42 Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014

Hemlock Creek Segment (Atlas Map 10f)

SnAPShoT

6.2 miles: Finohorn Rd. (2811⁄16 St.) to CTH-F

note: It is anticipated that volunteers will build a new section of Trail in 2014 south of Murphy Flowage Picnic Area that will connect with the current white blazed trail. The Trail access on CTH-F will be relocated farther south to the intersection of CTH-F and Bucks Lake Road. The new route is shown as “Future Trail” on the accompanying map. Check with the Ice Age Trail Alliance (800-227-0046, iceagetrail.org) for more details.

3 3 Th is scenic segment through rolling county forest highlights a heron rook-ery, the western edge of the Blue Hills and a loop around Hemlock Creek.

TRAIL ACCeSS AnD PARKInG

Finohorn Rd. (2811⁄16 St.): From Birchwood at the intersection of Main St. and STH-48, take STH-48 west 1.0 mi. At Loch Lomond Blvd. (283⁄4 St.) turn left and go south then west 2.5 mi. At Finohorn Rd. (2811⁄16 St.) turn left and go south 0.1 mi to the Trail access. Roadside parking.

CTh-F: From Birchwood, at the intersection of Main St. and STH-48, take STH-48 east 2.3 mi. At CTH-F turn right and go south 8.0 mi. No parking. Park at the Murphy Flowage Picnic Area, 200 yd. north of the CTH-F Trail access on the west side of the road. Follow the access road to the picnic area.

Additional Parking: Bolger Rd. (251⁄2 Ave.) parking area, 1.2 mi west of CTH-F.

The hIKe

IFrom its starting point on Finohorn Road (2811⁄16 St.) the segment heads south and crosses Pigeon Creek, then passes over fl at terrain to an aban-doned blue heron rookery (BW3), now home to nesting osprey.

South of the rookery the segment reaches a boardwalk; hikers should use cau-tion when passing through this area and will likely come out with wet feet, espe-cially in times of rainy weather and high water. One alternative for navigating through the area is to use a beaver dam that parallels the segment route; prior to boardwalk construction the dam was the main route of passage.

As the segment makes its way to Bolger Road, it ascends into Barron quartzite hills, the fi rst taste of the Blue Hills highlighted on segments farther east in Rusk County. Hikers should watch carefully for signage in this area as the route inter-sects many grassy logging roads.

Now in Rusk County, south of Bolger Road the segment drops steeply toward Hemlock Creek. Along the way the Trail passes some small, quickly fl owing creeks. Aft er paralleling Hemlock Creek for a half-mile the segment reaches a

At the Murphy Flowage Picnic Area and Murphy Flowage Campground.

From Pigeon and Hemlock creeks and a few small intermittent streams and lakes/wetland areas.

Primitive camping on county forest lands.

At the campground across CTH-F from the Murphy Flowage Picnic Area and at Rusk County Remote Campsite 6 on Bucks Lake Rd. (see Area Services).

other usesSmall portions overlap with a snow-shoe trail and logging/forest roads.

White-blazed loop south of Hemlock Creek.

Barron & Washburn Counties 43

CreekHemlock

Pigeon

CreekHemlock

Hemlock

Hemlock

Hemlock

Hemlock

Piig

RU

SK C

OU

NT

Y

BA

RR

ON

CO

UN

TY

MinnowLake

PickerelLake

RedCedarLake

Hemlock Lake Creek

Hemlock

Ced

ar

River

Creek

Creek

Pigeon

Sucker

Red

BolgerFlowage

Pigeon

RuskCountyForest

BarronCountyForest

RuskCountyForest

WaldoCarlson

Park

Murphy FlowageRecreation Area

25 1/2

29th Ave.

Blvd.

Earn

St.

Loch

Ave. Rd.Bolger

Lomond Finohorn Rd.

Mikana

F

F

F

F

V

48

48

P

P

rookery

BW3

BW2 BW1

Segment 11 Hemlock Creekpage 6902/10/14

junction (BW2) with a white-blazed trail that turns south from this junction and highlights the southern side of the creek. Pairing this white-blazed trail with the main segment creates an enjoyable 2.75-mile loop.

