Ice Age Trail
Quick answer: The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a 1,200-mile hiking trail entirely in Wisconsin, marked with yellow blazes and free to hike. The closest stretch to Lake Geneva is at Whitewater Lake in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit, about 30 minutes away.
The trail itself has no fee, but parking inside a state forest unit needs a vehicle pass ($13 a day for Wisconsin plates, $16 for out-of-state). Loew Lake is the exception: no sticker required.
The trail traces the edge of the last glacier, which retreated more than 10,000 years ago. It runs from Interstate State Park on the Minnesota border to Potawatomi State Park near Sturgeon Bay, through about 30 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.
A bit more than half is off-road footpath; quiet roads called connecting routes link the rest. It’s split into just over 100 segments of roughly 1 to 16 miles, so you can hike it an afternoon at a time. For the forest units it runs through, see the Kettle Moraine guide.
Which segment should you hike?
Ice Age Trail segments near Lake Geneva at a glance
| Where | From Lake Geneva | Trail miles | Overnight | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitewater Lake (Southern Unit) | About 30 min | Part of 30 in the unit | Whitewater Lake campground | Vehicle pass |
| Southern Unit, Eagle area | About 40 to 45 min | 30 in the unit | 3 backpack shelter sites | Vehicle pass |
| Lapham Peak (Delafield) | About 50 min to 1 hr | Short stretch through the unit | No | Vehicle pass |
| Loew Lake (near Hubertus) | About 1 hr 15 min | Short, quiet stretch | No, day use | Free |
| Holy Hill area | About 1 hr 15 min | Rolling kames and woods | No | Trailhead lots |
| Northern Unit | About 1 hr 45 min | 31 | 5 shelters, year-round | Vehicle pass |
Best Ice Age Trail hikes near Lake Geneva
Whitewater Lake, Southern Unit
ClosestHalf dayThe easiest Ice Age Trail outing from Geneva Lake. The path rolls over wooded ridges and past kettle ponds near Whitewater Lake. A 2- to 5-mile out-and-back fills a morning.
Tip: Combine it with a swim at Whitewater Lake in summer, or lunch in Whitewater.
The rest of the Southern Unit
Day hikeBackpackingThe trail runs about 30 miles through the Southern Unit, from the Whitewater Lake area northeast toward Eagle. It’s the best long day hike close to Lake Geneva, and short nature loops at Stute Springs and Scuppernong Springs make easy add-ons.
The unit also has 3 backpack shelter sites on the trail, reached by hikes of 0.5 to 10 miles.
Lapham Peak
TowerWinter snowshoeThe trail runs through the unit, home to the 45-foot observation tower on the highest point in Waukesha County. In winter, it’s one of the ungroomed trails where snowshoes belong (stay off the ski tracks).
Loew Lake
Free parkingQuietA day-use unit along the trail with no admission sticker required. It’s quieter than the bigger units.
Holy Hill area
Fall colorViewsThe trail winds through kames and hardwoods near the basilica of Holy Hill. In October, climb the basilica’s scenic tower before or after your hike.
Northern Unit
BackpackingSheltersThe trail runs the length of the forest, 31 miles, past Parnell Tower and Dundee Mountain. Five rustic 3-sided shelters are spaced along it and can be reserved year-round.
Start at the Henry S. Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center (N2875 Hwy. 67, Campbellsport; Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) for maps and the glacier exhibits.
Camping and shelters
Backpack shelters. The Northern Unit has 5 on the trail, open year-round. The Southern Unit has 3 shelter sites. Both require reservations.
Campgrounds. Ottawa Lake, Pinewoods and Whitewater Lake in the Southern Unit; Mauthe Lake and Long Lake in the Northern Unit.
Dispersed camping areas. The Ice Age Trail Alliance maintains a network of basic dispersed camping areas (DCAs) for long-distance hikers elsewhere on the trail. Check the Alliance’s rules before you go.
Reserve DNR sites at wisconsin.goingtocamp.com or 1-888-947-2757, from same day to 11 months ahead.
How to plan your first day hike
- Drive 30 minutes from Lake Geneva to the Whitewater Lake area of the Southern Unit.
- Buy a vehicle pass online before you park ($13 Wisconsin, $16 out-of-state). There’s a $5 surcharge if you skip it.
- Follow the yellow blazes. A double blaze means a turn is coming.
- Bring water, real shoes and bug spray, and check for ticks afterward.
- Grab segment maps from the Ice Age Trail Alliance; they list every segment by distance and difficulty.
