Hiking the Ice Age Trail Mecan River Segment

The Mecan River Segment of the Ice Age National Trail is an easy 7.7-mile footpath in Washura County. The hiking trail passes through the Mecan Springs State Fishery Area and then follows along the quiet Mecan River. Hikers walk through hardwood and pine forests, prairies, and gentle glacial moraine. The path is a wide and clean single track that is relatively flat and lacks major hill climbs. It is generally easy for any level hiker. The Mecan River Segment also hosts a disperse camping area for long distance hikers.

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Ice Age Trail Mecan River Segment

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The Mecan River Segment is an extremely nice walk. I walked it on a perfect day for hiking - 78 degrees, blue skies, and breezy. It was about as perfect an afternoon hike as I can imagine. There is a balance of shaded forest trail and sun-drenched prairie walks. The mid-summer wildflowers were in full bloom.

Though the trail is usually very close to the Mecan River, there are few views of it. I had to walk off the trail and into the ravine to catch a close-up photo of the shallow Mecan River. Generally, the trail is routed at the top of a steep ridge and ravine above the Mecan. There are long and wide understory views in the forested sections of the trail, and the glint of the river below reminds hikers that it is this river that the defines the trail route.

The Mecan River trail nearly connects to the Greenwood Segment - within only two blocks of road walking on Buttercup and 6th Lane. There is a disperse camp area near this northwestern trailhead. The next segment heading eastbound is the Wedde Creek Segment which is about 7 miles along roads from the southeastern Mecan River trailhead on Cumberland Road.

Ice Age Trail Mecan River Segment

Overview: Ice Age National Scenic Trail - Mecan River Segment

COUNTY
WAUSHARA COUNTY
COMMUNITIES
RICHFORD
TOTAL MILES
7.7-MILE POINT-TO-POINT
DIFFICULTY
EASY
LOWEST ELEVATION
921 AMSL - 9TH AVE
HIGHEST ELEVATION
1205 AMSL - DISPERSE CAMPING AREA
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN
1212 FT
TOTAL ELEVATION LOST
-1400 FT

NEXT IAT SEGMENT EASTBOUND
WEDDE CREEK SEGMENT
NEXT IAT SEGMENT WESTBOUND
GREENWOOD SEGMENT

CAMPING
Disperse Camping Area

POINTS OF INTEREST
Mecan Springs State Fishery Area, Mecan River

Directions and Trail Map

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE PDF USGS TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
RICHFORD QUADRANGLE

Click Map Image to load the full interactive map.

Address for your GPS: 1 6th Lane, Coloma, WI 54930
| coordinates: 44.058240, -89.485515 |

From Milwaukee	2 Hours
From Madison	1.5 Hours
From Green Bay	2 Hours
From Wausau	1 hour
From Minneapolis	3.5 Hours
From Chicago	3.5 Hours

Photos

Ice Age Trail Mecan River Segment

Ice Age Trail Mecan River Segment

Ice Age Trail Mecan River Segment

Ice Age Trail Mecan River Segment

Ice Age Trail Mecan River Segment

Ice Age Trail Mecan River Segment

Ice Age Trail Mecan River Segment

Links

Ice Age National Trail Alliance

Ice Age National Trail - National Parks Service

Related Posts

ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL

This post is a directory of all the segments of the Ice Age Trail. It includes an interactive google map of the entire trail with connecting route roads including. There's also an introduction to the history of the IAT. You can easily find any of the Ice Age Trail Segments Wisconsin-Explorer has covered in the index of segments.


WISCONSIN HIKING TRAILS

A directory of favorite hiking trails found throughout the state.

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