>> WISCONSIN, JUST LOOK AT ALL THAT NATURAL BEAUTY.

>> FROM OUR SPARKLING WATERS AND FORTRESS-LIKE FORESTS.

>> TO OUR PEACEFUL VALLEYS AND MARSHES TEEMING WITH LIFE.

WISCONSIN'S WILD OUTDOORS IS INVITING.

AND THE SAME CAN BE SAID ABOUT OUR STATE'S FOUR JEWELS IN OUR NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.

>> AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE AS WE GO EXPLORING "NATIONAL PARKS, WISCONSIN."

>> THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY HOLDS THE KEY TO OUR NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.

WISCONSIN'S OWN JOHN MUIR TURNED THAT KEY AND TURNED HIS VISION INTO REALITY.

>> HE GREW UP RIGHT HERE ON FOUNTAIN LAKE FARM IN MARQUETTE COUNTY.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE MUIR SAYS HE FIRST DREAMED OF A PLAN FOR NATIONAL PARKS.

THE BIRTHPLACE OF AN IDEA, THE CRADLE OF OUR NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.

HELLO.

I'M DAN SMALL OF MILWAUKEE PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> AND I'M PATTY LOEW OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.

JOHN MUIR'S ENVIRONMENTAL ENDEAVORS EARNED HIM THE TITLE "FATHER OF OUR NATIONAL PARKS."

TODAY, MUIR'S BEAUTIFUL IDEA IS CALLED THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.

>> IT INCLUDES NEARLY 400 NATURAL, RECREATIONAL AND HISTORIC SITES.

JOHN MUIR'S WISCONSIN HAS FOUR GLORIOUS CONTRIBUTIONS.

WE'LL START WITH THE ST. CROIX NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAY, A 252-MILE-LONG NATURAL CORRIDOR THAT RISES IN THE WILDS OF WISCONSIN'S NORTHWOODS AND EVENTUALLY FORMS THE WISCONSIN-MINNESOTA BORDER.

TWO RIVERS MAKE UP THE SCENIC RIVERWAY, THE ST. CROIX AND THE NAMEKAGON.

WE'LL FOCUS ON THE WILDER OF THE TWO, THE NAMEKAGON.

>> IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLY WONDERFUL, MYSTICAL, MAGICAL PLACE, THE NAMEKAGON RIVER.

>> THE FISHING IS JUST SECOND TO NONE.

WE'RE BLESSED TO LIVE IN THIS AREA.

>> WISCONSIN IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STATE I'VE EVER SEEN.

IT'S JUST GORGEOUS.

I LOVE ALL THE TREES, THE WATER.

IT'S JUST SO ALIVE THAT IT'S JUST VERY PLEASANT BEING HERE.

>> THE NAMEKAGON RIVER FLOWS FOR 100 MILES THROUGH NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

A CENTURY AGO, THE RIVER CARRIED MILLIONS OF LOGS DOWNSTREAM TO BUSY SAW MILLS TO MAKE THE LUMBER THAT BUILT THE CITIES OF THE MIDWEST.

TODAY, AS PART OF THE ST. CROIX NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAY, THE NAMEKAGON IS PRESERVED AS A NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL CORRIDOR.

>> I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE PEOPLE WATCHING THIS SHOW JEALOUS.

HOWEVER, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT I HAVE THE GREATEST JOB OUT THERE.

>> BRANDA THWAITS IS AN INTERPRETATIVE RANGER FOR THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE.

HER BEAT IS THE NAMEKAGON RIVER.

HER VEHICLE -- A KAYAK.

>> MY JOB AS AN INTERPRETER IS TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO THE RIVER, -- TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RIVER,.

SO IF THEY HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE TURTLES OR THE HISTORY OF THE RIVER OR THE CULTURAL HISTORY, THE NATURAL RESOURCES, WE TRY TO GIVE THEM MORE INFORMATION AND TO HELP CONNECT THEM TO WHY THIS PARTICULAR RESOURCE IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

>> I WILL HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE TELL ME, OH, I'VE BEEN COMING HERE SINCE I WAS A KID.

