AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Kettle Moraine State Forest

Vista Sunset Spot–Butler Lake, 3 sights

15 mi · ▲ 423 ft · 5 hr 13 min

Vista Sunset Spot–Butler Lake, 3 sights is a 15-mile out-and-back in Kettle Moraine State Forest near Dundee, WI. The route passes Butler Lake before reaching Vista Sunset Spot at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 423 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 47/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi984 – 1,155 ft15.2 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Vista Sunset Spot–Butler Lake, 3 sights

15 mi · ▲ 423 ft · 5 hr 13 min

Elevation 984–1,155 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 right onto Lake to Lake Bike Trail, heading NW.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right onto Yellow Trail, heading NW.
  8. 1.8 miTurn right onto Vista Trail, heading N.
  9. 350 ftReach Vista Sunset Spot, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 350 ftTurn left onto Yellow Trail, heading NE.
  11. 1.8 miTurn left, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Lake to Lake Bike Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.1 miTurn left onto Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Main Horse Trail, heading S.
  14. 4.4 miTurn left onto Butler Lake Loop, heading NE.
  15. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/vista-sunset-spot-kettle-moraine-state-forest-northern-unit-main-horse-trail-out-back-3-sights-b66a

Trail surface

79% dirt2% gravel19% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.7 mi in (~171 min). Leave by 3:45 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Butler Lake Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Dundee, Wisconsin