From the junction with the white-blazed loop, the main segment continues east along the north side of Hemlock Creek with several trailside benches pre-senting scenic views of the wetland below. Th e segment crosses the creek on an abandoned road bridge and enters the Murphy Flowage Picnic Area.

Th e segment continues southeast along the access road for the picnic area. Shortly before reaching its endpoint at CTH-F, the segment intersects (BW1) again with the white-blazed trail that follows the south side of Hemlock Creek.

Mobile Skills Crew project site, 2007, 2008, 2014

AReA SeRVICeS

Murphy Flowage Recreation Area: Picnic area (west side of CTH-F) and camping area (east side of CTH-F) (715-532-2113). On Trail.

Birchwood: See Blueberry Segment, p. 40. From the CTH-F Trail access go north ~10 mi. Also see Trail Access and Parking directions, above.

Rusk County Remote Campsite 6: Camping. From Murphy Flowage Picnic Area take CTH-F south 0.5 mi. At Bucks Lake Rd. (recommend 4WD) go west to the end of the primitive road. For more informa-tion contact Rusk County Forestry Department (715-532-2113, RuskCounty.org/department/forestry/camping-information).

0 1miles

½

Creek

2.4-mi CR to Blueberry Segment. North on Finohorn

Rd. (2811⁄16 St.), north on Loch Lomond Blvd. (283⁄4 St.)

F

0.5-mi CR to northern Blue hills Segment.

South on CTH-F.

46 Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014

Northern Blue Hills Segment (Atlas Map 11f)

SnAPShoT

9.3 miles: Bucks Lake Road at CTH-F to CTH-F Southern Trail Access

note: It is anticipated that volunteers will build a new section of Trail in 2014 north of Bucks Lake Road. The new route is shown as “Future Trail” on the accompanying map. Check with the Ice Age Trail Alliance (800-227-0046, iceagetrail.org) for more details.

3 4 Th is remote and rugged segment crossing through the Blue Hills features a number of scenic stream crossings and several beautiful wetland areas.

TRAIL ACCeSS AnD PARKInG

Bucks Lake Rd. at CTh-F: From Birchwood at the intersection of Main St. and STH-48, take STH-48 east 2.3 mi. At CTH-F turn right and go south 8.5 mi. Roadside parking on Bucks Lake Rd. Alterna-tively, park at the Murphy Flowage Picnic Area located on CTH-F 0.5 mi north of the Bucks Lake Rd./CTH-F intersection on the west side of the road. Follow access road around to the picnic area.

CTh-F Southern Trail Access: From Weyerhaeuser on USH-8 take CTH-F north then west 6.6 mi. Roadside parking.

Additional Parking: (i) Bucks Lake Rd. where the Trail goes off-road (Ru8). Roadside parking. (ii) Stout Rd. Trail access parking area (Ru6).

The hIKe

ITh e segment starts at the intersection of Bucks Lake Road and CTH-F. Hikers should head east on Bucks Lake Road for 0.6 mi. Th is distance will be shorter once volunteers construct a new section of Trail north of Bucks Lake Road. Watch

for signage at approximately 0.2 mi east of CTH-F that will direct hikers to the new route. Th e current segment route leaves (Ru8) Bucks Lake Road and heads south on a logging/forest road. Th e segment traverses rolling hills through a mixed hardwood forest in an area showing evidence of extensive beaver activity.

Reaching the wide, grassy road/spur trail to the Stout Road parking area, the segment continues southward through rolling, hummocky glacial topography in a mix of hardwood forest. Th is portion of the segment is mostly on a two-track footpath, occasionally mixing in short sections of current and old logging roads. Hikers should pay close att ention to Trail signage at intersecting logging/for-est roads. Aft er reaching the outlet of a large wetland (Ru5), the Trail follows a branch of Devil’s Creek through a scenic and peaceful shallow valley, crossing a series of bridges.

Th e segment continues its southward course through hummocky terrain. Eventually the segment makes its way to a ridge overlooking Devil’s Creek. Th e

At the nearby Murphy Flowage Picnic Area and Murphy Flowage Camp-ground.

From Devil’s Creek and other small streams/creeks and lakes/wetland areas.

Primitive camping on county forest lands.

