Kettle Moraine State Forest

Long Lake–Vista Sunset Spot, 5 sights

15.1 mi · ▲ 337 ft · 5 hr 12 min

Long Lake–Vista Sunset Spot, 5 sights is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Kettle Moraine State Forest near Dundee, WI. The route passes Vista Sunset Spot, Kettle Moraine State Forest Beach, Long Lake and Kettle Moraine State Forest Beach. It climbs 337 ft. It scores 34/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi984 – 1,155 ft15.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Vista Trail 43.64237, -88.19051
Nearest town Dundee, WI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Long Lake–Vista Sunset Spot, 5 sights

15.1 mi · ▲ 337 ft · 5 hr 12 min

Elevation 984–1,155 ft

Out & Back · Kettle Moraine State Forest

Trailhead: Vista Trail · 43.64237, -88.19051

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftTurn left onto Vista Trail, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftPass Vista Sunset Spot.
  4. 350 ftTurn left onto Yellow Trail, heading SW.
  5. 1.8 miTurn left, heading S.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto Lake to Lake Bike Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading SE.
  8. 3 miSharp left, heading E.
  9. 0.4 miTurn right onto Lake to Lake Bike Trail, heading N.
  10. 1.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  11. 0.1 miPass Kettle Moraine State Forest Beach.
  12. 0.2 miPass Long Lake.
  13. 0.1 miPass Kettle Moraine State Forest Beach.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left onto Unofficial Thorny Shortcut, heading N.
  15. 400 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  16. 0.2 miReach Long Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  19. 1.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  20. 0.4 miSharp right onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading W.
  21. 2.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  22. 0.5 miTurn right onto Lake to Lake Bike Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  24. 100 ftTurn right onto Yellow Trail, heading W.
  25. 1.8 miTurn right onto Vista Trail, heading N.
  26. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  27. 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

59% dirt18% gravel2% paved21% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 6:35 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:12 PM — 13 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Vista Trail Trailhead