Kettle Moraine State Forest

Butler Lake Viewpoint–Butler Lake, 4 lakes

14.7 mi · ▲ 550 ft · 5 hr 11 min

Butler Lake Viewpoint–Butler Lake, 4 lakes is a 14.7-mile out-and-back in Kettle Moraine State Forest near Greenbush, WI. The route passes Greenbush Kettle and Butler Lake before reaching Butler Lake Viewpoint at the turnaround, 7.4 miles in. It climbs 550 ft. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,037 – 1,194 ft15.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 43.74336, -88.10154
Nearest town Greenbush, WI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Butler Lake Viewpoint–Butler Lake, 4 lakes

14.7 mi · ▲ 550 ft · 5 hr 11 min

Elevation 1,037–1,193 ft

Out & Back · Kettle Moraine State Forest

Trailhead: 43.74336, -88.10154

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:55 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  3. 200 ftContinue straight onto Ice Age Trail, heading SW.
  4. 0.5 miPass Greenbush Kettle.
  5. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading S.
  6. 500 ftBear right onto Ice Age Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.9 miBear right onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading S.
  8. 2.3 miTurn right onto Ice Age Trail, heading S.
  9. 2 miPass Butler Lake.
  10. 100 ftSharp left onto Butler Lake Loop, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftReach Butler Lake Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 50 ftSharp right onto Ice Age Trail, heading W.
  13. 2 miTurn left onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading NE.
  14. 2.3 miBear left onto Ice Age Trail, heading N.
  15. 0.9 miBear left onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading NE.
  16. 500 ftContinue straight onto Ice Age Trail, heading NE.
  17. 1.4 miBear right, heading NW.
  18. 0.6 miBear right, heading N.
  19. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

34% dirt66% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:55 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.6 mi in (~171 min). Leave by 3:45 PM for the 6:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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