Nearby campgrounds at Rusk County Remote Campsite 6 and Murphy Flowage Recreation Area and at Audie Flowage-Perch Lake Recreation Area, ~5 mi east (see Area Services).

other usesPortions overlap with logging/forest roads and gravel Bucks Lake Rd.

Rusk County 47

Cre

ek

CreekHemlock

Cre

ekC

reek

Cre

ekC

reek

Cre

ekC

reek

Cre

ekC

reek

Cre

ek

PineLake

Cre

ek

Devils

Spring

Creek

Creek

Fork

South

Creek

Hemlock

Cre

ek

Creek

Hemlock

H

e mlock

RuskCountyForest

RuskCountyForest

Murphy FlowageRecreation Area

Rd.

Stout

Yuker Rd.

Rd.

Rd.

Rd.

Rd.

Lake

Lake

Lake

Bolger

(24th Ave.)Town Line Rd.

Perch

Bucks

Bu cks

O

OO

W

F

F

F

F

F

P

P

P

BaldHill

BlueHills

Ski Trail

BW2BW1

RU8

RU6

RU5

RU9

Segment 12 Northern Blue Hillspage 7302/10/14

0.5-mi CR to hemlock Creek Segment. North on CTH-F.

Devils

1.2-mi CR to Southern Blue hills Segment. South on CTH-F.

Trail descends to the creek, crosses on a bridge, then climbs 80 feet up another ridge on the oppo-site side. Th e segment then follows the ridge through birch and pine for-est before reaching the segment’s termi-nus at the CTH-F southern Trail access.

Mobile Skills Crew project site, 2013, 2014

AReA SeRVICeS

Audie Flowage-Perch Lake Recreation Area: Camping. From Bucks Lake Rd. and CTH-F go east 4.8 mi on Bucks Lake Rd. For more information contact Rusk County Forestry Department (715-532-2113, ruskcounty.org/departments/for-estry/camping-information).

Murphy Flowage Recreation Area: See Hemlock Creek Seg-ment, p. 42. From Bucks Lake Road at CTH-F Trail access go north 0.7 mi.

Birchwood: See Blueberry Segment, p. 40. From Bucks Lake Rd. at CTH-F Trail access go north ~10.5 mi. Also see Trail Access and Parking directions, above.

Rusk County Remote Campsite 6: Camping. See Hemlock Creek Segment, p. 42. From Bucks Lake Rd. at CTH-F Trail access go west on primitive Bucks Lake Rd. to the end of the road.

Weyerhaeuser: See Southern Blue Hills Segment, p. 48. From CTH-F southern Trail access go east and south 6.6 mi. Also see Trail Access and Parking directions, above.

0 1miles

½

48 Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014

Southern Blue Hills Segment (Atlas Map 12f)

SnAPShoT

7.2 miles: yuker Rd. at CTH-F to Old 14 Rd. (Bass Lake Rd)

3 4 Th is remote and rugged segment continues through the Blue Hills, traversing ridges, kett les and ravines.

TRAIL ACCeSS AnD PARKInG

yuker Rd. at CTh-F: From Weyerhaeuser on USH-8 take CTH-F north 5.4 mi. to yuker Rd., an unmarked dirt road heading west. Roadside parking on yuker Rd.

old 14 Rd. (Bass Lake Rd.): From Weyerhaeuser on USH-8, take CTH-F (2nd St.) north 0.1 mi. At the fi rst street north of the railroad tracks, unmarked Railway Ave., turn left. Railway Ave. transitions into Old 14 Rd. (Bass Lake Rd). Go west 1.0 mi, angle left across the railroad tracks and continue west 1.9 mi to the Trail access. Roadside parking along the north side of the road.

The hIKe

ITh is segment starts at the intersection of CTH-F and Yuker Road, an unmarked dirt road used by fi shermen and hunters for access to Rusk County Forest land. Hikers should head west on Yuker Road for 0.7 miles to a point (Ru9) where

the Trail leaves Yuker Road and heads south on a logging/forest road. Shortly, the segment splits off to the right on a narrow tread. Within the fi rst few miles, the Trail twice crosses scenic Moose Ear Creek on primitive wooden and log bridges (second crossing: Ru4). As the route makes its way to North Lake it follows or parallels forested ridges with views of trailside kett les and down glacial-formed ravines on a mix of two-track footpath and logging roads. Low-lying areas may be soggy. Hilly, forested terrain characterizes this portion of the segment, most of which is on Rusk County Forest land. During growing season dense vegetation hugs the Trail; pay close att ention to Trail signage.

