(/ 12 Æ% 127 Æ% 73 Æ% 22 Æ% 21 Æ% 13 Æ% 82 Æ% 23. Æÿ B. Æÿ V. Æÿ C. Æÿ FF. ÆÿCC. Æÿ JJ. Æÿ H. Æÿ Z. Æÿ G. Æÿ J. Æÿ ZZ. Æÿ D. Æÿ F.

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1 WAUSHARA ADAMS 4 Æÿ Z Existing Ice Age Trail, subject to change as it evolves toward completion Other Trail Unofficial Connecting Route (unmarked) County oundary ublic or IATA Land Miles : 280,000 compilation scale February 23, 2014 Roche-A-Cri State ark Quincy luff State Natural Area Friendship Æ% 13 Adams Western Æ% 21 Ice Age Trail Waushara, Marquette and Adams Counties Ice Age Trail Alliance ifurcation Æÿ J Waushara, Marquette and Adams Counties Æÿ G ÆÿCC Æÿ C Æÿ FF Æÿ O Wildlife Area Coloma Æÿ CH Westfield Æÿ V Æÿ JJ ifurcation Æÿ Deerfield Æ% 73 ohn Mecan River Æ% 21 Chaffee Æÿ J Wedde ORTAGE WAUSHARA Wautoma Æ% 22 Eastern Æÿ H Æ% 82 Æÿ ZZ Æ% 82 Montello Æÿ D Æ% 22 (/ Æ% 13 Æÿ F Observatory Hill State Natural Area Æÿ H Wisconsin Dells Æ% 127 Æ% 23 MARQUETTE COLUMIA John Muir ark Æÿ F John Muir County ark Æÿ O

2 Mecan River (Atlas Map 52f) Snapshot 7.2 miles (6.8 IAT, 0.4 CR: uttercup to STH-21 Note: It is anticipated that volunteers will build a new section of Trail in 2014 south of STH- 21. The new route is shown as Future Trail on the accompanying map. Check with the Ice Age Trail Alliance ( , iceagetrail.org) for more details. 2 2 This segment traverses a variety of natural communities from wetland to grassland to forest and includes outstanding views of the Mecan Springs and Mecan River. From the Mecan River. A Dispersed Camping Area (WS14) south of uttercup ortion of the segment crossing private land between CTH-GG and 9th is closed during gun deer season. Trail Access and arking Road walk along 9th lue-blazed spur trail (WS6) to Mecan River vista. uttercup : From I-39 take Exit 124 (Coloma) and follow STH-21 east 1.4 mi. At 6th turn left and go north 2.6 mi. At uttercup turn right and go east 0.8 mi to the parking area on the south side of the road. STH-21: From I-39 Exit 124 at Coloma, take STH-21 east 4.0 mi to the parking area on the north side of STH-21 between 9th and the Mecan River. Additional arking: (i) 6th Ln. parking area. (ii) CTH-GG roadside parking. (iii) 9th DNR parking areas located 0.6 and 0.8 mi north of STH-21. The Hike I From its starting point at the parking area on uttercup Drive, the segment heads south on a grass-and-dirt access road. The segment then heads west through a pine plantation, where one of the Waushara County Chapter s signature log benches (WS14) offers a shady respite. A signed spur trail leads to a nearby Dispersed Camping Area for long-distance hikers. The segment continues through a State Ice Age Trail Area property that contains rolling hills with steep slopes and scenic panoramas of the rural farm countryside. The property is a mix of pine plantations, upland woods and grasslands. As the segment makes its way south toward Chicago Road, it passes through a large, open field where whitetail deer are often spotted at dawn and dusk. South of Chicago Road the segment heads into the Mecan River headwaters area and intersects an outstanding example of a tunnel channel. The channel extends west several miles through the Almond Moraine to the edge of the Hancock Moraine. As it bends around the western edge and then southern edge the segment offers outstanding views of the Mecan Springs more than a hundred feet below. Many migratory and wetland birds visit the area including sandhill cranes, northern bobwhite quail, red-shouldered hawks and bald eagles. The segment bends south away from the springs, crosses CTH-GG and con- Waushara County 171

