220 Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014
Valley View Segment and
Madison Segment (Atlas Map 66f)
SNAPSHOT
Valley View Segment—1.8 miles (1.5 IAT, 0.3 CR): Ice Age Ln. to Shady Oak Ln. at Mid Town Rd.
1.8 mile Connecting Route
Madison Segment—3.2 miles: Woods Rd. to CTH-PD (McKee Rd.)
3
2
e Valley View Segment is a delightful suburban jaunt through
a restored prairie with good interpretive signage and views west to the Blue
Mounds
3
2
For being on the outskirts of town, the Madison Segment retains a
surprisingly remote feel as it passes unobtrusively through a scenic golf course and
residential neighborhoods.
TRAIL ACCESS AND PARKING
Ice Age Ln.: From west of Madi-
son on the Beltline Highway (USH-
12/14), take Exit 254 for Mineral
Point Rd. (CTH-S) and go west on
Mineral Point Rd. (CTH-S) for 4.0
mi. At Timber Ln. turn left and go
south 1.3 mi. At Noll Valley Rd.
turn left and go east 0.3 mi. At Ice
Age Ln. turn left and go north 0.1
P
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DCA
Morse
Pond
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g
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Creek
Mill
Badger Prairie
County Park
Badger
Prairie
County
Park
Reddan
Soccer
Park
Ice Age
Junction
Area
University
Ridge
Golf Course
Hawks
Landing
Golf
Course
Elver
Park
Prairie
Ridge
Park
Valley
View
Preserve
Military
Ridge
State
Trail
Military
Ridge
State
Trail
Main
Woods
Rd.
White
Crossing
Timber
Timber
Ln.
Ln.
View
Verona
Lincoln St.
Ave.
St.
Rd.
Rd.
Rd.
Rd.
Rd.
Rd.
Country
McKee
Cross
Mid Town
Shady
Oak
Ln.
Valley
View
Rd.
Mound
View
Rd.
Mid Town
Pleasant View Rd.
Flagstone
Dr.
Raymond
Rd.
Fernglade Rd.
Saracen Way
Ice Age
Ln.
N
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V
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Verona
Madison
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MV
PD
PD
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151
BUS
18
BUS
151
18
151
DA10
DA9
DA21
Segment 57 Valley View
page 243
01/30/14
8.0-mi CR
to Cross
Plains
Segment
No reliable sources of water.
Hikers will not have any interaction
with hunting on this segment.
Dogs must be leashed.
other uses
Portions overlap with roads and
sidewalks.
An extensive, color-coded trail network
through the prairie area.
At the University Ridge
Golf Course clubhouse
(seasonal).
Hikers will not have
any interaction with
hunting on this
segment.
Dogs are not allowed
between Woods Rd. and
CTH-M.
other uses
Portions overlap with
golf course paths, city
roads (including danger-
ous CTH-M), a driveway
and sidewalks and a
multi-use recreation
path.
0 1
miles
½
Dane County 221
mi. Roadside parking on the right side of the road by the gate.
CTH-PD (McKee Rd.): From Verona, at the intersection of Verona Ave. (Bus. Rt. USH-18/151) and
CTH-M (Main St./Pleasant View Rd.), take CTH-M (Main St./Pleasant View Rd.) north 1.7 mi. At CTH-
PD (McKee Rd.) turn right and go east 0.6 mi to the parking area on the south side of CTH-PD.
Additional Parking: (i) Parking area at Middleton Ice Age Trail Access park (
DA10) on Mound View
Rd. (ii) Roadside parking on Woods Rd. (iii) University Ridge Golf Course lower parking area, open
seasonally during golf course hours. Accessed by car from the main golf course entrance along CTH-
PD (McKee Rd.). Gate is sometimes locked. (iv) O.J. Noer Turfgrass Research and Education Center
parking area on the west side of CTH-M (Pleasant View Rd.). Available only on weekends and after
4:00 p.m. on weekdays. (v) Roadside parking on Flagstone Dr.; see safety note below. (vi) Roadside
parking on Raymond Rd./Oakview Rd.
