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| 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 |
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.
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| Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment |
Overview: Ice Age National Scenic Trail - Stony Ridge Segment
COUNTYWAUKESHA 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 MAPEAGLE QUADRANGLE
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 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 Stony Ridge Segment |
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| Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment |
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| View from Shelter 2 on the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment |
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| Nordic Shelter at McMiller Trails |
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| Nordic Shelter at McMiller Trails |
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| View from Shelter 2 on the Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment |
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| Ice Age Trail Stony Ridge Segment |
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| Museum on the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
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| Museum on the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
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| Museum on the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
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| Water Station near the the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters |
Links
Ice Age National Trail Alliance
Ice Age National Trail - National Parks Service
Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest
Emma Carlin Trails
McMiller Trails
Old World Wisconsin
Paradise Springs