Kettle Moraine Guide
Quick answer: The Kettle Moraine is a 100-plus-mile band of glacial hills in southeastern Wisconsin, mostly protected as Kettle Moraine State Forest. From Lake Geneva, the Southern Unit is the easy day trip (about 30 minutes to the Whitewater Lake trailheads). The Northern Unit is about 1 hour 45 minutes north and works better as a full day or a weekend.
Bring a Wisconsin state park vehicle pass: $13 a day or $50 a year for out-of-state plates, $13 or $28 for Wisconsin plates. Hiking the Ice Age Trail is free.
The hills formed at the end of the last ice age, more than 10,000 years ago, where the Green Bay and Lake Michigan lobes of the glacier met and melted. They left kettles (bowl-shaped hollows), kames (cone-shaped gravel hills) and eskers (long ridges laid down by rivers under the ice).
For anyone based at Geneva Lake, it’s the closest real hiking, mountain biking and fall-color country. This guide sorts out the units, the passes and what’s worth the drive.
Where should you go first?
Kettle Moraine units at a glance
| Unit | From Lake Geneva | Best for | Size | Sticker? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Unit (Eagle, La Grange, Whitewater Lake) | About 30 to 45 min | Mountain biking, hiking, camping | 22,000+ acres | Yes |
| Lapham Peak (Delafield) | About 50 min to 1 hr | Tower views, night skiing | Small | Yes |
| Pike Lake (Hartford) | About 1 hr 15 min | Swimming, Powder Hill views | 522-acre lake | Yes |
| Loew Lake (near Hubertus) | About 1 hr 15 min | Quiet Ice Age Trail hiking | Small, day use | No |
| Northern Unit (Campbellsport, Dundee) | About 1 hr 45 min | Parnell Tower, backpacking, beaches | 30,000 acres | Yes |
Kettle Moraine guides
Each of these has its own full guide with trails, camping, food and FAQs.
Kettle Moraine Southern Unit
ClosestMountain bikingCampingThe one most Lake Geneva visitors mean when they say “the Kettle Moraine.” It has the John Muir and Emma Carlin bike trails, 30 miles of Ice Age Trail, springs and 3 main campgrounds.
Start here if: you have half a day and want the best hiking or riding near the lake.
Kettle Moraine Northern Unit
Fall colorBackpackingBeachesBigger and wilder, with the 60-foot Parnell Tower, Dundee Mountain, the Spruce Lake Bog boardwalk and 5 backpack shelters on the Ice Age Trail. Pair it with Elkhart Lake for dinner.
Start here if: you want the best fall view in the forest and have a full day.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
FreeNational Park SystemOne of 11 national scenic trails in the country, and a unit of the National Park System since December 2023. It runs through the Southern Unit, Lapham Peak, Loew Lake, Pike Lake and the Northern Unit.
Start here if: you want a hike, any length, with no trail fee.
Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive
Fall driveSupper clubsA signed back-road route laid out in the late 1940s. The south end is about 30 minutes from Lake Geneva, so you can drive a piece of it in an afternoon.
Start here if: you’d rather see the hills from the car, with stops for towers and fish fry.
The smaller units
Lapham Peak Unit
TowerNight skiingA 45-foot tower on the highest point in Waukesha County (1,233 feet). In winter it’s the best Nordic skiing in southern Wisconsin: 10 miles of trail, 2.5 miles lit until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and snowmaking on 1.5 miles.
Pike Lake Unit
SwimmingViewsNamed for its 522-acre, spring-fed kettle lake, with a swimming beach and campground. Powder Hill, a big glacial kame, gives you the view.
Loew Lake Unit
No stickerQuietA quiet stretch of the Ice Age Trail and the only unit here that doesn’t need a vehicle sticker. Pair it with the Holy Hill tower (open May 1 to Oct 31) a few minutes away.
Best things to do in the Kettle Moraine
Mountain bike. The John Muir trails (County H, north of La Grange) have loops from an easy 1.25 miles to a hard 12. Emma Carlin (County Z) is rockier. Riders 16 and up need a state trail pass, and trails close when wet.
Hike. The Ice Age Trail crosses kettles and ridges in every unit. Shorter nature trails at Paradise Springs and Scuppernong Springs in the Southern Unit are easy loops.
Climb a tower. Parnell (60 feet, Northern Unit), Lapham Peak (45 feet) and the Holy Hill scenic tower each look out over a different piece of the moraine.
Swim or paddle. Ottawa Lake and Whitewater Lake in the south; Mauthe Lake and Long Lake in the north; Pike Lake in between.
Camp. Ottawa Lake (Southern Unit) and Mauthe Lake (Northern Unit) stay open year-round. Book at wisconsin.goingtocamp.com or 1-888-947-2757, from same day to 11 months out.
Step back in time. Old World Wisconsin sits next to the Southern Unit near Eagle: 600 acres and 60-plus historic buildings. It runs May through September; the 2026 season wrapped Sept 27.
The Kettle Moraine by season
Fall (late September to mid-October)
The reason most people come. Color usually peaks in the first 2 weeks of October. Get above the trees at Parnell Tower or Lapham Peak, or drive the Scenic Drive.
Closer to home, the Lake Geneva scenic drive and orchards and pumpkin patches fill the rest of the weekend.
Winter (December to March)
Lapham Peak is the reliable choice, thanks to lights and snowmaking. The Southern Unit grooms the Nordic trails (County H, south of Palmyra) and McMiller (County NN, south of Eagle, heated shelter). The Northern Unit has 30-plus miles of ski trail, including Greenbush and Zillmer.
