As much as we all enjoy summer, hiking in the fall can bring comfortable conditions and the added beauty of fall colors in the trees as well as on the ground. Hidden Serenity is located near many nice hiking trails. In addition to the state park trails in the area, we are near the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, or locally known as the Ice Age Trail. The trail is divided into segments and the part that goes through the West Bend area is called the Washington/Ozaukee county chapter of the trail.
Hiking conditions on the trail are a bit more rustic than the trails in the state parks, which are maintained by employees of the state. The Ice Age trail is built and maintained largely by volunteers.
Some areas where a person can access the trail include:
-County Highway NN/Arthur Road, which is just west of highway 144 and north of Slinger, Wisconsin. There is parking and the area has been developed recently. The trail runs South of Arthur Road through an area known as the Polk Kames named after the township of Polk the geologic formations known as Kames.
-The West Bend segment of the trail can be accessed on the north side of Paradise Drive a mile West of 18th avenue. This segment runs North along the west shore of Lucas Lake (which used to be managed as a cranberry bog in the middle of the last century) and into Ridge Run Park.
-The Washington County Milwaukee River segment is accessed from County Highway H West of State Highway 45. This region can be explored both to the North and to the South and goes through beautiful rolling Kettle Moraine landscapes.
The Ice Age trail has a website that can help you become familiar with the trail prior to your hike at http://washingtonozaukee.iceagetrail.org/hike-the-chapter
Check out Hidden Serenity’s “Quest for the Best” package for a great deal on lodging and hiking the 32 miles from Hwy H north. This part of the trail is a must see when traveling in the area. Most will agree it is one of the most scenic segments on the whole trail! Our bed and breakfast is convenient and comfortable and you cannot go wrong eating one of our gourmet breakfasts before heading off onto the trail. Fall is an excellent time to visit the Kettle Moraine.