I BROUGHT MY KIDS AND WE'VE BEEN -- THIS IS OUR 30TH YEAR OF TAKING OUR ANNUAL TRIP ON THE RIVER, OR, I DRIVE UP FROM IOWA EVERY SINGLE YEAR WITH MY BUDDY HERE AND WE'VE BEEN ON THIS RIVER.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW MANY PEOPLE COME BACK TO THIS RIVER YEAR AFTER YEAR, BECAUSE SOMETHING ABOUT IT JUST REALLY CONNECTS WITH PEOPLE.

>> WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I REMEMBER BEING ON THE RIVER AND YOU WOULD RARELY SEE ANY TRAFFIC AT ALL, EVEN, YOU KNOW, CANOES OR NEVER INNERTUBES.

IT WAS KIND OF YOU HAD IT ALL TO YOURSELF.

AND EVEN 11 YEARS AGO WHEN WE CAME BACK, THERE WAS A LOT LESS TRAFFIC.

IT'S BEING ENJOYED A LOT MORE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> WENDY WILLIAMSON GREW UP ON THE NAMEKAGON.

TODAY, SHE MAKES HER LIVING ON THE RIVER AND IT'S OBVIOUS SHE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT IT.

>> MY HUSBAND LARRY AND I OWN THE HAYWARD FLY FISHING COMPANY AND WE HAVE BEEN GUIDING ON THESE RIVERS FOR 11 YEARS NOW.

I GUESS THE THING I WOULD LIKE MORE THAN ANYTHING WOULD BE FOR THERE TO BE THE PROPER RESPECT FOR THE RIVER, THAT IT IS NOT A WATER PARK, THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT LIVE HERE THAT WERE HERE WAY BEFORE WE STARTED DOING THIS, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE INSECT LIFE, THE FISH THEMSELVES, TURTLES.

IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE THE WILDLIFE THAT IS HERE.

AND FOR US TO COME INTO THEIR WORLD AND DISTURB IT, I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE CONSCIOUS OF THAT AND UP THE RESPECT FOR THIS RIVER.

>> THAT'S NOT BAD, TWO CASTS, TWO FISH.

>> FISHING IS A BIG DEAL ON THE RIVER.

THE MOST POPULAR IS CANOE AND KAYAKING AND TUBING FOR SURE, AND YOU CAN DO A SHORT STRETCH THAT MIGHT TAKE YOU AN HOUR, AND YOU CAN GO OUT FOR FIVE, SIX DAYS IF YOU WANT.

>> A PLACE LIKE THE GRAND CANYON MIGHT BE LIKE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME ENCOUNTER THAT REALLY AFFECTS YOU DEEPLY, BUT IT MIGHT BE ONCE IN A LIFETIME.

THE NAMEKAGON IS MORE LIKE YOUR OLD FRIEND THAT YOU JUST, YOU CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF, AND YOU CAN'T QUITE PUT YOUR FINGER ON WHY, BUT THAT PERSON JUST BECOMES PART OF THE FABRIC OF YOUR LIFE, AND THAT HAPPENS WITH THIS RIVER.

>> WE'RE FROM KANSAS, IT'S A SUBURB ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF KANSAS CITY AND WE ENJOY TRAVELING AROUND DOING CAMPGROUND HOSTING, AND WE DECIDED TO COME UP HERE AND SPEND A SUMMER AND THE PARK DEPARTMENT WAS WILLING TO LET US DO THAT.

>> IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU NEED, LET US KNOW, WE'RE RIGHT OR HERE.

>> OK.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET.

>> THANK YOU.

SEE YOU LATER.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPRESSED ME AT THE SITUATION AT THE ST. CROIX NATIONAL RIVERWAY IS THE EMPLOYEES OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT.

EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE, WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RANGER OR THE INTERPRETATIVE RANGERS, THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHO IT IS, THEIR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE THAT THE VISITORS GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR VISIT HERE AND IT'S REWARDING TO SEE THAT.

>> I REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND THIS ONE ESPECIALLY, BECAUSE IT'S A PARK AND IT'S WILD AND SCENIC, AND IT'S BEEN DESIGNATED AS SUCH, AND I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

>> I SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT THIS, A LOT OF TIME THINKING WHY IS THE NAMEKAGON VERSUS OTHER RIVERS PART OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM, AND YOU KNOW, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WHEN I TALK TO VISITORS, IT'S CLEAR, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING I CAN SAY TO YOU, IT'S BECAUSE, AND THIS IS TRUE, THE NAMEKAGON, THE ST. CROIX HAVE AN INCREDIBLY HEALTHY POPULATION OF MUSSELS OR BECAUSE THE RIVERS ARE FAIRLY CLEAN.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE THAT.

