Enjoy a scenic hike on a section of the Monches Segment of the Ice Age Trail. This is a 3.05 mile long trail (only .93 mile to the cache from the north trailhead), featuring scenic views , a variety of hardwoods, an elaborate bridge and boardwalk system, a crossing of the Oconomowoc River, and a small brook flowing over tumbled boulders and rocks. In winter you may need some type of ice cleats or Yak Trax to hike the trails here. The cache is hidden only a dozen feet off the trail.
You could park at one end and and only find the nearest caches. If you plan to hike the entire segment with others you could even place a car at each end of the parking coordinates.
Our favorite type of geocaches are those that take us on an adventure through nature. If you're a hiker you'll love this trail; if you're mainly interested in shorter geocache walks then this is likely not for you. The Monches segment of the IAT is one of our favorite areas to hike!
ABOUT PARKING
NORTH
Parking is allowed on the wide gravel shoulder of Hwy E near the north trailhead. (You can also park 650 feet north of the trailhead in the parking lot on Hwy K) See below for coordinates.
SOUTH
The Monches/Merton IAT parking lot is a small gravel parking area on the south side of Funk Road. A short spur trail east of the lot leads to the Monches trailhead.
THE ICE AGE TRAIL
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is one of only 11 national scenic trails in the U.S. Although approx. 1,200 miles long, the entire trail is located within only one state: Wisconsin! Tracing the edge of the glaciers that covered much of Wisconsin during the Ice Age, this long-distance trail travels from Sturgeon Bay, Door County, to St. Croix Falls, Polk County. We love hiking the IAT and have found hundreds of geocaches throughout the 30 counties that the trail passes through.
There are 11 National Scenic Trails:
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail
- Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
- North Country National Scenic Trail
- Ice Age National Scenic Trail
- Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
- Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
- Florida National Scenic Trail
- Arizona National Scenic Trail
- New England National Scenic Trail
- Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail
Just as wonderful for a short day visit as a long-distance backpacking adventure, these trails call to all who want to explore America's natural landscapes.
This geocache placed by a member of the
Cache placement approved by J. Robson, Waukesha County Parks, permit #2020-13