by Beth Szczepanski

Created on: November 11, 2008   Last Updated: December 13, 2008

Glacial activity has carved bowl-shaped valleys and scenic lakes into the landscape of Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine State Park. The park takes its name from the massive moraine, or glacial debris deposit, that provides the area with its hills and mountains. This moraine contained large pockets of ice, or kettles. When those ice pockets melted and collapsed, many of the park's valleys and lakes came into existence. The area also features eskers, or uniform lines of debris left behind as glaciers crawled across the landscape. Today, hikers can explore this fascinating park on trails that cover a wide range of difficulty.

Longer Hikes

The experienced hiker might want to take on some of Kettle Moraine's long trails. The longest trail in the park is the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which winds through thirty-three miles of glacier-carved scenery. This trail makes its way over moraines and through kettles, providing a variety of scenic vistas along the way. The trail passes through deciduous forests, rocky outcrops and rolling meadows, passing by beautiful glacial lakes and boulders. This hike will take several days to complete, so make sure to check the trail map for appropriate camping sites.

In the northern section of the park, two systems of interconnected loop trails provide long day hikes for visitors to Kettle Moraine State Park. The Greenbush Loop System offers a nine-mile hike encompassing four loop trails, and the Zillmer Loop System includes four trails totaling eight miles. These hikes have the benefit of flexibility; if you don't want to go the entire distance, you can simply omit one or more of the loops.

Shorter Day Hikes

The New Fane Loop System offers hikers a shorter series of loop trails, totaling only five and a half miles. Hikers should be careful here, though, as the trail is used by mountain bikers as well. Cross country skiers use this trail when there is snow, and hiking is not allowed under snowy conditions.

Parnell Loop is a three and a half mile hike that ascends to the highest point in the park. This trail features picnic tables, drinking water, toilets and backpacking shelters, as well as a sixty-foot observation tower that provides excellent views of the moraines and valleys of the park. Make sure you are prepared for a lot of stair climbing if you want to attempt this trail.

For those who want to experience hiking in Kettle Moraine State Park in a less strenuous manner, the Butler Lake Loop trail is a good option. This loop is only three

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