IT'S MORE THE WAY IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL AND IT'S MORE JUST HOW CONNECTED THEY ARE, AND I THINK THAT WHEN IT WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY, A LOT OF IT WAS FROM THE GROUND UP.

PEOPLE CARED.

>> THE COOL WATERS HERE INSPIRED JOHN MUIR.

THIS FARM IS NAMED FOUNTAIN LAKE AFTER THE NUMEROUS SPRINGS THAT RISE IN THE SEDGE MEADOW AND FEED THE LAKE.

>> ANOTHER ONE OF THE NATIONAL PARK AREAS IS ALL WATERFRONT LAKE SUPERIOR IS HOME TO THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE.

A COLLECTION OF ISLANDS BOASTING WINDSWEPT BEACHES AND ROCKY CLIFFS.

IT'S WHERE THE WATER MEETS LAND AND SKY.

AND THAT'S NOT LOST ON THE PEOPLE WHO FIRST CALLED WISCONSIN HOME.

>> THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE INCLUDES A COLLECTION OF 21 TREE-COVERED ISLANDS SCULPTED BY WIND AND WAVES.

THE ISLANDS ARE SCATTERED LIKE STEPPING STONES IN LAKE SUPERIOR OFF WISCONSIN'S NORTH SHORE.

DAMON PANEK IS A NATIONAL PARK RANGER HERE.

>> ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS ABOUT THIS JOB IS GETTING TO MEET DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE WORLD.

REALLY, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO HAVE THEM BRING THIS PLACE INTO THEIR HEART AND INTO THEIR MINDS.

>> THE APOSTLE ISLANDS HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN PANEK'S HEART AND MIND.

HE'S A MEMBER OF THE OJIBWE NATION, THE MOST RECENT TRIBE TO CALL THESE ISLANDS THEIR HOME.

>> THERE'S BEEN NATIVE FOLKS LIVING IN THIS AREA FOR, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, AT LEAST 10,000 YEARS.

>> TRIBAL LEGENDS SAY THAT THE OJIBWE TRAVELED HERE FROM THE EAST BECAUSE OF A PROPHECY.

>> WHAT WE'RE TOLD IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE GOT HERE THEY WERE EXPECTING THIS.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THIS.

>> THE ISLANDS OFFER A WEALTH OF UNIQUE NATURAL FEATURES TO ATTRACT BOTH PAST AND PRESENT DAY VISITORS.

FOR EXAMPLE, STOCKTON ISLAND HAS A NARROW LAND-BRIDGE CALLED A TOMBOLO.

>> THERE USED TO ACTUALLY BE TWO ISLANDS ABOUT 5,000 YEARS AGO AND WAVE ACTION AND THE WIND AND ALL THE EROSION CREATED THIS KIND OF BRIDGE FROM AN ISLAND TO ISLAND.

>> STOCKTON ISLAND ALSO BOASTS WHAT ARE KNOWN AS SINGING SANDS.

THE ROUNDED SHAPE OF THE INDIVIDUAL GRAINS MAKE A STRANGELY MELODIC SOUND.

>> ISN'T THAT A NEAT NOISE?

>> PANEK SAYS HE ENJOYS WORKING HERE BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THIS PLACE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE GOALS OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HARMONIZE WELL WITH HIS NATIVE AMERICAN BELIEFS AND VALUES.

>> THE VALUES OF CONSIDERING THESE TREES OR CONSIDERING THE ANIMALS OR THE BIRDS OR EVERYTHING THAT LIVES HERE KIND OF ARE A PART OF IT AND NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT WE MANAGE BUT ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

>> PANEK IS A CULTURAL EDUCATOR FOR THE PARK.

ONE PLACE WHERE HE TEACHES NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE IS AT THE APOSTLE ISLAND SCHOOL.

HELD ON STOCKTON ISLAND, THE SCHOOL PAIRS STUDENTS FROM NORTHLAND COLLEGE WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR TWO AND A HALF DAYS OF CAMPING AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION.

THIS GROUP IS FROM WESTFIELD, SOME 275 MILES TO THE SOUTH.

IN THEIR FIRST LESSON, PANEK TEACHES THEM SOME OJIBWE NAMES FOR ANIMALS FOUND ON THE ISLANDS.

