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| Along the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
If there is one word to describe the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail that word is wet. The Eagle Segment meanders along the edge of what was once Glacial Lake Scuppernong. This 5.25 mile linear footpath is mild and easy walking characterized by frequent boardwalks through low wetlands, prairies, and thin forests. The Trail passes through the Kettle Moraine Low Prairie and Scuppernong Prairie State Natural Areas. It also belongs to the larger Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest.
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| Along the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
The enormous glacial Lake Scuppernong once covered all of Jefferson County and major parts of nearby counties and was connected to the Glacial Lake Yahara, remnants of which are today Madison's famous four lakes. Lake Scuppernong eventually drained away via the Rock River and left what today is a vibrant series of colorful low prairies. The restored Scuppernong Prairie is the largest native wet prairie east of the Mississippi River.
The key word here is wet. Water filters down fast through the gravelly terminal moraine characterizing the hills on the adjacent Stony Ridge and Scuppernong Segments. All of that filtered water bubbles up in springs in the low prairies.
Unwisely, I chose to hike this trail in early April the day after an evening of powerful rain storms. I knew I was in for some muck. It was much more than mucky, I was lucky to survive without being swallowed into the ancient lake bed whole. I recommend considering this trail in a drier season.
In this spongy landscape the sound of mating frogs drowns out even the swoosh of cars on nearby highways. Even in the brief escapes to hilltops the sound of the frogs is ever present.
One forested hilltop is a display of some exposed stone which is named Brady's rocks. These rocks are evidence of the underlying Niagara escarpment. If you've been hiking at High Cliff State Park, in Door County, or have visited Niagara Falls then you have seen more dramatic sections of the Niagara Escarpment - nonetheless, the escarpment continues its line here in the Southern Kettle Moraine.
Long distance hikers will find many springs bubbling up alongside the trail to fill their water bottles from. There is also a water pump at the highway 67 trailhead. The adjacent trail segments at Scuppernong and Stony Ridge include backpacking shelters and additional water stations.
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| Along the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
Ice Age National Scenic Trail - Eagle Segment
COUNTYWAUKESHA COUNTY
COMMUNITIES
EAGLE
TOTAL MILES
5.3-MILE POINT-TO-POINT
DIFFICULTY
EASY
LOWEST ELEVATION
840 AMSL
HIGHEST ELEVATION
950 AMSL
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN
360 FT
TOTAL ELEVATION LOST
-360 FT
POINTS OF INTEREST
Kettle Moraine Low Prairie State Natural Area, Scuppernong Prairie State Natural Area, Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest, Scuppernong River, Paradise Springs Creek
NEXT IAT SEGMENT EASTBOUND
SCUPPERNONG SEGMENT
NEXT IAT SEGMENT WESTBOUND
STONY RIDGE SEGMENT
Directions and Trail Map
DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE PDF USGS TOPOGRAPHIC MAPEAGLE QUADRANGLE
Click Map Image to load the full interactive map.
If viewing on a mobile device, open the trail map above to load into Google Maps App by touching the expand rectangle in the upper right corner.
Nearest Address for your GPS: W364S7310 WI-67, Eagle, Village of, WI 53119
| coordinates: 42.918952, -88.473337 |
| From Milwaukee | 45 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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| Along the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
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| Along the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
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| The Scuppernong River on the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
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| Along the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
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| Brady's Rocks Spur Trail on the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
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| Along the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
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| Along the Eagle Segment of the Ice Age Trail |
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| Water Pump at the Highway 67 Trailhead |