This document analyzes alternatives for locating and developing the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (NST) through southern Marathon County in Wisconsin and proposes implementation of the “Preferred” alternative.
On October 3, 1980, an amendment to the National Trails System (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.) authorized establishment of the Ice Age Trail as a National Scenic Trail (NST). To date, Congress has authorized the establishment of eleven NSTs—“extended trails so located as to provide for maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of the nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities of the areas through which such trails may pass.” These trails are patterned after the renowned Appalachian NST. NSTs are intended to provide superlative experiences compared to other trails.
