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When the first people arrived in North America, the continent was a very different place. Pre-historic megafauna roamed the land (like saber-toothed cats, mammoths, and giant ground sloths). The north of the country was encased under a massive ice sheet that covered almost all of what is today Canada. There were also massive pre-history lakes covering much of the land. Wisconsin was the frontier of where these two worlds of megafauna and icecaps met.
The Ice Age National Scientific Reserve is an area of the National Park System made up of nine sites in Wisconsin. It preserves the geological evidence in the state of past glaciation. The Ice Age was a very different time in North America's history and around 70% of its large animals have gone extinct - but one can still see the Megafauna exhibited in some of the museums around the country.
The Reserve Dedicated To Wisconsin's Ice Age History
The Ice Age National Scientific Reserve was established in 1964 and is made up of some 32,200 acres. At these sites, visitors see landforms that resulted from the Wisconsin glaciation. The nine units of the reserve are mostly various state parks in Wisconsin and other protected areas. They are administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The last glacial period started around 110,000 and ended only around 10,000 years ago - long after North America was populated by humans.
- Last Glacial Period: 110,000 to 10,000 Years Ago
- Protects: The Glacial Landforms and Landscapes of Wisconsin
It is surreal to think just how much the country has changed over the last few thousand years. The changes are bewilderingly profound and they have left their marks on the earth.
The Units Of The Ice Age National Scientific Reserve
The reserve is an affiliated area of the National Park System. The units protect different areas of scientific (and scenic) value. It is perfect for studying Wisconsin's natural history.
The nine units of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve are:
- Interstate Park
- Chippewa Moraine
- Mill Bluff State Park
- Devil's Lake State Park
- Cross Plains
- Horicon State Wildlife Area and National Wildlife Refuge
- Campbellsport Drumlins
- Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit
- Two Creeks Buried Forest
Most of the units are open for visitation but some of them are not. Some are not yet developed and have only minimal trails and no interpretive aids.
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Many of the sites are crossed by Wisconsin's Ice Age National Scenic Trail. It is one of only 11 National Scenic Trails in the United States and follows the terminal moraine from the last Ice Age. It is another of the great systems in Wisconsin to explore the incredible geological history of the state.
The trail extends from Lake Michigan's shoreline at Sturgeon Bay across the state to Interstate State Park on the St. Croix River (the border with Wisconsin and Minnesota).
- Length: 1,200 Miles
If one would like to do an Ice Age Trail thru-hike, one will need to plan ahead. It normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks to complete. In the winter, visitors can snowshoe or cross-country ski along much of it.
Kettle Moraine State Forest
The Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit is the largest (and first) of the forest's units and offers year-round recreation. It is one of the best places to learn about the scientific reserve and has a dedicated Ice Age Visitor Center. Here visitors can enjoy world-famous glacial land formations and swim at three beaches (in the summer months).
Activities include hiking, mountain biking, skiing the groomed trails, taking nature programs, and hiking the section of the Ice Age Trail running through it. There are over 350 campsites and so is a great place to spend the night in Wisconsin's Ice Age legacy.
- Size: 30,000 Acres
- Landscape: Rolling Wooded Hills and Prairies
Summer Visitor Center Opening Hours:
- Wednesday to Fridays: 8.30 am to 3.30 pm
- Saturdays and Sundays: 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
- Mondays and Tuesdays: Closed
The visitor center has an exhibit area as well as an auditorium and a gift shop. The exhibits delve into the region's glacial legacy and the landforms in the area. The short video goes into the impact of the last Ice Age and the glaciation on the landscapes one sees today in Wisconsin.
The Ice Age Visitor Center is a great place to start exploring the Kettle Moraine State Forest and learn about the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve.