Kettle Moraine State Forest

The Kettle Moraine State Forest is a state forest in southeastern Wisconsin. The chief feature of the reserve is the Kettle Moraine, a highly glaciated area. The area contains very hilly terrain and glacial landforms, such as kettles, kames and eskers. The 56,000-acre (23,000 ha)[1] forest is divided into two large and three small units, which are spread across a hundred miles.

Kettle Moraine State Forest
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Parnell Observation Tower
LocationWisconsin, United States
Governing bodyWisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center

The forest includes 250 miles (400 km) of hiking trails, almost 100 miles (160 km) of cross-country ski trails, 130 miles (210 km) of equestrian trails, 150 miles (240 km) of snowmobile trails, 75 miles (121 km) of off-road bicycle trails including 30 miles (48 km) of singletrack trail, and 750 campsites.[1]

All units include a portion of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and most units have horse/snowmobile trails. Several areas of trail loops for hiking, biking and skiing can be found in the northern and southern units.

Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive is a 115-mile (185 km) scenic route that winds across southeastern Wisconsin, and through all five forest units.

Forest units
Sign entering southern unit
  • The Southern Unit extends from just west of North Prairie, southwestward to Whitewater Lake, south of Whitewater. Other nearby towns include Eagle and Palmyra. Features of the Southern Unit include Ottawa Lake Recreation Area which has boating, campgrounds and hiking and ski trails, and Whitewater Lake Recreation Area, which also features camping and boating. The Forest is host to Old World Wisconsin, a collection of farmsteads, recreating the homes and lives of settlers, and also to the McMiller Sportsmen Center, public hunting practice ranges.
  • The Pike Lake Unit is on the eastern side of 446-acre (1.80 km2) Pike Lake. It is located on state Highway 60 in between Slinger and Hartford. The park offers camping, hiking, biking and swimming, and has an observation tower overlooking the park and lake.
  • The Loew Lake Unit is a small recreation area located in the town of Erin, on the Oconomowoc River and Loews Lake in southwestern Washington County. It offers hiking, hunting and horse riding.
  • Lapham Peak Unit is south of Delafield in Waukesha County. It has over 20 miles (32 km) of trails, and an observation tower.
  • The Mukwanago River Unit is in Waukesha and Walworth Counties, adjacent to the Mukwonago River.[2]

See also

References
  1. McFadzen, Mike (December 2014). "The Kettle Moraine State Forest has the cure for cabin fever". Wisconsin Natural Resources. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: 4–6. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  2. "Southern Kettle Moraine Waters Master Planning - Wisconsin DNR". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2017-12-18.

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