The New Hope Iola segment of the Ice Age Trail is a 5.7-mile footpath in Marathon County, Wisconsin. This trail is difficult, with frequent steep hills. It is separated by long connecting road routes from the Ringle Segment (28.5 miles) heading westbound and the Skunk and Foster Lake Segment (13.1 miles) heading eastbound.
Parking lots are available at each trailhead for this segment, with the larger one being the Iola Winter Sports Club.
Overnight camping is allowed at the shelter at the sports club, which is located off the IAT.
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| New boardwalk along the New Hope Iola Ski Trail Segment of the Ice Age National Trail |
Wow, this trail is filled with wow moments. Like, look at those ski jumps—wow. Look at these gigantic pine trees—wow. Look at how many hills I’ve climbed—wow. Another monster steep hill? Wow, wow, wow!
I started this trail at the historic Iola Winter Sports Club. It was mid-summer, 95-degrees in the shade. The first set of hills got my heart going as the trail twisted in corkscrew turns up and down gentle terrain beneath towering pine trees. The trail dropped down to a viewing platform beside a pond.
On I went. More hills. A younger pine plantation. And then, I was at the top of a recently logged hill and could survey a valley below. The trail would dip into that valley and use a private road to connect to the next footpath.
Another long and winding hill, this one never seemed to end. And then it did, dropping down to a beautiful farmland view before crossing a road.
The next leg of this journey started with another hill climb through thick forest beside a deep kettle. From the height of this hill, I looked down and saw a boardwalk crossing a corner of a lake. I thought to myself that that trail down there looked interesting—I should make a point of hiking it. A few steps later, I realized I would be hiking that boardwalk. It was an improbable view suggesting an insanely steep descent that was obscured from my position.
A few moments after crossing that beautiful lake-which looks like a wilderness Up North scene – another steep climb. Then, a steep downhill. Then, a steeper and higher climb again. And again, like that three more times before breathlessly reaching Severson Lake.
From Severson Lake, the trail calmed down just enough to rest my heart, and it was time for me to turn back and do it all over in reverse, as this was an out-and-back hike for me.
My day hike turned out to take several more hours than I had planned. I am struck, first, by the difficulty of this hike and, second, by the beauty of this trail. It really is remarkable to see, and a great hiking experience.
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Ice Age Trail - New Hope Iola Ski Hill Segment
COUNTY
WAUPACA, PORTAGE
COMMUNITIES
IOLA, NEW HOPE, HARRISON, ALBAN
TOTAL MILES
5.7-MILES POINT-TO-POINT
DIFFICULTY
DIFFICULT
LOWEST ELEVATION
1050 AMSL
HIGHEST ELEVATION
1250 AMSL
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN
1400 FT
NEXT NCT SECTION WESTBOUND
IAT RINGLE SEGMENT
NEXT NCT SECTION EASTBOUND
IAT SKUNK AND FOSTER LAKES SEGMENT
Directions and Trail 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.
Address for your GPS: E398 County Rd MM, Iola, WI 54945
| coordinates: 44.5374335643664, -89.20963581335052 |
| From Milwaukee | 2.5 Hours |
| From Madison | 2 Hours |
| From Green Bay | 1.5 Hours |
| From Wausau | 1 Hour |
| From Minneapolis | 3.5 Hours |
| From Chicago | 4 Hours |
Photos
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| Parking lot at the Iola Winter Sports complex |
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| Outdoor firepit and ski lodge at the Iola Winter Sports complex |
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| Historic marker for the Iola Winter Sports Club |
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| Single track footpath on the New Hope Iola Ski Hill Segment of the Ice Age National Trail |
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| Single track footpath on the New Hope Iola Ski Hill Segment of the Ice Age National Trail |
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| Ski jump at the Iola Winter Sports complex |
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| Footpath through a pine plantation on the New Hope Iola Ski Hill Segment of the Ice Age National Trail |
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| Two track footpath along the New Hope Iola Segment of the Ice Age National Trail |
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| The trail returns to single track after leaving the Iola Winter Sports Complex |
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| The trail threads through a young white pine plantation |
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| A recently logged plantation makes the trail difficult to track on a downslope |
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| The trail follows a private road for a short distance |
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| Single track trail climbs and dips hills frequently |
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| Is it eco-art? I feel the piece expresses weightless joy, a commentary on contemporary themes of economic despair and a reaction against post-modernism in its articulate gestures and familiar forms. |
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| A quintessential Wisconsin view of farmland from the trail. Just beautiful. |
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| And then, the trail suddenly feels like a way up north. This scene could easily be in Ashland County, but not typical of Portage County |
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| The hill climbs get steeper and longer |
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| And just when you crest a hilltop you descend down steeply into wetlands |
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| This skinny deer looks like it hasn't found the cornfield. Hope its not sick. |
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| A beautiful commemorative plaque. And one of two prominent hunting blinds which also make for fine benches to rest on between hill climbs |
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| The hills get ridiculous and steep going down and up without ever leveling out. |
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| But the views in this hilly area are worth the work out? I mean, it is peaceful, but there's a lot of other peaceful views with less strenuous trails. |