Hartland: Trails, Parks and Local History

Hartland combines trails along the Bark River and through Hartland Marsh Preserve with park amenities and select landmarks of local history. The Ice Age Trail, Nixon Park, and historic sites each offer a different focus. The details below will help you consider these topics as you plan your trip.

Trails, River, and Marshland

About 4.7 miles of the 1,000-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail pass through Hartland. The smaller figure refers to the section in town, while the larger one is the trail’s total length. Hartland Marsh Preserve also has about 1.3 miles of spur and loop trails through woodland and marshland. These figures describe different trail networks and landscape settings, not two comparable routes. When comparing routes for your stay, keep these different reference points in mind.

In Hartland, the Ice Age Trail follows a shady, tree-lined route along the Bark River. At Hartbrook Park, the trail reaches the northwest corner, where a footbridge crosses the Bark River. The river also forms the park’s western boundary. These details connect a specific section of the trail with the river and the park without conflating it with the trails in Marsh Preserve.

At the southern end of the Bark River Greenway, a footbridge connects Hartland’s central business district with the green space. Hartland Marsh Preserve, by contrast, focuses on trails through woodland and marshland. The preserve is a good place to observe sandhill cranes, ducks, herons, and songbirds—a distinct nature experience alongside the river trails.

Nixon Park: Trails, Pond, and Amenities

Nixon Park has a splash pad, an ice rink, and a Fine Arts Center. The splash pad and ice rink may operate seasonally, so check whether each amenity is available during your travel dates before visiting.

The park also has an accessible trail along the riverbank and around the pond. Fed by the Bark River, the pond offers fishing opportunities. Thus, the Nixon Park trail and access to the water are distinct features alongside its various amenities. By comparison, the trails at Hartland Marsh Preserve are defined by woodland, marshland, and opportunities for birdwatching.

Local History and Ice Age Geology

Among the Hartland artifacts in the Local History Room at the Hartland Public Library is an original section of the Watertown Plank Road. The Hartland Public Library also has an educational display about Ice Age geology. The two features have different emphases: the piece of road relates to local history, while the display explores a geological topic.

The Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad Depot is Hartland’s only surviving architecturally significant railroad-related building. It is vacant and boarded up. The depot adds a surviving building to the town’s historic sites, while the Local History Room offers a specific artifact related to the Watertown Plank Road.

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