Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit

Rice Lake–Moraine Ridge Trail, 3 sights

7.9 mi · ▲ 535 ft · 2 hr 54 min

Rice Lake–Moraine Ridge Trail, 3 sights is a 7.9-mile out-and-back in Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit near Heart Prairie, WI. The route reaches Rice Lake. It climbs 535 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 43/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi866 – 1,040 ft8.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Rice Lake Nature Trail 42.77889, -88.69266
Nearest town Heart Prairie, WI

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rice Lake–Moraine Ridge Trail, 3 sights

7.9 mi · ▲ 535 ft · 2 hr 54 min

Elevation 865–1,040 ft

Out & Back · Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit

Trailhead: Rice Lake Nature Trail · 42.77889, -88.69266

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 6:58 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Rice Lake Nature Trail, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass Rice Lake.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  4. 450 ftBear right onto Ice Age Trail, heading NE.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  6. 1.5 miTurn left onto Moraine Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  7. 150 ftContinue straight onto Ice Age Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miBear right onto Moraine Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  9. 1.6 miReach Rice Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 1.6 miBear left onto Ice Age Trail, heading W.
  11. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Moraine Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  12. 100 ftTurn right onto Ice Age Trail, heading W.
  13. 1.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  14. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  15. 400 ftTurn left onto Rice Lake Nature Trail, heading SW.
  16. 0.1 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

98% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:41 AMSunset 6:58 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~102 min). Leave by 4:56 PM for the 6:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Rice Lake Nature Trail Trailhead