Kettle Moraine State Forest

Mauthe Lake–Butler Lake, 6 sights

14.7 mi · ▲ 336 ft · 5 hr 4 min

Mauthe Lake–Butler Lake, 6 sights is a 14.7-mile out-and-back in Kettle Moraine State Forest near Dundee, WI. The route passes Butler Lake and Mauthe Lake before reaching Kettle Moraine State Forest Beach at the turnaround, 7.2 miles in. It climbs 336 ft. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi971 – 1,093 ft14.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Butler Lake Loop 43.66349, -88.13613
Nearest town Dundee, WI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mauthe Lake–Butler Lake, 6 sights

14.7 mi · ▲ 336 ft · 5 hr 4 min

Elevation 971–1,092 ft

Out & Back · Kettle Moraine State Forest

Trailhead: Butler Lake Loop · 43.66349, -88.13613

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Butler Lake Loop, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Butler Lake.
  3. 1.1 miTurn right onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading W.
  4. 3.8 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 0.5 miTurn left onto Lake to Lake Bike Trail, heading SW.
  6. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Tamarack Circle Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.5 miPass Mauthe Lake.
  8. 50 ftPass Kettle Moraine State Forest Beach.
  9. 0.2 miSharp right, heading E.
  10. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  11. 50 ftReach Mauthe Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  13. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Lake to Lake Bike Trail, heading N.
  14. 1.2 miTurn right onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading N.
  15. 4.4 miTurn left onto Butler Lake Loop, heading NE.
  16. 1.1 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

56% dirt16% gravel28% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.4 mi in (~136 min). Leave by 4:20 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Butler Lake Loop Trailhead