THE HIKE
I
 e Valley View Segment starts at the Ice Age Lane Trail access along the
brown fence to the right of the gate. A er passing through a patch of woods,
the segment crosses a residential driveway at a white lantern post. From there
it enters the highlight of the segment, an open prairie with a series of looped side
trails and trailside benches. Hikers should be very alert and watch for each Ice
Age Trail post when hiking through the prairie.  is portion of the segment is on
the terminal moraine and is a  ne example of prairie and oak savanna restoration.
Driven by area landowners, with a collaboration of various community volun-
teer groups, 14 acres spanning parts of three properties were returned to their
native habitat. In part this project removed aggressive invasive plants and scrubs
and reintroduced native prairie seeds representing 105 species.  e project was
possible through a lot of hard physical work, grants and the support from Dane
County Parks, DNR and IATA.
On a clear day, hikers can see
the Blue Mounds from the prai-
rie. Increase Lapham wrote that
the Blue Mounds “were very
important landmarks to guide
the traveler in his course through
the boundless prairies.”  eir
Indian name is Mucha-wa-ku-
nin or “Smoky Mountains.”
A er exiting the prairie the
segment passes through a resi-
dential area featuring prairie-
style homes drawing their
inspiration from Wisconsin-
born architect Frank Lloyd
Wright. Please respect private
property by staying on the Trail.
e segment then arrives at the
Ice Age Trail Access parking area
(
DA10), a Town of Middleton
park. From this spot hikers will
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
DCA
Morse
Pond
S
u
g
a
r
B
a
d
g
e
r
R
i
v
e
r
Creek
Mill
Badger Prairie
County Park
Badger
Prairie
County
Park
Ice Age
Junction
Area
University
Ridge
Golf Course
Hawks
Landing
Golf
Course
Elver
Park
Valley
View
Preserve
State
Trail
Military
Ridge
State
Trail
Main
Woods
Rd.
Country
White
Crossing
Timber
Timber
Ln.
Ln.
View
Verona
Lincoln St.
Ave.
St.
Rd.
Rd.
Rd.
Rd.
Rd.
Rd.
Country
McKee
Cross
Mid Town
Shady
Oak
Ln.
Valley
View
Rd.
Mound
View
Rd.
Mid Town
Pleasant View Rd.
Flagstone
Dr.
Raymond
Rd.
Fernglade Rd.
Saracen Way
Ice Age
Ln.
N
o
l
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V
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l
e
y
R
d
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Verona
Madison
G
M
M
MV
PD
PD
18
151
BUS
18
BUS
151
18
151
DA10
DA9
DA21
Segment 58 Madison
page 247
01/30/14
Verona
Segment
222 Ice Age Trail Guidebook 2014
continue on the following 0.3-mile connecting route to reach the next o-road
portion of the segment: Hike east on Moraine Ridge Road, turn right and hike
south on Mound View Road, turn le and hike east on Saracen Way.
From the Saracen Way access (
DA9) the segment works its way south through
a wooded area. Emerging from the woods, hikers should continue walking south
on the grassy path between the residential area and the farm elds. e segment
then bends east and parallels Mid Town Road. Hikers will pass a residential sign
for Glacier’s End and cross Fernglade Road before reaching the segment termi-
nus at a yellow-blazed Trail post on the northeast side of the intersection of Shady
Oak Lane and Mid Town Road.
To reach the Madison Segment, hikers should follow a 1.8-mile connecting route by
heading east on Mid Town Road and then turning right and heading south on Woods
Road.
From the access point on Woods Road the Madison Segment makes its way
eastward through woods located between the 10th and 11th holes of University
Ridge, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s golf course. Please respect the
Trail host by walking quietly when passing by those enjoying a round of golf.
e segment emerges briey from the woods and crosses the cart path that
leads to the 10th-hole tee before continuing southwest through another wooded
area. e segment emerges again from the woods and intersects with another
paved path; hikers can turn le and access the golf course’s clubhouse, which fea-
tures water, restrooms and a snack bar. Ice Age Trail hikers are welcome to use
the clubhouse.