Th e segment eventually emerges into a clearing and soon aft er intersects and briefl y follows to the east a dirt access road. Th e segment curves around to the west and south of North Lake, a local fi shing hole, then reaches the south shore of the lake and a primitive campsite (Ru2). Th e south shore off ers scenic views of the lake and is a perfect place to view the many birds, including loons, who use the lake.

South of North Lake, the Trail soon comes to a gate and fence stile and enters private land. Th e segment crosses the outlet/small stream (Ru1) from a small, unnamed lake then weaves in and out of woods, skirts daisy pastures and crosses the small stream two more times on a combination of forest roads, farm roads and narrower tread. Eventually the Trail climbs a ridge overlooking a lake through the forest, crosses another fence stile and comes to a gravel farm road (Ru13)

From North Lake, Moose Ear Creek and other small intermittent streams/creeks and wetlands.

Primitive camping on county forest land and at a primitive campsite (Ru2) on the south shore of North Lake.

The portion of the segment south of the Rusk County Forest boundary to Old 14 Rd. (Bass Lake Rd.) is closed during gun deer season.

other usesPortions overlap with logging/forest roads and dirt access road.

Rusk County 49

with excellent views of agricultural fi elds through an opening in the trees.

From here on its way to its terminus on Old 14 Road (Bass Lake Road), the seg-ment includes a trek through a forested, more hummocky area, the crossing of a set of railroad tracks, the skirting of another wetland/lake and a pine, oak and birch forest with an undergrowth of ferns.

Mobile Skills Crew project site, 2013,

2014

AReA SeRVICeS

Audie Flowage-Perch Lake Recreation Area: See North-ern Blue Hills Segment, p. 46. From yuker Rd. at CTH-F go north and east ~9 mi.

Murphy Flowage Recre-ation Area: See Hemlock Creek Segment, p. 42. From yuker Rd. at CTH-F go north ~10.5 mi.

Birchwood: See Blueberry Segment, p. 40. From yuker Rd. at CTH-F Trail access go north ~20 mi.

Weyerhaeuser: Restaurant, grocery store, convenience store, lodging. From Old 14 Rd. (Bass Lake Rd) Trail access go east 3.0 mi. Lodging at Country view Motel (715-353-2780).

Creek

Cre

ek

Ear

Ear

Moose

Creek

Cre

ekC

reek

Cre

ekC

reek

Cre

ekC

reek

Cre

ekC

reek

Ear

Ear

Ear

MooseMooseMooseMooseMoose

Creek

WeyerhaeuserBassLake

Big BowkerLake Pickerel

Lakes

NorthLake

Lost MansLake

Creek

Soft

Creek

Creek

Creek

Maple

Maple

Maple

Soft

Little

Cre

ek

Ear

Moose

Soft

Cra

nberry

RuskCountyForest

RuskCountyForest

Rd.

Rd.

Cranberry

Ced

arSw

amp

Lake

Rd. (Bass Lake Rd.)

Rd.

Old 14

Yuker Rd.

Old 14

Rd.Tyman

Railway Ave.

Historic Rd.

F

F

W

W

W

F

8

8

BaldHill

RU 9

RU4

RU2

RU1

RU13

Segment 13 Sourthern Blue Hillspage 7502/10/14

21.5-mi CR to Chippewa Moraine

Segment

1.2-mile CR to northern Blue hills Segment.

North on CTH-F.

0 1miles

½

Must-Have Ice Age Trail Books!

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. Both books were written and published by the Ice Age Trail Alliance. All proceeds for each book help build and maintain the Ice Age Trail. Please call the IATA at (800) 227-0046 with any questions. To order, visit www.iceagetrail.org or complete the order form below. Name: Address: City/State/Zip: Phone: Email: Item Quantity Price

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 Please charge my Visa or MasterCard

Card number: Please send this form to: Expiration date: Ice Age Trail Alliance Amount: 2110 Main Street Signature: Cross Plains, WI 53528