Ice Age Trail--Monches Segment, Waukesha County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Oak-hickory Woods, Bottomland Forest, Sedge Meadow, Marsh and Open Water.
Best Birds: Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Sandhill Crane, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, American Kestrel, Great-horned and Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo,Tufted Titmouse, and Scarlet Tanager. Louisiana Waterthrush is possible. A nesting colony of Northern Rough-winged Swallow can be viewed under the railroad bridge at the south end of the route.
Directions: 31 miles NW of Milwaukee. This is a 3.7 mile hike one-way between the towns of North Lake and Monches. It follows and crosses the Oconomowoc River. Private lands border the trail to the east. To access the the North Lake/South trailhead: From Hwy 83 in North Lake go east on County Hwy VV for 1 mile. Turn north on County Hwy E. Drive 0.25 mile to East Kilbourne Rd. Continue west on Kilbourne, under the railroad bridge and another 0.1 mile, past Laskin Rd to the small Ice Age Trail parking lot on the south side of the road, (43.16171, -88.35748). The trail head is opposite the bridge on the north side of the road. To access the Monches/North trailhead: In Monches drive north for 0.25 mile to the intersection of County Highways K, E and Q. Park along the wide shoulder on the west side of County Hwy E, (43.19276, -88.34592) or 0.1 mi north at a larger parking lot on Hwy K. Follow signs to the trailhead on Hwy Q.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Spring wildflowers are abundant in the maple-dominated woods during May.
East Kilbourne Road, North Lake WI
County Hwy E, Monches WI
Ice Age Trail: Monches - Wisconsin | AllTrails
Wisconsin Explorer: Hiking the Ice Age Trail Monches Segment (wisconsin-explorer.blogspot.com)
Anne Moretti
