Ice Age National Scientific Reserve
The Ice Age National Scientific Reserve is a collection of nine sites in Wisconsin that preserve geological evidence of glaciation. The reserve was created in 1971 to protect the scientific and scenic value of the landforms. The landforms are the result of the last glacial period which lasted from about 110,000 to 10,000 years ago.
The nine units of the reserve, mostly Wisconsin state parks or other protected areas, are administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Several units are not yet developed for visitation, having only minimal trails and no interpretive experience. A plan is currently underway for the future development and management of the Cross Plains unit. Several of the sites are joined by the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, but the reserve is a separate affiliated area of the National Park Service. For this reason, the units of the reserve that charge state park access fees also accept federal passes.
[edit] Sites
| Site Name | Location | Geologic features | Recreation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbellsport Drumlins | Campbellsport | Drumlins | Scenic drive |
| Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area [1] | New Auburn | Kettle lakes and ponds, stagnant ice terrain, ice-walled lake plains | Interpretive center, camping, and trails |
| Cross Plains State Park | Cross Plains | Driftless Zone topography, glacial lakes, gorge | Trails |
| Devil's Lake State Park [2] | Baraboo | Large kettle lake, terminal moraine | Interpretive center, camping, non-motorized boating, trails, swimming, picnicking |
| Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area [3] | Horicon | Extinct glacial lake, drumlin | Wildlife viewing, trails |
| Interstate State Park [4] | St. Croix Falls | Dalles of the St. Croix River, glacial potholes | Interpretive center, camping, non-motorized boating, trails, swimming, picnicking, fishing |
| Kettle Moraine State Forest, Northern Unit [5] | Glenbeulah and Kewaskum | Kettle Moraine, kames, eskers, kettle lakes | Interpretive center, camping, boating, trails, swimming, picnicking |
| Mill Bluff State Park [6] | Camp Douglas | Former islands and lakebed of Glacial Lake Wisconsin | Camping, trails, swimming, picnicking |
| Two Creeks Buried Forest State Natural Area [7] | Two Creeks | Exposed stratum with floral remains | Undeveloped |
[edit] External links
- Ice Age National Scientific Reserve geology
- Black, Robert F. Geology of Ice Age National Scientific Reserve of Wisconsin National Park Service Scientific Monograph No. 2, 1974.
