Glenbeulah to Greenbush - Ice Age Trail, WI

Overview: The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a 1,200 mile trail that travels from the St. Croix River an hour northeast of Minneapolis, east towards Antigo, south to New Glarus -- home of an awesome microbrew -- east to Whitewater, then north to Sturgeon Bay, in scenic Door County, Wisconsin. The route roughly follows the "terminal moraine" (the maximum glacial advance) from the last Ice Age, which ended about 10,000 B.C. The Glenbeulah to Greenbush Campground segment is located just south of Road America, in the northernmost part of Kettle Moraine State Forest. The Ice Age Trail, itself, is administered by the National Park Service, and is maintained by various public and private agencies. Mountain bikes and horses should use the nearby snowmobile trail, as they are illegal on the Ice Age Trail itself.


Camping: The Greenbush Campground, at the southern end of the hike, requires reservations, (888) 947-2757. Linked info in directions/permits section. There are bathrooms. There are no shelters on this hike, but if there is an emergency, this is Wisconsin, so you are never more than a mile from the nearest paved road.0.0 mi.: There are no facilities at the Glenbeulah TH, but there is a small quick mart in the town itself. Parking is free. This hike is constant up & downs, some steep, but never more than 80 ft. gain. Vegetation is mostly deciduous -- elm, oak, birch -- with some small stands of evergreens. Undergrowth varies from moderate to very dense, for short distances, some of which the trail passes through. The vegetation is not stabby, but we wary of poisonous varieties. Avoid brushing vegetation unless you enjoy getting ticks in places no critter should ever be.

1.0 mi.: Cross County PP.

1.7 mi.: Cross Ridge Rd.

2.8 mi.: Cross WI-23 ... which is a heavy traffic four-lane highway. Unfortunately, there is no tunnel. After crossing the highway, turn west on the mown grass path which parallels the highway. Just before you turn south, back into the woods, there is a bar, with an Old Style sign out front. Your course of action should be obvious.

3.4 mi.: Turn south into the woods. Just before County A., in a small clearing, there is a memorial bench.

5.1 mi.: Cross County A.

6.4 mi.: Cross Kettle Moraine Scenic Dr. The trail is mown into the grass, turning north into the Greenbush Campground.

2015-06-10 kingsnake