3 9th 6th 9th 6th 0.5 mi CR to. West on uttercup, north on 6th Ln., west on ow String uttercup DCA WS14 SIATA Jeanette GG Schmudlack Virginia Chicago Cottonville ing Ln. Mecan Springs Cottonville WS6 Mecan River State Fishery Area Mecan FF 21 GG 2.7-mi CR to Wedde. West on STH-21, south on 9th, east on, south on CTH-, west on CTH-JJ, west on Cypress WS5 River 0 ½ 1 miles 21 CH Richford tinues south and east for a short distance before arriving at a spot above the banks of the Mecan River, renowned as one of the finest trout streams in central Wisconsin. A little farther on, a rewarding side trip on the blue-blazed Mecan Vista JJ Trail (WS6) offers views of the Mecan River. Rogers ond The segment departs from the Mecan River State Fishery Area briefly and passes over the Wisconsin Operating Engineer training grounds. For safety s sake, hikers should stay on the Trail to avoid the heavy equipment operated on the grounds. 39 As it approaches 51 9th Avenue, the segment Southre-enters the fishery area property. ranch From 9th Avenue the segment continues past rock piles cleared from pioneer 5th Czech SIATA Ct. Cypress Hikers will cross through a recent timber harvest area, part of an oak regeneration project. East of 9th Avenue the segment hits another recent pine timber harvest area. ay close attention to Trail signage in these logged areas. farmers fields and through deciduous forest and openings JJ of prairie and wetlands along the river. The segment bends back to the west and passes through a pine 172 Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014 Wedde North ranch Wedde River Curtis

4 plantation before emerging back onto 9th Avenue (WS5). Here, hikers should turn left and walk south 0.4 miles along the road. The segment then leaves the road again, heading southeast along the river for a short distance before reaching the segment s terminus at the STH-21 parking area. Volunteers are planning to build a new section of Trail in 2014 between STH-21 and Avenue. Included in this new section will be a 32-foot-long bridge and 70-foot-long boardwalk to span wet areas. Mobile Skills Crew project site, 2003, 2010, 2014 AReA SeRVICeS Richford: Restaurant, lodging. From the intersection of STH-21 and 9th, go south on 9th 0.2 mi then south and east on for 0.6 mi. INN Style program lodging at Mecan River House & (call first, ). Lodging at Mecan River Inn (N1264 CTH-, Coloma, or , mecanriverinn.net). Meals at Johann s ar & Grill across from the Mecan River Inn. Coloma: Restaurant, grocery store, convenience store, lodging, camping, library. From the STH-21 Trail access go west 4.0 mi on STH-21. Lodging at the Coloma Hotel ( , colomahotel. com) and Caribou ay Retreat ( , cariboubayretreat.com). Wautoma: Restaurant, grocery store, convenience store, lodging, camping, library, medical care. From the STH-21 Trail access go east ~10 mi on STH-21. coloma elementary STAff hancock: See ohn and, p From uttercup Trail access go west then north ~6 mi. Students from Coloma Elementary School enjoying the ohn. Waushara County 173

5 Must-Have Ice Age Trail ooks! The Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014 features more than 100 detailed segment-by-segment descriptions and maps to help you connect with the thousand-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Written for those seeking a wide range of adventures on the Ice Age Trail, the softcover Guidebook includes these items and more: - A detailed written description of each segment along the Ice Age Trail s thousand-mile route. - A helpful map excerpt for each segment from the Ice Age Trail Alliance s popular Ice Age Trail Atlas. - Ratings for each segment on a variety of criteria to help hikers find the Ice Age Trail excursion that s right for them. The Ice Age Trail Atlas 2014 is a set of 105 color, shaded relief style maps at 1:48,000 scale. In contrast to the smaller map excerpts in the Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014, each map in this package is printed on an 8.5 x 11 sheet and includes not just the Ice Age Trail route but also a wider snapshot of the area around the Trail. oth books were written and published by the Ice Age Trail Alliance. All proceeds for each book help build and maintain the Ice Age Trail. lease call the IATA at (800) with any questions. To order, visit or complete the order form below. Name: Address: City/State/Zip: hone: Item Quantity rice Guidebook x $24 (members) or $30 (nonmembers) = Atlas x $18 (M) or $22.50 (NM) = Shipping $6 for one book, $1.50 extra for each additional book = Sales Tax 5.5% for orders shipped to a Wisconsin address = TOTAL = I have enclosed a check or money order payable to the Ice Age Trail Alliance lease charge my Visa or MasterCard Card number: lease send this form to: Expiration date: Ice Age Trail Alliance Amount: 2110 Main Street Signature: Cross lains, WI 53528