Prairie Moraine County Park

Goose Lake–Whalen Pond, 3 lakes

6.8 mi · ▲ 305 ft · 2 hr 25 min

Goose Lake–Whalen Pond, 3 lakes is a 6.8-mile out-and-back in Prairie Moraine County Park near Fitchburg, WI. The route passes Whalen Pond, Fireman's Beach and Goose Lake before reaching Goose Lake at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It climbs 305 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi942 – 1,109 ft7.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.96365, -89.50657
Nearest town Fitchburg, WI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Goose Lake–Whalen Pond, 3 lakes

6.8 mi · ▲ 305 ft · 2 hr 25 min

Elevation 943–1,111 ft

Out & Back · Prairie Moraine County Park

Trailhead: 42.96365, -89.50657

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:44 AM · sunset 7:01 PM

Transit-accessible: W Verona & N Main (WB) stop 609 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.1 miSharp right, heading NW.
  3. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  4. 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
  5. 0.1 miBear right onto Ice Age Trail, heading NW.
  6. 1.6 miBear left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftPass Whalen Pond.
  8. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 0.1 miPass Fireman's Beach.
  11. 50 ftPass Goose Lake.
  12. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  13. 0.4 miPass Goose Lake.
  14. 0.2 miReach Goose Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  16. 0.6 miTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  18. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 1.6 miBear left, heading NE.
  21. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  23. 250 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  24. 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

48% dirt16% paved8% grass28% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:44 AMSunset 7:01 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~13 min). Leave by 6:28 PM for the 7:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:29 PM — 0 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: W Verona & N Main (WB) stop 609 m from the trailhead

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