Snowshoe on ungroomed trails such as the Ice Age Trail, never on groomed ski tracks. Skiers 16 and up need a state trail pass. More ideas: Lake Geneva winter activities.
Spring (April and May)
Springs run clear at Paradise Springs and Scuppernong Springs, wildflowers come up on the ridges and migrating birds pass through. Trails are often muddy into May, and bike trails close when wet.
Summer (June to August)
Beaches, campgrounds and early-morning rides. Bring bug spray for the deep woods and check for ticks afterward. On hot days, swim at Ottawa Lake or Pike Lake.
Kettle Moraine passes and fees (2026)
| Pass | Wisconsin plates | Out-of-state plates | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle pass, 12 months | $28 ($13 age 65+) | $50 | Parking in the Southern, Northern, Lapham Peak and Pike Lake units |
| Vehicle pass, daily | $13 ($3 age 65+) | $16 | Same |
| State trail pass | $25 a year or $5 a day | $25 a year or $5 a day | Ages 16+ biking, cross-country skiing or horseback riding |
| Ice Age Trail | Free | Free | Vehicle pass still needed to park inside the state forest units |
| Loew Lake Unit | No sticker | No sticker | Day use |
The 12-month pass is good through the end of the same month next year. Buy at Wisconsin DNR before you park; there’s a $5 surcharge if you’re caught without one.
Best by category
| Category | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Closest to Lake Geneva | Whitewater Lake, Southern Unit | About 30 minutes, Ice Age Trail and a campground |
| Best fall view | Parnell Tower | 60 feet up over unbroken hardwoods |
| Best mountain biking | John Muir trails | 6 loops, 1.25 to 12 miles |
| Best skiing | Lapham Peak | Lights and snowmaking |
| Best free hike | Loew Lake | No sticker, quiet Ice Age Trail |
| Best overnight | Northern Unit shelters | 5 backpack shelters on the Ice Age Trail |
| Best drive | Scenic Drive, south end | Starts 30 minutes from the lake |
Mistakes people make
Using old fee numbers. Out-of-state daily passes are $16 now, and the annual is $50.
Treating the Northern Unit as a quick trip. It’s close to 2 hours each way from Lake Geneva. Make a day of it or stay over.
Riding after rain. The DNR closes bike trails when wet and asks riders to wait 4 to 6 hours after rain stops. Call 262-594-6202 first.
Snowshoeing on ski tracks. It ruins the groomed track. Use the Ice Age Trail and other ungroomed paths.
If you’re moving here
Living near Geneva Lake puts the Southern Unit 30 to 45 minutes away, close enough for after-work rides in summer. Towns along its edge, including Whitewater, East Troy and Mukwonago, have homes on larger rural lots, small farms and wooded parcels next to state land.
Lake Geneva, Williams Bay and Fontana give you the lake; the moraine is your backyard trail system for weekends.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kettle Moraine?
A band of glacial hills across southeastern Wisconsin, formed more than 10,000 years ago where the Green Bay and Lake Michigan lobes of the glacier met. Most of it is protected as Kettle Moraine State Forest, which has a Northern Unit, a Southern Unit and smaller units at Lapham Peak, Pike Lake and Loew Lake.
How far is the Kettle Moraine from Lake Geneva?
The Southern Unit’s Whitewater Lake trailheads are about 30 minutes away, and its Eagle headquarters about 40 to 45 minutes. Lapham Peak is about 50 minutes to 1 hour, Pike Lake and Loew Lake about 1 hour 15 minutes, and the Northern Unit about 1 hour 45 minutes.
How much is a Wisconsin state park pass in 2026?
A 12-month vehicle pass is $28 for Wisconsin plates, $13 for Wisconsin residents 65 and older, and $50 for out-of-state plates. A daily pass is $13 for Wisconsin plates and $16 for out-of-state plates. The 12-month pass is valid through the end of the same month the following year.
Do you need a pass for the Kettle Moraine?
Yes, a vehicle pass is required to park in the Southern, Northern, Lapham Peak and Pike Lake units. Loew Lake doesn’t require one. Riders and skiers 16 and older also need a state trail pass ($25 a year or $5 a day). Hiking the Ice Age Trail is free.
When is the best time to see fall color in the Kettle Moraine?
Late September through mid-October, with the peak usually in the first 2 weeks of October. Parnell Tower, the Lapham Peak tower and the Scenic Drive are the best ways to see it.
What’s the difference between the Northern and Southern units?
The Southern Unit (22,000-plus acres) is closer to Lake Geneva and better for mountain biking. The Northern Unit (30,000 acres) is larger, with taller hills, Parnell Tower, 3 beaches and 5 backpack shelters on the Ice Age Trail.
Where can you cross-country ski in the Kettle Moraine?
Lapham Peak has 10 miles of trail with 2.5 lighted miles and snowmaking. The Southern Unit grooms the Nordic and McMiller trail systems, and the Northern Unit has more than 30 miles of ski trail including Greenbush and Zillmer. Skiers 16 and older need a state trail pass.
Can you camp in the Kettle Moraine?
Yes. The Southern Unit has Ottawa Lake, Pinewoods and Whitewater Lake campgrounds, and the Northern Unit has Mauthe Lake and Long Lake. Ottawa Lake and Mauthe Lake are open year-round. Reserve at wisconsin.goingtocamp.com or 1-888-947-2757.
Want the trails closer to home?
Kim and Joel Reyenga with eXp Realty cover Geneva Lake and the towns between the lake and the Kettle Moraine, from downtown Lake Geneva condos to wooded acreage near Whitewater and East Troy.
Search Geneva Lake properties Equal Housing Opportunity. Reyenga Team, eXp Realty.