Located in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest are some of the best mountain bike trails in the country. Both the John Muir and Emma F. Carlin trail systems offer a great opportunity to test your riding skills.

The Department of Natural Resources offices are located on Highway 59 between Eagle and Palmyra. Daily and yearly trail passes and vehicle stickers can be purchased at a self registration box located in both the John Muir and Emma Carlin parking lots.

For additional information regarding the Southern Kettle Moraine trails, visit Trailville

Current Trail Conditions | Bed & Breakfasts | Camping Information | Directions

Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit
S91 W39091 Hwy 59
Eagle, WI 53119

(262) 594-6200 or (262) 594-6201

Paul Sandgren, Superintendent




JOHN MUIR TRAIL

Comments: James Wamser

This trail system offers 5 different loops each varying in length and difficulty. The red loop is a short beginner level loop through open fields, scattered pines and hardwoods. The blue loop consists of tight single track and steep rocky hills designed to test your physical strength and riding ability. Helmets are recommended on all trails.

John Muir Trail Map ( PDF or JPEG) | Pictures of the trail | Shelter Building

FIVE LOOPS TO CHOOSE FROM

Red Loop (1.5 miles)
The Red loop is a good, short (beginner level) loop through open fields, scattered pines and hardwoods. This loop has only one small downhill section. Some bikers use this loop to warm-up before taking the other loops.

White Loop (4.0 miles)
The White loop, an intermediate level trail, adds roughly 2 miles to the Red loop. You will encounter a narrow section of the trail that overlooks the largest of three leatherleaf bogs.

Orange Loop (5.3 miles)
The Orange loop offers steep uphills and downhills, but avoids the more technical sections that are encountered on the Green and Blue loops.

Green Loop (6.8 miles)
Some of the roughest most diverse sections of the Kettle Moraine Forest will be encountered as you travel along the Green and Blue loops. Because of the steep hills, rocky terrain and sharp turns, the green and blue loops are popular with serious mountain bikers.

Blue Loop (10.0 miles)
Some of the best single track in the area, this loop was designed just for mountain biking. The blue loop takes you 3.2 miles deep into an old growth forest. If you are ready to test your physical strength and ability, take the blue loop!.

Directions from Chicago, Madison and Milwaukee.

EMMA F. CARLIN

This trail system offers 3 different loops each varying in length and difficulty. Although this system is shorter in length than John Muir, most riders find it much more challenging. In May 1996, the DNR began working on the most severe sections of the trails effected by erosion.

Emma Carlin Trail Map ( PDF or JPEG)

THREE LOOPS TO CHOOSE FROM

Red Loop (2.0 miles)
Hardwood forests with a steep hogback ridge accent this short trail. Note the view of the glacial sand plain as all three loops return on the same spur trail back to the parking lot.

Orange Loop (2.4 miles)
This loop takes you a little further into the hardwood forests. A short segment of the loop takes you through a big dip in the terrain. The route served as a logging road about 1977 when this area was clear-cut during harwood timber harvest.

Green Loop (4.0 miles)
The north side of this loop is a mixture of open and wooded areas that will treat you to the dramatic scent of walnuts and apples. The vista at Lower Spring Lake (where on a clear day, you can see Holy Hill) marks the point where the terrain and cover make a dramit change. Deep, mature, hardwood forest lead you back to the parking lot.

CONNECTOR TRAIL

This 5 mile (two-way) trail connects the John Muir and Emma F. Carlin. Some of the roughest most diverse sections of the Kettle Moraine will be encountered when traveling on this trail system.

ONLINE RESOURCES

I hope you find the following online resources useful. If there are other links you think should be added below, please let me know.

SOUTHERN KETTLE MORAINE


JOHN MUIR INFORMATION




BED AND BREAKFASTS

Bed and Breakfast at Hamilton House (Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin)

Eagle Centre House B&B (Located in Eagle, Wisconsin)

Pine Ridge B&B (Located in East Troy, Wisconsin)

Victoria-On-Main (Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin)

Pedal'rs Inn Bed and Breakfast (Located in Wales, Wisconsin)

The Elliott House Bed & Breakfast (Located in East Troy, Wisconsin)

CAMPING INFORMATION

Circle K Campground
W1316 Island Road
Palmyra, WI 53156

(262) 495-2896

Scenic Ridge Campground
W7991 R&W Town Line Road
Whitewater, WI 53190

(608) 883-2920

State Parks and Campground Directory [1]

State Parks and Campground Directory [2]

Wisconsin Campgrounds (About.com)


DEFINITIONS

Kettle Moraine is a 100 mile band of hills, ridges, and depressions in eastern Wisconsin formed along the intersection of two gigantic lobes of ice during the last Ice Age, 10,000 to 25,000 years ago. The kettles are places where blocks of ice were burried under sand and gravel. When the ice melted, the soil on top caved in creating depressions. Some filled with water up to 100 feet deep. A forest of hardwoods mixed with pine plantations cover the landscape.

KETTLE; ket-'l, kettle-shaped depressions in the landscape formed by the melting of large blocks of ice that were buried in glacial drift.

MORAINE; mo-ran', hilly belts of connected ridges and mounds that are usually formed along the glacier's edge.


DIRECTIONS TO JOHN MUIR

From Chicago: From the city take I-94 north to Highway 50 in Kenosha, WI. Go west (left) on 50 to Highway 12 (just before Lake Geneva). Take Highway 12 north (it curves west) to Highway H (you'll see the La Grange General Store). Go north (right) on H. The John Muir trailhead is approx. 1-1/2 miles on your left.

From Madison: From the city take Hwy 12 east through Whitewater to Highway H. Go north (left) on H. The John Muir trailhead is approx. 1-1/2 miles on your left.

From Milwaukee, Option 1: From the city take I-43 south (Beloit) towards Mukwonago to the Highway 20 (East Troy) exit. Go west (right) on Hwy 20 to where it merges into Hwy 12, right on Hwy 12 to Highway H (you'll see the La Grange General Store). Go north (right) on H. The John Muir trailhead is approx. 1-1/2 miles on your left.

Thanks to Bob Ash for the directions!

From Milwaukee, Option 2: From the city take I-43 south (Beloit) towards Mukwonago to the Hwy 83 exit. Go north (right) on Hwy 83 to Bay View Rd, approx 1/2 block. Turn left onto Bay View Rd. to Main Street (Hwy ES). Go south (left) on Main Steet (Hwy ES) to County Road J (The Elegent Farmer is on the corner). Go west (right) on County Rd J to Highway 12 (County J connects with Hwy 20). Go west (right) on Highway 12 to Highway H (you'll see the La Grange General Store). Go north (right) on H. The John Muir trailhead is approx. 1-1/2 miles on your left.

What's the best route? | MapQuest

Created and maintained by: James Wamser