameters by which the Trail was developed, it traverses the edge of the Ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin, and it is highlighted in several counties within the Glacial Lake boundaries.

There are two excellent and very popular sections of the Ice Age Trail within or just outside of the boundaries of the Ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin region in Sauk County—the 10-mile Devil’s Lake Segment and the 4.2 mile Sauk Point Segment that ends at Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area.

A western bifurcation of the Ice Age Trail is being developed that will begin at Devil’s Lake State Park, continue north through the city of Baraboo and northern Sauk County, then into Juneau and Adams County to western Waushara County.