Jerry Lake via Ice Age Trail is a 11.7 mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail located near Medford, Wisconsin that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from April until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Stared at the trailhead leading to the Ice Age Trail leading to the Jerry Lake segment. There are many primitive campsites along the trail (each one is about 2.5 miles apart) with the destination campsite located on the Chippewa Lobe trial. Hiking was hilly and wet at points but went through many different types of forest. The highlight of the trial was walking atop the Hemlock Esker for about a mile. The esker stood about 80 feet above the forest floor. If hiking during the summer be prepared for a lot of mosquitoes. Leashed dogs are welcomed! The gps lost signal for a portion near the end of the hike so mileage might not be completely accurately
December 27, 2020December 11, 2020the one mile long Hemlock Esker was the best part!
December 9, 2020awesome variety of trail. the Yellow river crossing was the prettiest. photo of potty at DCA @Jerry Lake
November 6, 2020little different route then this entry but this trail is definitely over criticized, beautiful 70° today, no bucks, slightly muddy and just the right amount of challenge for me.
October 5, 2020Beautiful trail but definitely difficult, lots of roots and such to trip over.
June 29, 2020So overgrown we didn’t even attempt it.
June 17, 2020Trail was at times hard to follow and not super well marked. It would be nicer if there were markings that were more obvious. Luckily we had our GPS with us so it was less of an issue. But the hike near the end portion is really nice with the stream and the lake. We also coupled this with doing part of the Mondreux section as well. Ended up doing closer to 20 miles. I don’t know if I would do this again but I’m happy I did it.
May 20, 2020Tried to hike from Cty Hwy E west on the Jerry Lake trail, but found the first mile from E to FR 102 (Mondeaux Av) to be mostly off trail hiking and swamp. A lot of the trail corridor follows an old tote road and is very wet. We bush wacked to FR 102 and hiked back to the trailhead at Cty Hwy E and did the Mondeaux Segment. I'd suggest this last part be re-routed or use the roads.
November 18, 2019Completed remainder of Mondeux Esker and portion of Jerry Lake for 11.3 miles. Much more moderate than Mondeaux Esker part 1. Previously soggy, wet areas in warm temps must have meant mushy, muddy trails. Today very manageable compared to 11/18/19. Mostly firm, frozen ground. Felt much less pain after this hike. Cloudy, low 30’s, no wind.
October 17, 2019Stared at the trailhead leading to the Ice Age Trail leading to the Jerry Lake segment. There are many primitive campsites along the trail (each one is about 2.5 miles apart) with the destination campsite located on the Chippewa Lobe trial. Hiking was hilly and wet at points but went through many different types of forest. The highlight of the trial was walking atop the Hemlock Esker for about a mile. The esker stood about 80 feet above the forest floor. If hiking during the summer be prepared for a lot of mosquitoes. Leashed dogs are welcomed! The gps lost signal for a portion near the end of the hike so mileage might not be completely accurately
May 26, 2019Super buggy. Super muddy. Trees all over the trail and puddles of water blocking the path. Was not enjoyable at all and we turned back. Maybe later in the season!
August 28, 2015
First to ReviewDisclaimer: I'm from New England and most accustomed to hiking in western Maine and the White Mountains in New Hampshire. This was my first overnight trip in the Midwest. My dog and I camped at the primitive campsite near the trailhead on a Friday night, planning to spend an extended weekend in the woods. Parking was just off the road, and the campsite, just minutes from the road, was available--and very quiet! I would not count on getting water from the lake, though, as it's more of a mucky pond with no easy access from shore. Heading out on Saturday morning, the sound of dogs grew louder as we moved along the trail. I didn't think it was hunting season (other than open season on coyotes), so maybe they were hunting dogs in training, but I was hesitant to encounter a bunch of off-leash dogs with my own leashed dog in tow, so we turned around and headed in the other direction, toward the Lake Eleven segment. The Jerry Lake segment, from what I experienced, seemed nice enough, and not too overgrown, but I didn't get far before turning around and opting for the Lake Eleven segment. That trail turned out to be quite overgrown, with downed trees obstructing the trail in several places. It's also quite marshy in places, and there were lots of bugs--so be prepared with bug spray if you go in the summer! Between the bugs and the brambles, my dog couldn't handle it, so we headed home early.
October 17, 2020October 9, 2020August 15, 2020August 12, 2020August 10, 2020July 19, 2020May 30, 2020June 8, 2019June 7, 2019June 6, 2019August 14, 2018