How the Ice Age Trail came to be
Milwaukee conservationist Ray Zillmer wanted an “Ice Age National Park” to protect Wisconsin’s glacial landforms. He founded the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation, now the Ice Age Trail Alliance, in 1958, and died in 1960.
Congressman Henry S. Reuss kept the idea alive, starting with the 1964 law that created the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve. Congress established the trail in 1980, and on Dec. 7, 2023 it became a full unit of the National Park System. The Northern Unit’s visitor center carries Reuss’s name.
Today the National Park Service, the Wisconsin DNR, local partners and the volunteer-driven Alliance build and maintain it together. Hikers who finish all 1,200 miles are recognized as Thousand-Milers.
Hiking the Ice Age Trail by season
Fall (late September to mid-October)
The hardwood ridges turn gold and red, usually peaking in early October. It’s also the best hiking weather: cool, dry and no bugs. Pair a hike with the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive.
Winter (December to March)
Snowshoeing is allowed on the Ice Age Trail and other ungroomed paths. Stay off groomed ski trails, and note the Zillmer trails in the Northern Unit close to hiking once there’s snow.
Spring (April and May)
Running springs, wildflowers and migrating birds on the southern segments. Expect mud.
Summer (June to August)
Green and shady, but humid and buggy by midday. Start early and do a tick check after.
Best by category
| Category | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Closest | Whitewater Lake | 30 minutes from Lake Geneva |
| Best free parking | Loew Lake | No sticker required |
| Best long day hike | Southern Unit | 30 connected miles |
| Best backpacking | Northern Unit | 31 miles, 5 shelters |
| Best fall hike | Holy Hill area | Kames, hardwoods and a tower |
| Best winter | Lapham Peak | Snowshoe the trail, ski the lit loops |
Mistakes hikers make
Assuming free trail means free parking. The trail is free, but forest unit lots need a vehicle pass.
Missing a turn. Watch for double yellow blazes, especially where the trail crosses roads.
Snowshoeing on ski tracks. Stick to the Ice Age Trail and other ungroomed paths.
Skipping the tick check. Deer ticks are common in the Kettle Moraine from spring through fall.
If you’re moving here
From Geneva Lake, the trail at Whitewater Lake is close enough for a before-work hike in summer. Homes near the Southern Unit, around Whitewater, East Troy and Palmyra, include rural lots and wooded parcels a few minutes from trailheads.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Ice Age Trail?
About 1,200 miles, all in Wisconsin, from Interstate State Park on the Minnesota border to Potawatomi State Park near Sturgeon Bay. A bit more than half is off-road footpath, with connecting routes linking the rest.
Where can you hike the Ice Age Trail near Lake Geneva?
The closest stretch is at Whitewater Lake in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit, about 30 minutes away. The trail runs about 30 miles through the Southern Unit, and Lapham Peak, Loew Lake and the Holy Hill area are each about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes away.
Is the Ice Age Trail free?
Yes, hiking is free. Parking inside a Kettle Moraine State Forest unit requires a Wisconsin vehicle pass, $13 a day for Wisconsin plates or $16 for out-of-state plates. Loew Lake doesn’t require one.
Can you camp along the Ice Age Trail?
Yes. The Northern Unit has 5 reservable backpack shelters on the trail and the Southern Unit has 3 shelter sites. Both units also have campgrounds. Reserve at wisconsin.goingtocamp.com or 1-888-947-2757.
Is the Ice Age Trail a national park?
It’s a national scenic trail and, since Dec. 7, 2023, an official unit of the National Park System. It’s 1 of 11 national scenic trails in the country.
How is the Ice Age Trail marked?
With yellow blazes painted on trees and posts. A double blaze signals a turn ahead.
Can you snowshoe the Ice Age Trail?
Yes. Snowshoeing is allowed on the Ice Age Trail and other ungroomed trails in the Kettle Moraine. Stay off groomed cross-country ski tracks.
Who maintains the Ice Age Trail?
The National Park Service administers it. The volunteer-driven Ice Age Trail Alliance, the Wisconsin DNR and local partners build and maintain it.
Want a trailhead in your weekly routine?
Kim and Joel Reyenga with eXp Realty cover Geneva Lake and the towns between the lake and the Kettle Moraine, from Lake Geneva condos to wooded lots near Whitewater and East Troy.
Search Geneva Lake properties Equal Housing Opportunity. Reyenga Team, eXp Realty.