Kettle Moraine State Forest

Auburn Lake & Red/Purple Trail via Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail

12.9 mi · ▲ 389 ft · 4 hr 30 min

Auburn Lake & Red/Purple Trail via Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail is a 12.9-mile out-and-back in Kettle Moraine State Forest near New Fane, WI. The route reaches Auburn Lake at the turnaround, 6.4 miles in. It climbs 389 ft. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi961 – 1,066 ft13.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Ice Age Trail 43.53526, -88.18663
Nearest town New Fane, WI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Auburn Lake & Red/Purple Trail via Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail

12.9 mi · ▲ 389 ft · 4 hr 30 min

Elevation 960–1,067 ft

Out & Back · Kettle Moraine State Forest

Trailhead: Ice Age Trail · 43.53526, -88.18663

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:56 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Ice Age Trail, heading N.
  2. 1.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  3. 150 ftSharp left onto Red/Purple Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.5 miTurn left onto Loop 4, heading NW.
  5. 0.8 miSharp right onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading NE.
  6. 3.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 0.3 miReach Auburn Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 3.8 miSharp left, heading SW.
  9. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Loop 4, heading E.
  10. 250 ftTurn right onto Red/Purple Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.5 miSharp right, heading S.
  12. 150 ftTurn left onto Ice Age Trail, heading W.
  13. 1.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

55% dirt45% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.7 mi in (~146 min). Leave by 4:10 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Ice Age Trail Trailhead