Shortly aer crossing the road to the clubhouse hikers will come to another
path, this one leading to the golf course’s lower parking area. Hikers parking in the
lower parking area can use this path to access the Trail.
e segment continues southeast through a grassland area located west of the
golf course’s 1st hole, bends east and passes between the tee boxes for the 2nd
and 9th holes and then intersects and follows the cart path that passes behind
the 8th hole green. e segment travels through a small wooded area and again
crosses the cart path between the 7th and 8th holes. It makes its way up a moraine
and continues north through grassland before bending east and cuing through
woods adjacent to the golf course’s practice area.
e segment exits the woods, reaches a large grassy eld and climbs to the
top of another glacial moraine with expansive views. e segment passes through
one last small patch of woods before intersecting with a path that leads north-
east to the University’s Noer Turfgrass Research Center. Hikers should follow
the center’s driveway to CTH-M (Pleasant View Road), turn le and briey walk
north along CTH-M (Pleasant View Road) to Flagstone Drive.
Note: CTH-M (Pleasant View Road) is a very busy road with high-speed trac
despite a 35 mph speed limit. ose hiking the full segment should exercise extreme
caution when making the
1
⁄8-mile connection along CTH-M between the Noer Center’s
driveway and Flagstone Drive to the north. ose hiking only a portion of the segment
either east or west of CTH-M are strongly advised to park vehicles west (in the Noer
Center lot) or east (on Flagstone Drive) of CTH-M, depending on which portion will
be hiked.
Dane County 223
e segment continues east from CTH-M on Flagstone Drive. Aer a short
distance the segment departs from Flagstone Drive and heads southeast through
a eld full of tall grasses and wildowers and then a small wooded area. e seg-
ment crosses Raymond Road, passes along the west side of a large drainage basin
and makes its way due south into a small aspen and oak grove that gives way to
prairie. Note: Along the north/south stretch between Raymond Road and CTH-PD,
a multi-use paved path separate om the Ice Age Trail parallels the segment a short
distance to the west.
Passing through an area of native grasses and wildowers that is part of a res-
toration project begun by Veridian Homes, the segment bends east and joins
a paved multi-use walkway. e segment parallels CTH-PD (McKee Road) to
reach South High Point Road for a safer crossing of CTH-PD (McKee Road) at
the stoplight. Aer crossing to the south side of CTH-PD (McKee Road), hikers
should continue south a short distance on the Ice Age Junction Bicycle Pedes-
trian Trail. e segment leaves the main paved pathway and makes a right to go
west on the paved access pathway to the parking area for the Ice Age Junction
Area and the segment’s endpoint.
AREA SERVICES
University Ridge Golf Course: Restaurant. On Trail. Open seasonally (9002 CTH-PD, Madison, 608-
845-7700 or 800-897-4343, universityridge.com).
Madison: Restaurant, grocery store, convenience store, general shopping, lodging, camping, library,
medical care. INN Style program lodging at the Arbor House, Ltd. (608-238-2981, arbor-house.com).
Outfitter/camping supplies at REI (608-833-6680, rei.com/stores/madison) behind West Towne Mall.
Area info available from the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (608-256-8348, greatermadi-
sonchamber.com).
Mendota County Park: See Table Bluff and Cross Plains Segment, p. 216. From the CTH-PD (McKee
Rd.) Trail access go west then north ~10 mil.
Middleton: Restaurant, grocery store, convenience store, general shopping, lodging, camping, library,
medical care. From the CTH-M Trail access, go north on CTH-M 2.5 mi. At CTH-S (Mineral Point Rd.)
turn right and go east 0.3 mi. At USH-12 go north 2.6 mi to the USH-14 Exit. Area info available from
the Middleton Chamber of Commerce (608-827-5797, middletonchamber.com).
Verona: See Verona Segment, p. 224. From the CTH-PD (McKee Rd.) Trail access go west then south
~3 mi. Also see Trail Access and Parking directions, above.
Prairie on the Valley View Segment, with Blue Mound on the horizon.
rAcheL roBerTS