The Rice Lake Chronotype reports that Rice Lake has been officially designated as Wisconsin’s 23rd Ice Age Trail Community, celebrating with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 28, 2024. As Barron County’s first trail community, Rice Lake fills an important gap between Cornell and St. Croix Falls along the 1,200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which spans from St. Croix Falls to Sturgeon Bay.
“The trail segments near Rice Lake offer quite a variety: from flat rail-trail path, to ones that go through forest and over beaver dams,” said Luke Kloberdanz,, Executive Director of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. “After a hike, Rice Lake has all the amenities someone needs to rest and recharge.”
The trail community designation will increase awareness of both the trail and Rice Lake’s amenities, reports the Barron News-Shield. While visitors explore the diverse trails near Rice Lake, local businesses gain exposure through trail community promotions and itineraries. The economic impact of such partnerships is significant – a 2019 study showed 2.3 million users generated $311 million statewide, with current numbers expected to be much higher.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has been instrumental in the development and expansion of the Ice Age Trail. Since 1990, the program has provided over $9 million in matched grant funding to the Ice Age Trail Alliance, protecting nearly 4,000 acres of land and enabling the creation of new trail segments. These protected lands have allowed the Alliance to transform road walks into scenic paths, creating better hiking experiences across Wisconsin that connect communities like Rice Lake to the state’s unique glacial heritage.
Featured image by Susan Ruggles, 2024
