Marathon County – Dells of the Eau Claire Section
I completed this hike Memorial weekend of 2017. The Dells of the Eau Claire section is located partially in The Dells of the Eau Claire County park and partially on private land in Marathon County in North Central Wisconsin. It runs mostly along the Eau Claire River through a beautiful river gorge. The water has created palisades in ancient volcanic rock which make incredible scenery for a memorable hike.
Practical information
The park is located 8.8 miles (10 minutes driving) from the intersection of US 45 and WI 52 just north of the town of Aniwa. From US 45, go west on WI 52 for 6.8 miles. Turn left (south) onto County Y. Then go 1.7 miles and turn left onto Park Road. Follow the road into the park. Parking is located in several locations. The closest to the trail is the lot near the swimming beach. Click here for a Pdf map of the park http://www.co.marathon.wi.us/Portals/0/Departments/PKS/Documents/MAP_ECDBrochureOverview.pdf
Time
2 (one way) The entire section is 2.6 miles. Access is very easy as you can park right next to the trail and the trail head is very close to a major US highway. The terrain increases the time needed to complete the section. If you want to hike out and back, the time rating is 3. Several county park trails intersect the Ice Age trail. You can make a more circular route if you hike back on the county trail that runs along the south bank of the river.
Terrain
3 The beginning of the trail is pretty hilly and the terrain of the path is quite uneven but as you follow the river, the path becomes less difficult.
Comfort Factor, Hazards, Features
Comfort factor – Northern Wisconsin is rarely very hot. If it is hot, you can always cool off after your hike at the swimming beach where you parked. If you hike earlier in the spring or into fall, make sure and have cold weather protection with you even if it feels warm when you start your hike at mid-day. Mosquitoes can be a huge annoyance, especially in late spring and early summer. Since this trail is deep in the woods and runs along a water source, that is particularly true of this section. This is a relatively popular county park so it can get a bit crowded. However, the further you hike along the trail, the fewer other hikers you will see.
Hazards – Do not swim anywhere but at the swimming beach. The water is swift and deaths have occurred in the past when people have tried swimming elsewhere along the river. Many people walk out onto the palisades. However, the rocks can be slippery. If you do this you are taking a substantial risk of a fall into the water rushing around the rocks.
Features – The river, gorge and palisades are the big attraction on this trail. The gorges or dells created by rivers in Wisconsin unearth fabulous formations from ancient volcanic rock. Another more famous example is the Wisconsin Dells further west in the state. Even though the falls and gorges aren’t really high, they still create a visually stunning landscape. This trail showcases some of Wisconsin’s best scenery. I hiked this trail in the spring but I intend to come back in the fall at some point. The fall colors along the gorge have got to be out of this world.
My Ice Age Trail Dells of the Eau Claire Section Hike Ranking:
4 stars The scenery is stunning. Crowds near the palisades can be a downer but I got my peaceful quiet as I hiked further along the river. Machine noise was not a factor. The trail is heavily wooded and does not parallel any roads. All of the ups and downs in the early part of the trail along the gorge got my heart rate up nicely. The only reason this isn’t 5 stars is that it ends too quickly. There is not a way to take a longer more extended hike and see more interesting scenery.
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