Sugar River Wetlands State Natural Area

Epic Forest–Goose Lake, 10 lakes

8.6 mi · ▲ 209 ft · 2 hr 58 min

Epic Forest–Goose Lake, 10 lakes is an 8.6-mile out-and-back in Sugar River Wetlands State Natural Area near Verona, WI. The route passes Voyager Lake, Cass Pond, The Moat and 9 more before reaching Fireman's Beach at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 209 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi925 – 1,047 ft9.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.99529, -89.56819
Nearest town Verona, WI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Epic Forest–Goose Lake, 10 lakes

8.6 mi · ▲ 209 ft · 2 hr 58 min

Elevation 925–1,046 ft

Out & Back · Sugar River Wetlands State Natural Area

Trailhead: 42.99529, -89.56819

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:45 AM · sunset 6:59 PM

Transit-accessible: Northern Lights & Epic Staff C (SB) stop 387 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Voyager Lake.
  3. 50 ftPass Cass Pond.
  4. 50 ftPass The Moat.
  5. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 0.3 miPass Lake Gandalf.
  7. 50 ftPass Dry Puddle.
  8. 0.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  9. 0.3 miPass Dry Puddle.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miPass Nessie's Pond.
  12. 50 ftPass The Pond Across the Way.
  13. 450 ftPass Epic Forest.
  14. 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
  15. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  16. 0.1 miTurn right onto Farm Service Road, heading S.
  17. 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left onto Military Ridge State Trail, heading S.
  19. 2.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
  20. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  21. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  22. 400 ftBear left, heading SE.
  23. 0.1 miPass Fireman's Beach.
  24. 450 ftPass Goose Lake.
  25. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  26. 0.1 miPass Goose Lake.
  27. 50 ftPass Fireman's Beach.
  28. 500 ftBear left, heading SW.
  29. 0.1 miReach Epic Forest, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  30. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  31. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  32. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  33. 400 ftBear right, heading N.
  34. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  35. 2.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 0.2 miTurn left onto Farm Service Road, heading NW.
  37. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  38. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  39. 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  40. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  41. 0.3 miSharp right onto Hubble Road, heading NW.
  42. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  43. 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

54% gravel17% paved4% dirt25% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:45 AMSunset 6:59 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 6:31 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:22 PM — 5 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Northern Lights & Epic Staff C (SB) stop 387 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead