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: 3 stars
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.

Hiker:

The Ox


5,750 points


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