Kettle Moraine State Forest

Loop 4 & Purple Trail via Ice Age Trail

7.2 mi · ▲ 379 ft · 2 hr 35 min

Loop 4 & Purple Trail via Ice Age Trail is a 7.2-mile out-and-back in Kettle Moraine State Forest near New Prospect, WI. It climbs 379 ft. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi974 – 1,102 ft7.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 43.59305, -88.17536
Nearest town New Prospect, WI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Loop 4 & Purple Trail via Ice Age Trail

7.2 mi · ▲ 379 ft · 2 hr 35 min

Elevation 976–1,103 ft

Out & Back · Kettle Moraine State Forest

Trailhead: 43.59305, -88.17536

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  3. 350 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Ice Age Trail, heading S.
  5. 2.8 miTurn left, heading S.
  6. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Loop 4, heading E.
  7. 500 ftBear right onto Red Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.1 miTurn right onto Purple Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Loop 4, heading SE.
  10. 400 ftContinue straight onto Purple Trail, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftBear right onto Loop 3, heading S.
  12. 400 ftReach Purple Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 400 ftBear left onto Purple Trail, heading W.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Loop 4, heading W.
  15. 400 ftContinue straight onto Purple Trail, heading E.
  16. 0.1 miTurn left onto Red Trail, heading NW.
  17. 0.1 miBear left onto Loop 4, heading NW.
  18. 0.4 miTurn right onto Ice Age Trail, heading N.
  19. 1.8 miBear right, heading N.
  20. 1.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
  21. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  22. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 5:31 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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