60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Madison, including Dane and Surrounding Counties

Kevin Revolinski
364 pages (June 2008); 14.3MB download
Menasha Ridge Press; ISBN: 978-0897327947

DESCRIPTION

Madison Magazine
...spectacularly comprehensive, well organized, fun to read...amazed at the level of detail...hike descriptions are accurate.

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Situated along the edge of the line where the glaciers stopped over 10,000 years ago, Madison and its four lakes are surrounded by glaciated terrain—rife with moraines and drumlins—and the rolling hills and rocky outcroppings of the untouched “driftless zone.” Known best for its university and politics, the Madison area has fascinated such famous naturalists as John Muir and Aldo Leopold. The varied settings – oak savanna and rolling farmland; lakes, rivers and streams; rocky hills and thick forest; wetlands and restored prairie bursting with native wildflowers – are home to an abundance of wildlife including deer, wild turkeys, and sandhill cranes. The urban area itself offers over a dozen hikes that never leave the city limits and yet seem as remote as the trails outside town. 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Madison compiles the very best hikes in the area and offers something for every level of challenge or interest.

Each hike description features:
- Key information on length, hiking time, difficulty, configuration, scenery, traffic, trail surface, and accessibility
- Historical information and natural history of the areas the hikes pass through
- A detailed trail map and elevation profile
- Clear directions to the trailhead and trailhead GPS data
- Tips on nearby activities

In less than an hour you can reach the dramatic climb up the cliffs of Devil’s Lake, the rich wetlands of Horicon Marsh, several rugged segments of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, and thick woodlands where Native Americans once hunted and left marker trees and effigy mounds. 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Madison will direct you to all of them.

Four lakes, rolling hills, and rocky formations are just a few of the earthly wonders that abound in the Madison area of Wisconsin. Known for its university atmosphere and charming neighborhoods, Madison is also an enclave of diverse natural beauty, and this remarkable guide describes every facet. Ranging from walks through the city proper to more rustic hikes outside town limits, there is a hike in this guide for outdoor enthusiasts of every level.