Wolf Run Trail

      

    Even with the changing weather to a deep freeze I had the urge to get out for a nature hike. The problem was to find a place that wouldn’t be a mix of snow and ice. That place was the Wolf Run Trail located just east of Mazomanie. My companion and I started from the trailhead just off one of the dead end streets near the “Old Feed Mill” restaurant. The parking area isn't large but ample. The trail is clearly marked by very informative signage and a new wooden bridge over the Black Earth Creek. A water feature is always a plus in my book. The day we went, the snow from a couple days before had entirely melted from the gravel path so it made for an easy walk. The path follows the creek back east as it winds its way west into Mazomanie and eventually to the Wisconsin River near Arena. We were there to explore and get some exercise. The creek’s sound beckons you to get closer as it ripples over rock barriers. The ripples were less noticeable as the water level in the creek was high from the snow melt. That time of day, the sun caused a twinkling effect as the water fell to the next level.

   

    Between the path and its banks are the

remains of prairie plants, both native and

invasive; soon they'll become wind and 

winter-worn. Today the sun caught the 

golden beauty of the seedheads of the grasses.

Most of the trail is a distance from the creek

but along the way there are side areas where 

you can wander close. 

  Some have signage telling of the role the creek 

played in the early development of the area, 

but they all have Leopold benches. 

Here in the summer you could sit and read or 

just experience the sights and sounds. 

   Earlier in the fall (as well in the spring) this would be a great stopping spot for migrating birds. 

Off in the darkness of the other bank we could 

hear the chickadees announcing that they had 

found a sunny warm spot or a food source.

   We then reached a place where the creek took a sharp bend; here there was a picnic table with a roof over it and a couple of benches. The signage at this point explained about the cement walls across the way. It's the remains of the dam that once created Lake Marion. Here we saw another cold weather adventurist with two dogs taking a break. We both love dogs so we decided to greet them. We yelled that we wanted to see the dogs, so soon they were loose and headed our way, one with a rotting stick in its mouth for us to toss. Their owner had grown up in Mazomanie so he shared some of his memories of childhood fishing trips to the creek and now absent lake.

      From here the well-groomed gravel path winds out of our eyesight. This is where on previous trips I turned around back to the car. A few days before I had been told that a new covered bridge had been built across the creek closer to the Wisconsin Heights High School so that needed to be checked out. Just around the next bend the bridge and the school could be seen not all that far away. I had no idea I was that close to the end on the other hikes.The bridge is a delightful way to cross the creek, but there was only the stubble of a corn field on the other side. (Since we were there I've been told this field is going to be restored to prairie.) The bridge was donated by John Wick in memory of his wife Helen. We continued on until we reached an icy snow covered bridge; we were within shouting distance of the school, so we turned around. The sun was setting and now we were walking into the wind so it was time to finish this adventure.

     The Wolf Run Trail runs two miles from Mazomanie to the Wisconsin Heights High School following Black Earth Creek. This part of the trail is being developed by a partnership of government and private groups (two of which are the Wolf and Wick families). Plans are that the trail will one day follow the creek and Highway 14 to an area near the airport in Middleton. This 18-mile trail will be known as the Good Neighbor Trail. In the future there are hopes that the trail will connect to the proposed Great Sauk Trail to Devils Lake State Park. The creek flows between steep slopes forming a valley floor that shelters family farms, wetlands and oak savannas. The trail is open to bicycles in the summer, and snowmobiles are allowed in the winter. The entire trail is on a level plain, making for easy walking and perhaps short trips from the parking lot with a wheel chair.

    I think I will try out my new snowshoes there some day after a fresh snowfall. I think I'll also return some summer day with companions and bicycles.