Ice Age Geology with UW Emeritus Professor David Mickelson ~ Join UW Emeritus Professor David Mickelson for a free family-friendly guided walk in November and learn about Ice Age Geology at Cherokee Marsh! From the North Unit, Parking Lot take the trail to Hickory Island and imagine standing on the edge of an ancient deep Yahara River canyon, now almost filled with sediment. Stop to check out the large ‘erratic’ rock dropped by the Ice Age glacier, now used to mark the Native American Mound. Go back up the trail to North Hill and notice the general northeast-southwest hill orientation that is typical of Ice Age Moraines, and the relatively flat top that indicates a bedrock remnant was scraped flat by the huge glacier. Continue on the path back down and around the hill to view ancient bedrock in the fenced area on the vertical hillside where quarrying was done. Return to the parking lot on paths along the open flat marsh now growing on historic Lake Yahara sediment.

Cherokee Marsh is Madison’s largest conservation park with three units – North, South, and Mendota. Each month, year-round we explore the north unit’s beautiful trails through the woodlands, wetlands, and restored prairies along the Yahara ‘Catfish’ River. Co-sponsored by Madison Parks, Friends of Cherokee Marsh , Sierra Club and Madison Audubon Society . Follow North Sherman Ave. to the parking lot at the end of the gravel entrance road. Free, family-friendly guided nature walks at Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park – North are held on the 1st Sunday of each month, year-round 1:30-3pm. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.

See Bird & Nature Adventures for other free nature events.