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The Blackhawk Segment of the Ice Age National Trail is an 8 mile linear length between the Whitewater segment at Highway 12 and the Blue Spring Lake Segment at County Line Road Young Rd. It circumnavigates Lake La Grange in an open and park like setting. It then turns into a dense forest where the path meanders past and through several small kettles.
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| Hiker's Shelter on the Ice Age Trail Blackhawk Segment |
This serene length of the Ice Age National Trail extends uninterrupted through it's 8+ miles. As you leave the parking lot at Highway 12, the rush of traffic will quickly fade as you descend to the banks of Lake La Grange. There are numerous benches and grassy areas beneath stately shade trees that would make perfect places to lay out and read a book. Fishing seems to be good and popular at Lake La Grange - so bring your pole and test your luck. There are several small trails that approach the shoreline shooting off from the mainline.
After a short trip around Lake La Grange hikers enter what was at one time a planned subdivision. The old subdivision roads make up what are called the La Grange trails which are used for hiking, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. The IAT skirts the edge of this subdivided area and turns into rugged woodlands.
The single track forested path begins with a level 5 mountaineering rated climb and rolls along the moraine from there to Duffin Road. There is a large and sturdy Adirondack style cabin shelter and disperse campsite atop a commanding hill near Duffin Road. From there the trail opens up into gentle prairie land as it passes nearby the John Muir Mountain Bike Trails. Here you might take one or two side trails to historic sites (but I suggest you do not). Continuing North you will walk along through pine plantations and climb once again at Kettle Morain Oak Opening before reaching County Line Road.
I made the mistake of traveling a fairly long distance off the trail to see the pioneer lime kiln. It is a sight that you can afford to pass up. I did, however take the grassy trail out to the Oleson Cabin, along which I settled down beneath a shade tree for a long break.
I turned back at Bluff Road as I was in for a 5 hour out-and-back. I was able to trim a couple miles off the return trip by taking the white blazed La Grange Trail south of Lake La Grange.
For thru-hikers, there is a very sturdy and welcoming shelter near Duffin Road. This cabin has enough floor space for a sizable group of hikers. There is also a vault toilet nearby, a picnic table, and fire pit. This is one of the better shelters I have seen on the IAT and it would be a secure place to wait out a whipping storm if need be.
Overall, this hike is remarkable for long lengths of uninterrupted trail between road crossings. There is enough time to really get into your hike before encountering humanity again.
Overview: Ice Age National Scenic Trail - Blackhawk Segment
COUNTYWALWORTH COUNTY
COMMUNITIES
LA GRANGE
TOTAL MILES
8-MILE POINT-TO-POINT
DIFFICULTY
MODERATE
LOWEST ELEVATION
860 AMSL
HIGHEST ELEVATION
1010 AMSL
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN
900 FT
TOTAL ELEVATION LOST
940 FT
CAMPING
Hiker's Shelter and disperse camp area
POINTS OF INTEREST
Lake La Grange, Oleson Pioneer Cabin, Pioneer Lime Kiln, Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest, Kettle Moraine Oak Opening
NEXT IAT SEGMENT EASTBOUND
BLUE SPRING LAKE SEGMENT
NEXT IAT SEGMENT WESTBOUND
WHITEWATER SEGMENT
Directions and Trail Map
Click Map Image to load the full interactive map.
Address for your GPS: 7206 US-12 Whitewater, WI 53190
| Highway 12 Parking coordinates: 42.804340, -88.652789 |
|Bad Bluff Nature Trail Parking Coordinates: 42.845935, -88.609991 |
| From Milwaukee | 50 Minutes |
| From Madison | 1 Hour |
| From Green Bay | 2.5 Hours |
| From Wausau | 3 Hours |
| From Minneapolis | 4.5 Hours |
| From Chicago | 2 Hours |
Photos
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| Ice Age Trail Blackhawk Segment - Lake La Grange |
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| Ice Age Trail Blackhawk Segment - Lake La Grange |
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| Ice Age Trail Blackhawk Segment |
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| Hiker's Shelter on the Ice Age Trail Blackhawk Segment |
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| Hiker's Shelter on the Ice Age Trail Blackhawk Segment |
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| Ice Age Trail Blackhawk Segment |
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| Pioneer Lime Kiln - IAT Blackhawk Segment |
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| Pioneer Cabin - IAT Blackhawk Segment |
Links
Ice Age National Trail Alliance
Ice Age National Trail - National Parks Service
Kettle Moraine Forest - Southern Unit