We are definitely beginning to see the early signs of Autumn and, as such, entering into what I have always considered to be the finest season for hiking in Wisconsin. The air is cooler, the insects are almost a complete non-factor and the foliage is beginning to thin which is opening up some views again in the woods. It is an increasingly wonderful time to be out in nature!
My wife agreed to come with me on this Holiday weekend hike to drop me off at the beginning of the hike and pick me up at the end. This greatly simplified the required planning process for me, removed the need for the bike ride from one end of the hike to the other and gave me more time for hiking. This allowed me to do three segments today along with a short 2 mile connecting route between a couple of them. The weather started crisp and cool at 47 degrees but had warmed nicely on a completely sunny day to around 78 degrees when I finished the hike just before noon.
I began today’s hike on County Road E at the eastern end of the Newwood Segment and hiked the segments from east to west ending at the western end of the Timberland Wilderness Segment on Tower Road. Here is a map of the hike:
It would have been impossible for me to have hiked all of these segments on my own without doing what probably would have been a 40 mile or longer bike ride because there just aren’t any roads in this area that would have taken me from one end of the hike to the other. So I really appreciated my wife’s help with this today! Note that you can park at the east end of the Newwood Segment on the west side of Highway E or about half way through that segment on the south side of Conservation Ave. You can also park at the western end of the Timberland Wilderness Segment on the west side of Tower Road. That’s it. There are no other parking areas for any of these segments. This is a very remote wilderness area.
The trail heads west from this sign on County Highway E: (It was a bit dark yet as I was beginning at around 5:50 am)
and heads into the woods on an old RR right of way:
Since my wife was with me, a chance for a picture before I begin the hike:
A metal bridge over what I believe is Camp Twentysix Creek:
The trail becomes more of a single track as it heads northwest along the New Wood River:
The New Wood River from the trail:
These are three White Pines that were not cut when this area was logged back in the early 1900’s. As a result, they have become quite large today!
A beautiful day to be out in the woods:
These types of small creek crossing were numerous throughout all 3 of these segments:
An unnamed small lake that the trail passes by:
A rare clearing in the woods:
The sun about to come up over the trees on the east side of the clearing:
A beautiful morning. Note the mist/fog that hasn’t burned off yet in the distance:
Just after crossing Conservation Avenue, the trail uses this logging road for a short distance. This was a bit rare up here as most of the trail in these segments was single track:
There were many small, swamp filled kettles like this one in this area:
A tree getting an early start on the fall colors that will dominate these woods in the next month or so:
This segment ends as the trail makes it’s second crossing of Conservation Avenue and the Camp 27 Segment begins:
This segment is almost all single track and begins with a steep descent:
A nice bridge crosses a small stream as the trail makes its way toward old Camp 27 from the south:
Some of the lower wetland areas are covered with moss and ferns right now:
A wonderful day to be out here!
This is the ford point of the North Fork of the Copper River. Not much of a challenge this time of year as you can just rock hop across it:
Just before the end of this segment the trail crosses a marshy area on a 100 foot long beaver dam. The planks in the foreground help hikers cross a breach that has formed in the eastern portion of the dam:
The segment ends when you reach Tower Road. There is a 1.9 mile connecting point hike on Tower Road to the next segment. Turn right when you reach Tower Road and walk north until you see this sign for the start of the Timberland Wilderness Segment on the east side of the road:
Again, a wonderful day to be out here:
A two-plank native material bridge takes you across a ravine:
Lots of ridges and streams in this picturesque segment:
Great directional signs:
BTW, huge kudos to the people responsible for the trail in Lincoln County. I am less than a mile now from completing my hike on the 65.3 miles of trail that go through this county and every one of them has been fantastic. Even though this part of the trail passes through an extremely remote wilderness area, the IAT workers have taken the time to develop single track trail through most portions of it. The trail is consistently well marked, well maintained and an absolute pleasure to hike. Their efforts allow the rest of us to enjoy a wilderness experience that would otherwise be very difficult to find. Thank you!
Another picture, this one in daylight!
and the obligatory selfie. My wife and I a few minutes after completing my hike:
With today’s hike I passed under the 300 miles remaining mark.
Weather – High 40’s to high 70’s and sunny
Miles hiked today – 15.2
Miles covered to date – 798.3
Miles remaining – 296
Ice Age Trail Hiking 