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
Getting there
Directions
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
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Ice Age Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miPass Greenbush Kettle.
- 1.4 miContinue straight onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading S.
- 500 ftBear right onto Ice Age Trail, heading SE.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading S.
- 2.3 miTurn right onto Ice Age Trail, heading S.
- 2 miPass Butler Lake.
- 100 ftSharp left onto Butler Lake Loop, heading SW.
- 50 ftReach Butler Lake Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Ice Age Trail, heading W.
- 2 miTurn left onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading NE.
- 2.3 miBear left onto Ice Age Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading NE.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Ice Age Trail, heading NE.
- 1.4 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading N.
- 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
Weather
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.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Ice Age Trail 7 mi · ▲ 448 ft
- Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail 7.1 mi · ▲ 472 ft
- Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail via Ice Age Trail 8.6 mi · ▲ 474 ft
- Greenbush Group Camp Access & Loop 2 via Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 334 ft
- Greenbush Kettle & Red Loop via Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 151 ft
- Loop 3–Loop 4 Loop, 3 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 277 ft
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