>> OJITAMO.

FROM NOW ON, OJITAMO, THE LITTLE SQUIRREL THAT FOLLOWS US AROUND AND PICKS UP ALL OF OUR FOOD SCRAPS.

>> THE REST OF THE LESSONS IN THESE OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS COVER A RANGE OF TOPICS AND OFFER INSIGHTS INTO THE ISLAND'S NATIVE AMERICAN PAST.

>> THIS TREE IS PART OF THAT ONE RIGHT OVER THERE.

>> PANEK WANTS TO CREATE AN OVERALL EXPERIENCE AT THE ISLAND SCHOOL THAT REFLECTS NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE.

>> SO CREATING THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY, CREATING THIS IDEA OF VALUES, CREATING THE SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> THE SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP COMES INTO PLAY WHEN PANEK TELLS THE STUDENTS ABOUT THE LARGEST ANIMAL ON THE ISLAND.

>> I TELL THEM THAT THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CAMP IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S LOTS OF BEAR.

AND REALLY COMING FROM THAT ATTITUDE OF RESPECT AND COMING FROM THAT IDEA THAT THEY'RE THERE, THIS IS THEIR HOME AND WE ARE VISITORS.

>> AFTER TWO AND A HALF DAYS SPENT EXPLORING THE FORESTED TRAILS AND SANDY BEACHES OF STOCKTON ISLAND, PANEK HOPES THE STUDENTS CARRY HOME LESSONS THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.

AND WHEN THE SOUND OF STUDENTS FADES AWAY, PANEK TAKES TIME TO REFLECT ON HIS CONNECTION TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE LONG AGO.

>> WHAT I REALLY LIKE TO DO IS SIT THERE AND THINK ABOUT THOSE FOLKS BACK THEN AND REALIZE THAT WHEN THEY'RE SITTING ON THE BEACH AND WHEN WE'RE SITTING ON THE BEACH LOOKING OUT AT THE LAKE AND THE WAVES CRASHING, WE'RE SEEING THE SAME THING.

>> NATIVE AMERICAN INFLUENCE CAN BE FOUND ALL AROUND WISCONSIN'S NATIONAL PARK AREAS.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS FOUND NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS RIGHT HERE ON THE FORMER MUIR PROPERTY, AND MUIR HIMSELF WROTE ABOUT TWO POSSIBLE INDIAN BURIAL MOUNDS HERE.

AS FOR THE MUIR FAMILY THEMSELVES, WELL, TRACES OF THEIR TIME ON THE LAND HAVE ALL BUT DISAPPEARED.

IN FACT, NOT ONE THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED BY THE MUIR FAMILY IS STANDING TODAY.

NOT EVEN MUIR'S BOYHOOD HOME.

>> BUT THIS PRIVATE RESIDENCE IS BUILT ON THE EXACT FOUNDATION.

AND THIS PROPERTY IS CLASSIFIED AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.

SOME OF THE ORIGINAL SILVER MAPLE TREES PLANTED BY THE MUIRS ARE STILL HERE.

>> THE HOMEOWNERS ARE HELPING TO RESTORE THE PROPERTY TO ITS NATURAL STATE AND SHARE THE SAME VIEW JOHN MUIR WROTE ABOUT.

HIS PRESERVATIONIST EFFORTS BEGAN IN HIS 20'S WHEN HE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES BUT FAILED TO PURCHASE AND PRESERVE A 40-ACRE PARCEL OF SEDGE MEADOW HERE AT FOUNTAIN LAKE FARM.

>> THE PANORAMIC VIEW WAS EVENTUALLY PRESERVED, AND TODAY IT CLOSELY MIMICS THE HISTORIC ACCOUNTS AS SEEN IN THIS SKETCH JOHN MUIR DRAFTED FROM THE RIDGE TOP OVERLOOKING THE LAKE MORE THAN 150 YEARS AGO.

MUIR'S IDEA OF BUYING AND PRESERVING THE LAND IS STILL EVOLVING TODAY, AS WISCONSIN MOVES TO PURCHASE MORE LAND FOR THE ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.

>> 10,000 YEARS AGO, THIS LAND AND MUCH OF NORTH AMERICA WAS BURIED UNDER A HUGE GLACIER.

