Hiking the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment

View from Shelter 2 on the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment
View from Shelter 2 on the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment

The Stony Ridge Trail is an easy 3-mile segment of the Ice Age National Trail in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest in Eagle Wisconsin. It is a particularly popular and well-traveled segment as the state forest headquarters and museum is located at its center. The segment also features Shelter #2, a robust Adirondack style cabin for long distance backpackers and hikers. There is nothing extraordinarily scenic about the Stony Ridge Segment, but its wide and gentle footpath is enjoyed by many runners, dog walkers, families with small children, and serious hikers all the same.

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springs along the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment
springs along the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment


The Stony Ridge Segment connects directly to the Blue Spring Lake Segment to the west and to the Eagle Segment to the northeast. Section hikers typically begin this hike at the parking area for the Emma Carlin Trails - one of the most popular mountain biking courses in the Midwest. Other day hikers venture in from the large surface lot at the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters.

The State Forest Headquarters is an interesting stop along the IAT. There is a museum dedicated to wildlife, geology, and local economic history. A number of artifacts found along the Ice Age Trail are featured in display cases. And, on a hot day it's a place to duck inside for 15 minutes of air conditioning, a water bottle refill, and the rare chance to use a flush toilet on the IAT. Even after hours, there is a good water station conveniently located outside the headquarters.

Just up the path from the headquarters is Shelter #2, a strong and sturdy structure suitable for waiting out a storm or for some casual camping. The shelter is sited at a decent overlook and there is plenty of space to set up a tent near the shelter building. Bonus, it is located only a quarter mile from the running water tap at the ranger station ... or if you are more of the survivalist type, there is a spring not far up the trail which feeds a large wetlands area (I've marked it on the map below).

The Stony Ridge Segment is smack in the middle a tangle of recreational attractions. There's the Emma Carlin Trails which bring in mountain bikers from around the Midwest. The state forest headquarters already mentioned. It's around the corner from Old World Wisconsin, down the street from Paradise Springs, and there is an unmarked connecting trail between the IAT and the Mcmiller trails system which loop around in the Eagle Oak Opening State Natural Area. It's no wonder that the Stony Ridge Segment is one of the more popular segments of the IAT and often the very first segment for many Ice Age Trail hikers.

Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment
Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment




Overview: Ice Age National Scenic Trail - Stony Ridge Segment

COUNTY
WAUKESHA COUNTY
COMMUNITIES
EAGLE
TOTAL MILES
3-MILE POINT-TO-POINT
DIFFICULTY
EASY
LOWEST ELEVATION
840 AMSL
HIGHEST ELEVATION
950 AMSL
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN
320 FT
TOTAL ELEVATION LOST
-290 FT

CAMPING
Shelter 2, McMiller Trails Shelter
POINTS OF INTEREST
Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters and Museum, Emma Carlin Trails

NEXT IAT SEGMENT EASTBOUND
EAGLE SEGMENT
NEXT IAT SEGMENT WESTBOUND
BLUE SPRING LAKE SEGMENT


Directions and Trail Map

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE PDF USGS TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
EAGLE QUADRANGLE

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Click Map Image to load the full interactive map.


Address for your GPS:S91 W39091 Highway 59, Eagle, WI 53119
| coordinates: 42.876777, -88.525638 |

From Milwaukee50 Minutes
From Madison1 Hour
From Green Bay2.5 Hours
From Wausau3 Hours
From Minneapolis4.5 Hours
From Chicago2 Hours



Photos


springs along the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment
Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment


springs along the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment
Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment

View from Shelter 2 on the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment
View from Shelter 2 on the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment

Nordic Shelter at McMiller Trails
Nordic Shelter at McMiller Trails

Nordic Shelter at McMiller Trails
Nordic Shelter at McMiller Trails

View from Shelter 2 on the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment
View from Shelter 2 on the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment

Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment
Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment

Museum on the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail
Museum on the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail

Museum on the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail
Museum on the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail

Museum on the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail
Museum on the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail

Water Station near the the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters
Water Station near the the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters




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