Kettle Moraine State Forest - South is a state forest in southeastern Wisconsin, spanning over 22,000 acres across 30 miles. Its landscape was shaped by glacial activity during the last Ice Age, resulting in a diverse topography featuring rolling hills, numerous kettles, eskers, kames, and moraines. This varied terrain, encompassing lakes, prairies, and hardwood and pine forests, provides a dynamic environment for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, jogging, and more.
59
Routes
4.8
(30)
Average rating
793
People visited

5.0
(1)
32
hikers
3.97km
01:03
40m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

22
hikers
6.32km
01:38
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
hikers
5.69km
01:27
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
hikers
23.1km
06:11
270m
280m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(5)
105
riders
19.2km
01:37
130m
130m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
4.92km
00:25
30m
30m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
77
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

27
riders
26.7km
02:15
160m
160m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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71
riders
48.5km
01:56
190m
190m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

1
riders
51.2km
03:22
210m
210m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

14
riders
24.2km
01:18
80m
80m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

11
riders
36.8km
01:29
160m
160m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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1
runners
39.1km
04:09
240m
230m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

16
runners
36.1km
04:27
380m
380m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
runners
29.9km
03:43
340m
340m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

9
runners
7.12km
00:52
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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11
riders
28.1km
02:37
180m
180m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
riders
24.2km
01:24
80m
80m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
7
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
5.75km
00:30
30m
30m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Kettle Moraine State Forest - South offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, jogging, and touring cycling. The forest features over 22,000 acres of diverse, glaciated terrain. There are 51 routes available across these sports, with an average rating of 4.66 stars from over 2,500 visitors.
Kettle Moraine State Forest - South offers numerous hiking opportunities, including sections of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which spans 30 miles (48 km) within the unit. Other notable trails include the Scuppernong, Emma Carlin, John Muir, and Nordic trails. For more information, consult the Hiking in Kettle Moraine State Forest - South guide.
Kettle Moraine State Forest - South is known for its mountain biking, with over 30 miles (48 km) of trails. The John Muir and Emma Carlin trail systems offer single-track routes for various skill levels. A dedicated loop behind the Muir shelter is available for younger riders. Find more details in the MTB Trails in Kettle Moraine State Forest - South guide.
Road cycling options are available in Kettle Moraine State Forest - South. Specific road cycling routes are present, and the Glacial Drumlin State Trail is also accessible for scenic rides. For detailed routes, refer to the Road Cycling Routes in Kettle Moraine State Forest - South guide.
Kettle Moraine State Forest - South provides shorter, self-guided nature trails suitable for a more leisurely experience. There are also specific guides for different difficulty levels. Explore options in the Easy hikes in Kettle Moraine State Forest - South and Family-friendly hikes in Kettle Moraine State Forest - South guides.
The forest's landscape was shaped by glacial activity, featuring rolling glacial hills and numerous 'kettles,' which are depressions formed by melting ice blocks. Visitors can observe eskers, ridges formed by sub-glacial streams, and kames, rounded ridges of sand and gravel. The area also includes lakes, prairies, and diverse forests.
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a significant hiking trail that spans 30 miles (48 km) within the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest. This trail offers opportunities to explore various glacial landforms. It connects visitors to Wisconsin's glacial history and diverse natural habitats.
The John Muir and Emma Carlin trail systems are highly regarded, especially for mountain biking, offering a variety of single-track routes. For hiking, the Scuppernong, Emma Carlin, John Muir, and Nordic trails are popular choices. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail also draws many visitors.
Komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking in Kettle Moraine State Forest - South, MTB Trails in Kettle Moraine State Forest - South, and Road Cycling Routes in Kettle Moraine State Forest - South. Other guides cover easy hikes, family-friendly options, running, and traffic-free bike rides.
Kettle Moraine State Forest - South is a popular destination on komoot, with over 2,500 visitors having shared their experiences. The routes in the forest have an average rating of 4.66 out of 5 stars. There are 51 routes available across various sports.
The official website for Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit is part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website. The main phone number for the forest is +1-262-594-6200. Trail-specific information can be obtained by calling +1-262-594-6202.