THE ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL TRAVERSES THE GLACIER'S EDGE AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO TO RUN RIGHT THROUGH THE MUIR PROPERTY.

>> THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS IN THE COUNTRY AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CELEBRATES GLACIERS.

THE ICE AGE TRAIL WINDS FOR SOME 1200 MILES ACROSS WISCONSIN.

HIKER TIM MALZAHN OF LODI EXPLAINS.

>> WHAT THAT CRAZY KIND OF A U-LINE SHAPE REPRESENTS IS THE FURTHEREST ADVANCE OF A CONTINENTAL GLACIER THAT ONLY RECEDED ABOUT 10,000 YEARS AGO.

>> WHAT WAS LEFT AFTER THE LAST GLACIER RETREATED IS A GEOLOGICAL BONANZA.

WISCONSIN IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO VIEW THE EFFECTS OF GLACIERS ON A LANDSCAPE.

IT'S THE MISSION OF THE ICE AGE TRAIL TO SHOWCASE THAT AMAZING NATURAL STORY.

>> SO I JUST WANTED TO EXPLORE WISCONSIN, AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO DO IT THAN WITH THE ICE AGE TRAIL.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IT AND STILL BE INVOLVED WITH IT 17 YEARS LATER, BUT SO IT GOES.

>> MALZAHN HIKED THE WHOLE TRAIL SOME 18 YEARS AGO.

BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRAIL IS NOT COMPLETELY FINISHED.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO HAVE 1200 MILES OF UNINTERRUPTED SCENIC TRAIL.

SO FAR, THEY'VE FINISHED ABOUT 600.

IN THOSE PLACES WHERE THE TRAIL IS NOT FINISHED, THEY OFTEN ROUTE IT ALONG LOCAL ROADS.

THE NON-PROFIT ICE AGE PARK AND TRAIL FOUNDATION HOPES TO REPLACE THOSE ROAD SEGMENTS WITH REAL TRAIL.

TO THAT END, THEY'RE ALWAYS ACQUIRING NEW LAND AND BUILDING NEW TRAIL TO GET TO THAT 1200-MILE GOAL, WHICH IS WHERE MALZAHN COMES IN.

>> FEELS PRETTY GOOD.

>> HIS WALK-ABOUT HAS BECOME A KIND OF PROFESSIONAL VISION QUEST.

HIKER MALZAHN IS NOW ONE OF THE FOUNDATION'S FIVE PAID STAFFERS.

HIS PRIMARY JOB IS DESIGNING NEW TRAIL.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM ON TWO VERY DIFFERENT PLACES ON THE TRAIL, THIS NEWLY COMPLETED SECTION IN THE TIMBERLAND WILDERNESS IN LINCOLN COUNTY AND HERE IN THE HEART OF WINR IN THE CITY OF BARABOO, WHERE HE IS MID DESIGN, MARKING, MAKING DECISIONS, TONS OF DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE A NEW CHUNK OF TRAIL WILL GO.

>> A RULE OF THUMB IS 100 HOURS OF TRAIL AND DESIGN TIME FOR A MILE OF TRAIL.

>> THE GOAL IS TO GET HIKERS LOOKING AT GLACIER LAND FORMS LIKE THIS ONE, KETTLE LAKE IN KETTLE MORAINE STATE PARK, TO KEEP THEM LOOKING AT THE STORY OF GLACIERS IN OUR STATE AND NOT AT THEIR FEET.

>> MY INTRODUCTION TO THE ICE AGE TRAIL IS AS A HIKER, SO I'M LISTENING TO MY FEET IN TERMS OF HOW FAR I'M MOVING THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE, AM I TRIPPING OVER ROCKS.

IT'S HOW THE FEET FEEL AS YOU MOVE.

>> GREAT TRAIL IS NOT ABOUT THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS.

IT'S ABOUT AN EXPERIENCE AND CURVES ARE WELCOME.

>> UNDULATION AND MEANDER, THOSE ARE KEY TERMS THAT HELP TO PROVIDE VARIETY, A SENSE OF PLAYFULNESS, SURPRISE, MYSTERY, TO A TRAIL ALIGNMENT AND THAT'S OUR MOVEMENT THROUGH THE LANDSCAPES.

>> THEY WANT TO REMIND THE HIKER THAT WE TOO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS LANDSCAPE.

