Choose an access point
Use the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s official map to locate the Blue Spring Lake Segment and its parking options. Bald Bluff and the Emma Carlin area are useful reference points when planning which portion to explore.
Places to Explore / Ice Age Trail
Woodland paths, patterned orchid leaves, and tiny wildlife along the Ice Age Trail in southern Wisconsin.
One part of a much longer trail
The Blue Spring Lake Segment runs through the Kettle Moraine State Forest’s Southern Unit near Palmyra. The Ice Age Trail Alliance’s 2023 atlas lists the full segment as 7.1 miles and marks landmarks including Bald Bluff and Stone Elephant.
This photo collection concentrates on the woodland paths and living details along the route. Narrow trails wind through green understory plants, with yellow blazes and trail posts appearing between the trees.
A naturally arching trunk frames one passage; elsewhere, the path opens into brighter vegetation. These photographs show parts of the segment rather than a complete turn-by-turn route.
Look close to the ground
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain stands out in this collection, both for its small white orchid flowers and its dark leaves traced with pale veins. Spreading Dogbane, Spotted Beebalm, Great Blue Lobelia, and other flowers add their own shapes and colors.
Some discoveries are easy to miss: a small frog resting on a broad leaf, a green treefrog blending into the vegetation, or a sparrow perched beside the trail.
Flowering times and wildlife encounters vary. Take time to look from the trail and leave plants and animals undisturbed.
From my photo collection
Browse 29 photographs grouped by subject. Select any photograph to open the slideshow.
Plan your own walk
Use the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s official map to locate the Blue Spring Lake Segment and its parking options. Bald Bluff and the Emma Carlin area are useful reference points when planning which portion to explore.
The atlas lists 7.1 miles for the full segment, not a round trip. Choose a shorter out-and-back or arrange your transportation for a one-way hike. This gallery does not document the full mileage.
Check the official map and trail alerts before visiting. Photographed signs reflect conditions during past visits, and the surrounding forest has other trail systems and junctions.
Review Wisconsin DNR’s current Southern Unit visitor information for parking requirements and seasonal notices. Bring water and suitable footwear for uneven or muddy sections.
Sources & planning: Ice Age Trail Alliance — Blue Spring Lake day hike and access · 2023 segment atlas map · Wisconsin DNR — Kettle Moraine Southern Unit.
Photographs by Brian Woolman / Where’s Wildlife.