Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit

Moraine Ridge Trail

6.6 mi · ▲ 343 ft · 2 hr 22 min

Moraine Ridge Trail is a 6.6-mile out-and-back in Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit near Ottawa, WI. It climbs 343 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 29/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi879 – 1,060 ft6.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.96098, -88.45014
Nearest town Ottawa, WI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Moraine Ridge Trail

6.6 mi · ▲ 343 ft · 2 hr 22 min

Elevation 879–1,059 ft

Out & Back · Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit

Trailhead: 42.96098, -88.45014

Weather Sep 20: Heavy rain, high 62°F / low 57° · precip 46% · wind 15 mph · sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:57 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  5. 0.9 miTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 250 ftSharp right onto Moraine Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  8. 1.6 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  9. 1.5 miSharp left, heading SE.
  10. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  12. 0.9 miBear right, heading N.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  14. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  15. 150 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

98% dirt2% paved

Weather

Heavy rainTemperature 62°F57°
Precip46%Wind15 mphUV1Humidity85%
Rained 1.4″ yesterday (1.6″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
65°50° 12 AM: 24% rain1 AM: 27% rain2 AM: 30% rain3 AM: 29% rain4 AM: 35% rain5 AM: 41% rain6 AM: 46% rain7 AM: 39% rain8 AM: 37% rain9 AM: 41% rain10 AM: 41% rain11 AM: 31% rain12 PM: 24% rain1 PM: 16% rain2 PM: 16% rain3 PM: 8% rain4 PM: 5% rain5 PM: 1% rain8 PM: 1% rain9 PM: 3% rain10 PM: 1% rain11 PM: 3% rain
Sunrise 6:40 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:57 PM
Mon 60°53°
Tue 57°49°
Wed 64°48°
Thu 63°50°
Fri 67°51°
Sat 61°51°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.9 mi in (~73 min). Leave by 5:24 PM for the 6:57 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:29 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead

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