A Walk in Lodi Marsh State Wildlife Area

What to expect on the walk:

• The Eastern Lodi Marsh segment of the Ice Age Trail transitions from a Trail Community to a beautiful ridge top natural area with outstanding restored prairies and stunning views. 

• A 3.2 mile walk over somewhat challenging hills (rated a 4 on a scale of 1 to 5).  The footing is decent (rated as a 2 on a scale of 1 t0 5).  This walk is one of the more challenging we will be on this Spring and not suitable for using a walker.
  

• This segment traverses till-covered ridges of Prairie du Chien dolomite.  While glaciers partially shaped the landscape into drumlin forms, the north-south-trending ridge that the trail follows in its central section is bedrock.  From this segment you will have excellent views of Lodi Marsh, which is in a glacial tunnel channel.  You will also see disturbed land from former gravel mining near the railroad grade just west of highway 113.
  

• The marsh formed after the last glaciation as wetland vegetation slowly filled a shallow pond in part of the valley.  The valley is a tunnel channel which formed beneath the glacier, water under pressure flowed beneath the ice, cutting a deep valley in the bedrock..

Our leader will have a microphone along to assist in delivering her message clearly as possible.

Driving and Parking Information

To be described in early June once the best route has been agreed upon.

• We will meet at:
  

Trail access and parking will be announced in early June but will be one of the field  parking lots on Lodi-Springfield Road. 

Additional Information:

• PLATO charges a $10 fee for each walk.  We normally use a guide who is a member of the associated friends group.  PLATO then will pass this registration fee onto the friends group as a way of saying thanks.
• If you have any questions please contact Mike DiIorio at mdiiorio@tds.net or 608-520-4448 (cell)