Ice Age Trail - Kettle Moraine State Forest - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Ice Age Trail - Kettle Moraine State Forest |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| Nearby Town: | Eagle |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | Pine Woods Campground: From Milwaukee: - I-94 West to STH 67 - STH 67 South (Left) to CTH ZZ - CTH ZZ East to Waterville Road - Waterville Road Left to Pinewoods From Chicago: - I-94 West to STH 50 (Kenosha) - STH 50 West to US 12 (Lake Geneva) - US 12 West to STH 67 (Elkhorn) - STH 67 North (Right) to 5 miles past Eagle to CTH ZZ - CTH ZZ East (Left) to Waterville Road - Waterville Road Left to Pinewoods From Madison: - I-94 East to STH 67 (Oconomowoc) - STH 67 South (Right) to CTH ZZ - CTH ZZ East (Left) to Waterville Road - Waterville Road Left to Pinewoods |
| Total Hike Distance: | 4.00 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easy to Moderate |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | In & Out, Backtrack Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Park Campground |
| Trails Used: | Ice Age Trail |
| Backcountry Campsites: | Yes |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams |
| Management: | State Park Service |
| Contact Information: | Southern Unit Kettle Moraine State Forest Forest Headquarters S91 W39091 Highway 59 Eagle, Wisconsin 53119 (262) 594-6200 |
| Best Season: | Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Dogs |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | The Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is 21,000 acres of glacial hills. The forest headquarters houses a museum and auditorium where a twenty-five minute narrated slide show is played upon request. Two pioneer cabins (Oleson and Gotten) have been restored here one of which overlooks Ottawa Lake, the main recreation area in the forest. The forest is also known for its extensive trail system, and a 31 mile section of the Ice Age National Scenic trail transverses the forest. It has three backpack shelters available for overnight accommodation. A thirty-five mile section of the Ice Age Trail runs through the the Kettle Moraine State Forest—Southern Unit and this segment starts at the Pine Woods Campground. We tried, during our visit, to book one of the backcountry shelters and to complete a multi-day hike on the Ice Age Trail. Unfortunately, we were unable to get a reservation and ended up day hiking the section and camping at a nearby state campground. Regardless, the Kettle Moraine section has glacial features such as kames, eskers, kettles, and moraines and should not be missed. It is one of nine units of the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin and it is easily accessed from from major cities like Madison and Milwaukee. |
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