CONSIDER THIS BRIDGE, DESIGNED AND BUILT BY MALZAHN AND VOLUNTEERS.

IT'S ON THE TIMBERLAND WILDERNESS SECTION IN LINCOLN COUNTY.

>> WHAT WE SEE IS A FORMER NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD BED THAT WAS USED AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY TO EXTRACT TIMBER FROM THIS PART OF THE NORTH WOODS.

SO IF YOU CAN IMAGINE TEAMS OF HORSES AND MEN CREATING FIRST THIS RAIL BED THROUGH THIS ENVIRONMENT, THE EFFORT WAS MIND BOGGLING.

>> THIS BEAUTIFUL, HAND-CRAFTED BRIDGE CELEBRATES THAT STORY.

>> THIS ADDS A LITTLE BIT MORE SIZZLE TO IT.

>> NEARLY 20 YEARS AFTER HE FIRST TRAVELED THIS TRAIL, MALZAHN IS STILL LEAVING HIS IMPRINT ON WISCONSIN'S ICE AGE TRAIL.

>> IT'S AN ABSOLUTE GEM.

IT'S A TREASURE.

AND IT GIVES BACK TO ME MORE THAN I THINK WHAT I CAN EVER GIVE BACK TO IT.

SO I HOPE TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE ICE AGE TRAIL FOR ANOTHER 17 OR 27 YEARS OR HOWEVER LONG YOU HAVE LEFT TO WALK.

>> WHEN THE RADICAL IDEA FOR THE ICE AGE TRAIL WAS FIRST PROPOSED, THE PARK SERVICE LOVED IT, BUT THEN POLITICS INTERVENED AND A PARK HUNDREDS OF MILES LONG WAS DEEMED TOO HARD TO MANAGE.

BUT THE IDEA KEPT MOVING FORWARD, AND TODAY VOLUNTEERS CARRY THE HEAVY BURDEN OF MAKING THE TRAIL A TREASURE.

>> THE ICE AGE TRAIL IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AND THEY'RE ALWAYS EAGER FOR VOLUNTEERS TO JOIN THEM CONSTRUCTING NEW TRAIL.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO SEE WISCONSIN AND LEAVE A LEGACY.

>> THE SAME IS TRUE ON THE NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL, WHICH ALLOWS HIKERS TO EXPERIENCE A VARIETY OF NORTHERN LANDSCAPES ACROSS SEVEN STATES, THANKS AGAIN TO THE HARD WORK OF MANY VOLUNTEERS.

>> WHEN COMPLETED, THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL WILL SPAN 4600 MILES FROM THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS OF NEW YORK TO THE MISSOURI RIVER IN NORTH DAKOTA.

THE GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF COMPLETED TRAIL LIES IN WISCONSIN.

HERE TOO, YOU'LL FIND THE OLDEST SEGMENTS, A PATH USED BY WISCONSIN'S EARLIEST INHABITANTS, DATING BACK 10,000 YEARS OR MORE.

>> WE HAVE MORE MILES ON THE GROUND NOW THAN THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL IS LONG, AND AT LEAST THAT MANY MILES MORE TO GO.

>> ABOUT HALF THE TRAIL IS COMPLETED.

BUT IT WILL TAKE A LOT MORE WORK AND THE ACQUISITION OF MORE LAND AND EASEMENTS TO CONNECT THE FINISHED SEGMENTS, WHICH CROSS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT HABITAT TYPES.

BILL MENKE AND A CREW OF VOLUNTEERS BUILT THIS SECTION OF BOARDWALK THAT ALLOWS VISITORS TO HIKE A PORTION OF THE TRAIL THAT CROSSES THE OTHERWISE INACCESSIBLE BRULE BOG.

>> THIS BOARDWALK IS REALLY A SPECIAL PROJECT AND IT WAS A VERY FUN PROJECT BECAUSE OF ITS MASSIVE NATURE AND IT'S JUST FUN WHEN YOU CAN BUILD SOMETHING LIKE A STRUCTURE OR A BRIDGE OR A BOARDWALK, IT'S A LITTLE MORE SATISFYING FOR SOME REASON THAN DIGGING TREAD IN THE DIRT AND MOVING DIRT AND BOULDERS ALL DAY LONG.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY NEAT STRUCTURE BECAUSE IT GETS PEOPLE OUT HERE INTO THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT PEOPLE CAN'T TYPICALLY SEE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE SPAGNUM MOSSES AND ALL THE OTHER KINDS OF MOSSES AND FERNS AND OTHER DELICATE PLANTS THAT ARE HERE.

