This cache is one of 31 caches - part of the WGA IAT Series - hidden to highlight Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail. See the bookmark list for all of the geocaches included in this series!
The Timberland Hills Segment traverses both Burnett and Barron Counties. It follows mostly ski and snowshoe trails on hilly terrain through the Timberland ski areas, passing some scenic small lakes and wetland areas along the way. This part of the trail takes hikers over the hummocky topography of the Superior Lobe's St. Croix Moraine. The trail weaves through mixed hardwood forests and crosses an old beaver dam. between two wetlands.
A pleasant walk on the Ice Age Trail to a footbridge on the south side of a small lake. There are a couple of beaver lodges in the lake and an old beaver dam just above the footbridge.
This cache location can be accessed from two different trailheads, one on the west side and one on the east. Consider taking two vehicles to see the full trail.
The western trail head is just a parking area, no amenities. The eastern trailhead is very big and well maintained. There is a warming house/shelter and pit toilets that appear to be cleaned on a regular basis. The parking area also has a fire ring and picnic tables.
Winter access is easy as long as cachers hiking or on snowshoes stay well off the groomed areas of the trail. Additionally, this section of trail is lighted for skiing in the winter so that makes night access possible during that season./p>
From the west, the trail follows Timberland Hills snowshoe trails of varying widths, mainly nice single track. This hike is about 1.25 miles one way.
From the east, the trail follows the lighted ski trail for about 0.4 miles then continues on snowshoe single track trail for a total length of about 1.5 miles one way.
Both routes offer enjoyable hikes (flies not withstanding). From the east the trail runs along the shore of another small lake. There are benches to rest and relax to the east and west of the cache location, within approximately a quarter of a mile of the footbridge.
The lake has a couple of beaver lodges and the footbridge crosses a small gully just below an old beaver dam that probably formed the lake.
Barron County Land
Wisconsin's Last Glacier
Movement of the Laurentide Ice Sheet was shaped—to a certain extent—by the landscape. Highlands diverted the glacier into lobes (tongues or fingers of ice) that advanced into the lowland areas.
The Lake Michigan Lobe of the glacier flowed down the Lake Michigan lowland to central Indiana and Illinois. The Langlade, Wisconsin Valley, Chippewa, and Superior Lobes covered northern Wisconsin. The Green Bay Lobe flowed south in the Green Bay lowland, advancing over the east end of the Baraboo Hills and into both ends of Devils Lake gorge.
The edge of the Green Bay Lobe was probably a steep ice slope, perhaps several hundred feet high, littered with rock debris. Behind the steep slope, the ice surface probably rose very gently toward the center of the ice sheet, where the ice was thousands of feet thick.
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is one of only 11 national scenic trails in the U.S. It is approximately 1,200 miles long and the entire trail is located within Wisconsin! The trail follows the edge of Wisconsin's most recent glacier and highlights many geological features along the way. The western terminus is located in Interstate State Park in Polk County and continues through a total of 30 counties with the eastern terminus located in Potawatomi State Park in Door County.
WISCONSIN GEOCACHING ASSOCIATION
The Wisconsin Geocaching Association (WGA) is a group of geocachers dedicated to promoting and protecting geocaching within the state of Wisconsin. The WGA organizes geocaching events, works with land owners/managers on geocaching policies, educates the public at large about geocaching, and facilitates communication between WGA members. To learn more about the WGA click on our logo below!
This cache placed by the WGA
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