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Close to an urban population the Verona Segment of the Ice Age Trail is a very popular day hike. It's course is 6.3 miles linear - weaving through a string of parks and greenways. There are numerous intersecting and nearby trails to make looping options. This segment is well serviced with parking lots and restrooms and a disperse camping area. Long distance hikers will find laundry, grocery, medical services, and hotels in Verona for recharging and resupplying.
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| Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |
The Verona segment traditionally begins at the end of the Madison segment on county highway PD at a small parking lot. Immediately the hike crosses over a hill featuring restored prairie and long views towards Verona. The walk continues downhill, through a wooded area and again through prairies to a soccer park.
Prairie walking continues across Cross County RD. A steep hill rises towards a water tower. Descending the other side of the hill you'll come across the disperse camping area at Badger Prairie Park. The trail joins a paved bike trail and passes under Verona Road through a tunnel. The trail route then turns onto the Military Ridge State Trail for a short while before turning off into a greenway alongside Badger Mill Creek. A boardwalk crosses over marshy area and there is a short walk-through woodlands.
After crossing over Highway 18 the trail skirts the edges of some agricultural fields. There is final hill climb before descending into a dog park at Prairie Moraine County Park.
The Verona Segment's miles are mostly exposed and beautiful on a sunny day. Applying sun lotion is a good idea before this hike. The route of this trail manages to stay clear of housing and commercial developments in this booming and expanding metro area. Great care was taken to preserve wide natural areas along the line of this trail. Everyone from bird watchers to joggers will love this wide mowed grass trail. But, as far as hiking, it is still far from a wilderness experience. The sound of rushing traffic is always present.
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| Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |
Ice Age National Scenic Trail - Verona Segment
COUNTYDANE COUNTY
COMMUNITIES
MADISON, VERONA
TOTAL MILES
6.3-MILE POINT-TO-POINT
DIFFICULTY
EASY
LOWEST ELEVATION
940 AMSL
HIGHEST ELEVATION
1150 AMSL
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN
850 FT
TOTAL ELEVATION LOST
-910 FT
CAMPING
Disperse Camping Area in Badger Prairie County Park
NEXT IAT SEGMENT EASTBOUND
Montrose Segment
NEXT IAT SEGMENT WESTBOUND
Madison Segment
Directions and Trail Map
DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE PDF USGS TOPOGRAPHIC MAPVERONA QUADRANGLE
Click Map Image to load the full interactive map.
Address for your GPS: 7574 McKee Road, Madison, WI 53719
| coordinates: 43.015434, -89.520003 |
| From Milwaukee | 1.5 Hours |
| From Madison | 5 minutes |
| From Green Bay | 2.5 Hours |
| From Wausau | 2.5 Hours |
| From Minneapolis | 6.5 Hours |
| From Chicago | 2.5 Hours |
Photos
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| Monarch butterflies Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |
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| Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |
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| Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |
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| Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |
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| Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |
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| Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |
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| Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |
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| Disperse Camping at Badger Prairie Park - nearby water and restrooms |
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| Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |
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| Along the Ice Age Trail Verona Segment |