Hemlock Creek Segment (Atlas Map 10F)

Hemlock Creek Segment (Atlas Map 10f)

SnAPShoT

11 6.2 miles: Finohorn Rd. (28 ⁄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 rookery, the western edge of the Blue Hills and a loop around Hemlock Creek. At the campground across CTH-F

from the Murphy Flowage Picnic Area

At the Murphy Flowage Picnic Area and at Rusk County Remote Campsite and Murphy Flowage Campground. 6 on Bucks Lake Rd. (see Area Services). other uses Small portions overlap with a snow- From Pigeon and Hemlock creeks and shoe trail and logging/forest roads. a few small intermittent streams and White-blazed loop south of Hemlock lakes/wetland areas. Creek. Primitive camping on county forest lands. TRAIL ACCeSS AnD PARKInG

11 Finohorn Rd. (28 ⁄16 St.): From Birchwood at the intersection of Main St. and STH-48, take STH-48 3 west 1.0 mi. At Loch Lomond Blvd. (28 ⁄4 St.) turn left and go south then west 2.5 mi. At Finohorn Rd. 11 (28 ⁄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. 1 Additional Parking: Bolger Rd. (25 ⁄2 Ave.) parking area, 1.2 mi west of CTH-F.

The hIKe

11 From its starting point on Finohorn Road (28 ⁄16 St.) the segment heads south and crosses Pigeon Creek, then passes over fl at terrain to an aban- Idoned 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 intersects 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

42 Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014 Pickerel Lake 48 29th Ave. Sucker Waldo Carlson Park

Red Earn St. Cedar Lake

Creek Loch ond Finohorn Rd. om P L Piigeon F 2.4-mi CR to Blueberry Blvd. V Segment. North on Finohorn Pigeon 11 Rd. (28 ⁄16 St.), north on 3 Barron Loch Lomond Blvd. (28 ⁄4 St.) County Forest Creek Rusk County F Forest rookery

BW3 Mikana

RUSK COUNTY

BARRON COUNTY

0.5-mi CR to River northern Blue hills Segment. South on CTH-F. F Cedar 48 0 ½ 1 P miles Bolger Rd. Murphy Flowage

Ave. Recreation Area Red

Creek 25 1/2 HemlockHemlock BW2 BW1 Creek ake P ck L Bolger mlo He Flowage F

junction (BW2) with a white-blazed trail that turns south from this junction and Minnow highlights the southern side of the creek. Pairing this white-blazed trail with the Lake main segment creates an enjoyable 2.75-mile loop. From the junction with the white-blazed loop,Rusk the main segment continues east along the north side of Hemlock Creek withCounty several trailside benches pre- senting scenic views of the wetland below. Th e segmentForest crosses the creek on an Segment 11 Hemlock Creek abandoned road bridge and enters the Murphy Flowage Picnic Area. page 69 02/10/14 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 information contact Rusk County Forestry Department (715-532-2113, RuskCounty.org/department/forestry/ camping-information).

Barron & Washburn Counties 43 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. Primitive camping on county forest

lands. At the nearby Murphy Flowage Picnic Area and Murphy Flowage Camp- Nearby campgrounds at Rusk County ground. Remote Campsite 6 and Murphy Flowage Recreation Area and at Audie Flowage-Perch Lake Recreation Area, From Devil’s Creek and other small ~5 mi east (see Area Services). streams/creeks and lakes/wetland other uses Portions overlap with logging/forest areas. roads and gravel Bucks Lake Rd. 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 Th 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 Ionce 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/forest 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

46 Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014 Creek

P Bolger Rd. Bucks Murphy Flowage Lake Recreation Area Rd. Creek Hemlock Creek Hemlock BW2 BW1 Creek Hemlock 0 ½ 1 P Lake South RU8 miles s Rd. Bu c k Perch Fork H Lake e Rd. mlock Creek 0.5-mi CR to hemlock Creek Segment. North on CTH-F.

F (24th Ave.) Town Line Rd.

Pine Trail descendsLake to the creek, crosses on a bridge, then climbs 80 feet up another ridge on the oppo- site side. Th e segment then follows Rusk the ridge through birch and pine for- RU6 County P Blue Forest est before reaching the segment’s termi- Hills Ski Trail nus at theF CTH-F southern Trail access. Spring Mobile Skills Crew project site, 2013,

Creek 2014

AReA SeRVICeS Stout 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/forestry/camping-information). RU5 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. Rd. Birchwood: See Blueberry Segment, p. 40. From Bucks Lake 1.2-mi CR to Southern Rd. at CTH-F Trail access go north ~10.5 mi. Also see Trail Blue hills Access and Parking directions, above. Segment. South on Rusk County Remote CampsiteF 6: Camping. See Hemlock CTH-F. Creek Segment, p. 42. From Bucks Lake Rd. at CTH-F Trail access go Owest on primitive Bucks Lake Rd. to the end of the Creek road. Devils Weyerhaeuser:O See Southern Blue Hills Segment, p. 48. From CTH-F southern Trail access go east and south 6.6 mi. Also see F O Trail Access and Parking directions, above.

Rusk

W County Rusk County Forest 47

RU9 Yuker Rd. F

Bald Hill

Segment 12 Northern Blue Hills page 73 02/10/14 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. From North Lake, Moose Ear Creek The portion of the segment south of and other small intermittent streams/ the Rusk County Forest boundary to

creeks and wetlands. Old 14 Rd. (Bass Lake Rd.) is closed during gun deer season. Primitive camping on county forest other uses land and at a primitive campsite (Ru2) Portions overlap with logging/forest on the south shore of North Lake. roads and dirt access road.

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 Th 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. IHikers 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)

48 Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014 with excellent views of agricultural fi elds 1.2-mile CR to northern Blue through Wan opening hills Segment. in the trees. North on RU 9 Rusk CTH-F. Yuker Rd. From here on its County way to its terminus Forest F on Old 14 Road (Bass Bald Lake Road), the seg- Hill

ment includes a trek Little through a forested, more hummocky Soft

Creek area, the crossing Maple of a set of railroad Rusk County RU4 Ear Creek tracks, the skirting of Forest another wetland/lake Moose and a pine, oak and Tyman Creek birch forest with an Rd. undergrowth of ferns.Ear F MobileW Skills Crew project site, 2013, Lost Mans Lake 2014

North Lake AReA SeRVICeS RU2 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. RU1

Murphy Flowage Recre- Soft ation Area: SeeOld Hemlock 14 Creek Segment, p. 42.

Rd.

BigFrom Bowker yuker Rd. at CTH-F Maple Lakego north ~10.5 mi. Pickerel RU13 Lakes Birchwood: See Blueberry F

Segment, p. 40. From yuker Cranberry Rd. at CTH-F Trail access Bass Creek W go north ~20 mi. Lake Weyerhaeuser: Restaurant, Weyerhaeuser . ve grocery store, convenience Old 14 A Rd. (Bass Lake Rd.) ilwa store, lodging. From Old Ra y 14 Rd. (Bass Lake Rd)

Trail access go east 3.0 mi. s Lake 21.5-mi CR to t o Lodging at Country view r Chippewa Moraine i c Motel (715-353-2780). Segment R

Soft Soft d . 0 ½ 1 miles 8 Maple

8 Rd. Rusk County Rd. 49

Creek

Swamp

rry Cedar Creek be n a r C

Segment 13 Sourthern Blue Hills page 75 02/10/14 Must-Have Ice Age Trail Books!

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- 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.

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