Kettle Moraine Ice Age Trail Blue Spring Lake segment, 7.75 miles option for 10

Optional post hike lunch
Lauderdale Landing
W5625 Westshore dr
Elkhorn WI
Separate checks ok
Located on the way back to IL 15 minutes away
See photo for menu

The hike:
Expect a workout! This segment is very hilly and rated 4 out of 5 with 5 being the most hilly Ice Age Trail. This is according to Ice Age Trail Alliance.

The trail itself is not complex. Rated 2 out of 5 with 5 being most challenging terrain. For reference, Devils Lake is rated 3. The terrain difficulty is like what you will find at Veteran Acres or any other Chicago area hike. Single track packed dirt, roots, some gravel. No scrambling over boulders, no bushwhacking. Well defined, clearly marked trails. Grades may be up to 25% steep.

This trail will wind thru groves of pine trees and hardwood forests and feature magnificent views from 200 hundred feet up in places. In some areas there is a drop-off on either side of the trail. There are views of ponds sometimes.

The scenery varies on this trail with portions being a mixture of oak openings and woodland, small amounts of dry prairie, views of glacial moraines, eskers, kettles, and overlook from Bald Bluff. Bald Bluff is 1040 feet above sea level and one the highest points in Jefferson County.

There are bathrooms where we meet and also at 4 miles into the hike.

You can hike the Emma Carlin Brown trail for 3 more miles after this hike. I won't be doing this part and its on your own.

Hike Logistics
This hike is 7.75 miles one way. We therefore need to shuttle cars to get back.
How does shuttle work? I asked the experts (IAT Facebook group) for advice and here is what they said:
"You establish the meeting point for the group (which is usually the end point), then once everyone is there, you jump into the
number of cars necessary to get everyone to the starting point. Then, you hike. When you get to the end, someone with a car takes
the original drivers back to their cars"

The End point of the hike will be Emma Carlin and we'll meet at Emma Carlin parking lot at 10:00. My cell is 847 757-1230.

There are multiple ways to find this place, take your choice:
Emma Carlin is located one half mile to the south of this home address:
1015 County Road Z Palmyra WI

Or enter this into your phone's map:
42.87197, -88.54341

Googling "Emma Carlin Trailhead" also works.

Or you can use the map pin:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NGsjDLjNFSy1FVTUA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Or you can click on the map in the event which will take you to Emma Carlin parking lot.

** Shuttle:**
The group can follow me to Bald Bluff. If you arrive late call me and I'll text you a map pin.

WI State parks require a vehicle admission pass.
Information about purchasing a pass:
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/admission

This hike is truly spectacular and I hope you can join us! Its a long drive, but you can consider making a weekend trip by spending the night before in Lake Geneva which is 25 minutes away https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/
Lots of entertainment, lodging and dining options.

This hike is cross posted in the Trailblazers group https://www.meetup.com/chicagoland-trailblazers-hiking-group/events/310143483 and my guest rsvp will include members of that group.