Photo essay: Ice Age Trail at Loew Lake

I recently went for a short hike along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail where it runs through the Loew Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Caught a few shots to share.

The Ice Age Trail, of course, runs for 1,000 miles, looping through Wisconsin along the terminal edge of the historic glaciers. I’ve never walked more than a few miles of it at a time, but I love the idea of it.

The Loew Lake segment of the State Forest is located at Highway K and County Line Road in Washington County. There is a parking lot for the trail there. The park is 1,090 acres of glacial topography and wetlands along the Oconomowoc River. The trail connects with the Holy Hill segment on the north and the Monches segment on the south, in case you want to hike farther than the 4.8 miles in the Loew Lake segment. 

Jackson Marsh: A Wildlife Area for all seasons

Jackson Swamp, photo by Noah Froh

If you are looking for a place to get away from it all one of the many DNR wildlife areas in Southeast Wisconsin might be just the thing. Let me introduce you to Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area, which is located just east of the Village of Jackson in Washington County, a mere 25 miles from Milwaukee.

At 2,312 acres, the property is large enough to support a variety of terrains and habitats, including wetlands, grasslands, woodlots, streams and small ponds. Cedar Creek, a 32-mile long tributary of the Milwaukee River, runs the length of the property. In wet weather—including winter thaws like those we’ve had recently—the main creek and its feeder streams may spill over their banks and pool in the surrounding wetlands. Some trails, which are generally found atop dikes that crisscross the wetlands, can be inundated at these times.

The core of the Wildlife Area is 1,571-acre Jackson Swamp, which is designated as a State Natural Area. This section features wet silver maple forest and white cedar and tamarack swamp, habitats that are more typical of northern Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program has been called “the nation’s largest and most successful statewide

nature preserve system.” * The program’s mission is to protect outstanding examples of Wisconsin's native landscape, including natural habitats, geological formations and archeological sites, and to provide refuge for rare plants and animals.

This story was published in my column at Milwaukee Magazine. Click here to continue reading. 

Cedar Creek, Photo by Noah Froh