ONE OF THE THING THAT MAKES THE NORTH COUNTRY SCENIC TRAIL SO SPECIAL IS IT TRAVERSES THROUGH A WIDE DIVERSITY OF ENVIRONMENTS AND PLACES RATHER THAN FOLLOWING A PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHIC FEATURE.

>> ANOTHER UNUSUAL ENVIRONMENT CROSSED BY THE TRAIL IS A PINE BARREN IN THE DOUGLAS COUNTY WILDLIFE AREA.

>> SO OUT HERE, HIKERS ARE SEEING AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SET OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS AND BIRDS.

AT SOME TIMES OF THE YEAR WHEN YOU COME THROUGH HERE, YOU SEE VARIOUS KINDS OF PRAIRIE FLOWERS IN BLOOM.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PRAIRIE ROSES AND PLECTRUM BLOOMING.

SO YOU SEE A VARIETY OF WILD FLOWERS HERE THAT YOU DON'T SEE ELSEWHERE.

>> THE BRULE ST. CROIX PORTAGE IS ONE OF THE TRADITIONAL ROUTES BETWEEN THE MISSISSIPPI WATERSHED AND THE LAKE SUPERIOR GREAT LAKES WATERSHED.

WHEN YOU SEE THE DEEPLY RUTTED AREA ON THE TRAIL, THIS IS WHERE THE NATIVE PEOPLE AND THE VOYAGERS AFTER THEM CLIMBED UP THE STEEP BLUFF OF THE TRAIL CARRYING CANOES AND VOYAGER TRADE GOODS AND PACKS.

THE PORTAGE TRAIL IS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN SEE PUBLIC TRAVEL ROUTE IN ITS NATURAL STATE AS IT WAS HISTORICALLY IN WISCONSIN.

THERE'S REALLY NOT ANY OTHER PLACE THAT I CAN THINK OF IN THE STATE WHERE YOU CAN SEE A TRAIL AS OLD AS THIS.

>> THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL REALLY IS ONLY COMING INTO EXISTENCE BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT OF THESE PARTNERS, STATE AGENCIES, LOCAL AGENCIES, AND ESPECIALLY THE VOLUNTEERS.

BUT THE VOLUNTEERS DO IT ALL.

I AND MY STAFF AMOUNT TO 4 1/2 PEOPLE, SO OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T BUILD AND MAINTAIN THE TRAIL.

>> LYNNE, WHO HAS A SUBSCRIPTION TO AN OUTDOOR MAGAZINE, SAW SOMETHING ABOUT THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL AND WE PURSUED IT A LITTLE FURTHER AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A LOCAL CHAPTER AND WE WENT TO A MEETING AND GOT INVOLVED THAT WAY AND WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION EVER SINCE.

>> I LIKE HIKING IN PLACES WHERE YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE TRAIL.

>> WE'RE GOING TO GO THIS WAY.

>> THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL THROUGH WISCONSIN JUST GIVES YOU SO MUCH VARIETY.

IT'S JUST -- AND WE'VE HIKED A LOT OF THESE TRAILS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND WE NEVER GET TIRED OF IT.

IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO BE OUTSIDE.

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN BE INVOLVED WITH AND TRY TO LEAVE A LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN.

>> AND SO THE LEGACY OF THE TRAIL LIVES ON AS IT'S PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION.

>> JOHN MUIR REFERS TO THE NATIONAL PARKS AS "A PLACE FOR REST, INSPIRATION AND PRAYERS."

>> IN 1903, HE CONVINCED PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT OF THAT ON AN OVERNIGHT CAMPING TRIP, THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE WAS BORN.

MUIR MADE CONSERVATION A POPULAR CAUSE IN THE UNITED STATES AND CHANGED THE THINKING OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.

THE WISCONSIN FRONTIER EXPERIENCE LIT HIS PASSION FOR NATURE AND SPARKED HIS REVOLUTIONARY CONSERVATION ETHIC.

>> SOMETHING TO REMEMBER THE NEXT TIME YOU HIKE, DIVE OR PADDLE INTO ONE OF WISCONSIN'S NATIONAL PARK AREAS.