Ice Age Trail Alliance - Rock and Dane County Chapters

Welcome to another hike hosted by the Sole Seekers hiking group. Our group was formed last year with the desire to bring people together to enjoy the outdoors and appreciate the special trail that we have within our state.

This hike will pick up on the southern portion of the Table Bluff Segment, traveling through more of the Driftless Area, highlighting the Alliance-owned SwampLovers and Holmes Preserves. The terrain will include restored prairie, oak and hickory woodlands, dramatic rock outcroppings of dolomite with stunning views of the Blue Mounds.

The Hike:
We will begin this hike from the Table Bluff trailhead at Scheele Road and proceed north to Table Bluff Road for approximately 2.4 miles and then return back to Scheele Road for a total of 4.8 miles.
This is a moderate difficulty hike.
There is a portable toilet on the top of the Bluff at "Picnic Hill"
Well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome.

What to wear/bring:
Layers for variable temperatures and weather conditions.
Day pack with water, snacks, sunscreen, mosquito repellent.
Hiking poles may be helpful.

Our goal is to host group hikes along all the Dane County Ice Age Trail segments over the next couple seasons. Those that complete the segments with us will receive a special "Sole Seekers" sticker, in addition to being eligible for a Dane County Ice Age Trail patch.

Welcome to another hike hosted by the Sole Seekers hiking group. Our group was formed last year with the desire to bring people together to enjoy the outdoors and appreciate the special trail that we have within our state.

This hike will be the first of 3 separate hikes dividing this segment and will highlight the Village of Cross Plains, an Ice Age Trail Community and the Alliance-owned Anderson Preserve. The terrain will include what the conservationist Increase Lapham named the "Great Dividing Ridge", which marks the boundary between the most recent glaciated area to the east and north and the Driftless Area to the west and south.

The Hike:
We will begin our hike behind the Ice Age Trail Alliance headquarters and travel through the Village of Cross Plains. We will climb a series of switchbacks to the top of the Bluff, and loop around Anderson Preserve, exiting at Hickory Hill. We will then proceed back through the village to the Ice Age Trail Alliance headquarters.
The total hike will be approximately 3.3 miles.
There is limited parking behind the Ice Age Trail Headquarters, otherwise there is ample street parking in the area, or a public lot off Main St.
This is a moderate difficulty hike.
There are bathroom facilities available in the Village of Cross Plains.
Well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome.

What to wear/bring:
Layers for variable temperatures and weather conditions
Day pack with water, snacks, sunscreen, mosquito repellent
Hiking poles may be helpful

Our goal is to host group hikes along all the Dane County Ice Age Trail segments over the next couple seasons. Those that complete the segments with us will receive a special "Sole Seekers" sticker, in addition to being eligible for a Dane County Ice Age Trail patch.

Welcome to another hike hosted by the Sole Seekers hiking group, as we kick off our Ice Age Trail Mammoth Hike Challenge!
Cross Plains is an Ice Age Trail Community.

Our group was formed last year with the desire to bring people together to enjoy the outdoors and appreciatethe special trail that we have within our state.

This hike will continue along the Cross Plains segment, passing through the John I. and Ida Hillebrand Glacial Valley Conservancy. We will be able to see fall colors from atop the bluffs over the Village of Cross Plains.
We will also hike into the Alliance-owned Mammoth Back Preserve with its ridge of unglaciated bedrock hills.

The Hike:
We will begin our hike at the public parking area at 1724 Main St., and proceed over the bridge spanning Black Earth Creek through a residential area to the Glacial Valley Conservancy. It will be a steep climb up into the Conservancy. We will then proceed to Cty Hwy P, and cross the highway into Mammoth Back Preserve to our end point at Stagecoach Road. We will then turn around and hike back to the parking area. The total out and back hike is approximately 4.8 miles.
This is a moderate difficulty hike.
There are bathroom facilities in the Village of Cross Plains.
Well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome.

There will be an opportunity for an optional social gathering after the hike for anyone interested. We will announce the location on the day of the hike.

What to wear/bring:
Layers for variable temperatures and weather conditions
Day pack with water, snacks, sunscreen, bug repellent
Hiking poles may be helpful

Our goal is to host group hikes along all the Dane County Ice Age Trail segments over the next couple seasons. Those that complete the segments with us will receive a special "Sole Seekers" sticker, in addition to being eligible for a Dane County Ice Age Trail Patch.