Trail now part of National Park Service
Three trails – including one that runs through Waupaca, Portage and Waushara counties – are the latest additions to the National Park Service.
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail, along with the North Country and New England national scenic trails, are now officially recognized as units of the NPS.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) announced the designation Dec. 7, along with NPS Director Chuck Sams and Luke Kloberdanz, executive director and CEO of the Ice Age Trail Alliance.
The Ice Age Trail stretches for nearly 1,200 miles across Wisconsin and includes the New Hope-Iola Ski Hill and Hartman Creek segments in Waupaca and Portage counties; Skunk and Foster Lakes and Waupaca River segments in Waupaca County; Emmons Creek Segment in Portage County; and Deerfield, Bohn Lake, Greenwood, Mecan River and Wedde Creek segments in Waushara County.
“The Ice Age Trail touches countless communities in the Badger State, charting a path from the St. Croix River through the heart of Wisconsin and all the way back up to Door County,” Baldwin said. “Along those hundreds of miles, local businesses, families, outdoor enthusiasts and communities reap the benefits, as visitors from all over come to enjoy Wisconsin’s great outdoors.”
“This is truly momentous for the Ice Age Trail and its thousands of supporters and volunteers,” Kloberdanz said. “Unit status gives the trail and its volunteers the recognition it duly deserves. Make no mistake: the Ice Age Trail is world-class and the number of hours alliance volunteers devote to it consistently rank among the top in all the National Park Service.”
No changes in trail system planned
The designation will not result in any immediate changes to the size or structure of the trails, which already have access points, signage, operating budgets, superintendents, staff and dedicated volunteers.
Expected to stretch a continuous 4,600 miles across Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin when completed, the North Country National Scenic Trail showcases an array of landscapes and includes historic sites that tell how America grew as a nation.
The trail includes more than 200 miles through northern Wisconsin’s Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland and Iron counties.
Although it has the second-shortest trail distance among the eight states, Wisconsin is responsible for providing the trail’s name with the original 60-mile Northern Country Trail in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Since 2014, Baldwin has introduced the National Scenic Trails Parity Act, bipartisan legislation to grant NPS unit status to the Ice Age and North Country trails to improve management, establish administrative clarity and grant access to additional federal resources.
“I was proud to lead the charge to support the Ice Age and the North Country scenic trails’ new designations, unlocking additional federal resources to ensure generations to come can better enjoy Wisconsin’s wilderness,” she said.
The newly designated trails bring the total number of NPS units to 428. The National Park Service previously administered the trails as part of the National Trails System.
“The new status for the Ice Age, New England and North Country national scenic trails will increase public awareness and use of these amazing pathways,” Sams said. “Their combined 5,500-plus miles travel through parts of 10 states and hundreds of communities, from large cities to rural towns, providing countless close-to-home opportunities for people to easily access green space and enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation.”