The Same Glacial Forces That Shaped Erin Hills, Without the Green Fee
$13-$16 vehicle entry
Book direct via the vendor website
Thirty thousand acres of glacial terrain, shaped by the same forces that built the landscape under Erin Hills and Blackwolf Run.
The Northern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest preserves textbook examples of glacial geology, kettles, moraines, eskers, and kames, in a setting that ranges from dense woodland to open prairie. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs 31 miles through the forest, but shorter loops keep a half-day visit practical. The Parnell Tower Trail is 3.5 miles and ends at a 60-foot observation tower with views across the moraine country. The Butler Lake Trail is a 3-mile loop around one of the glacial kettle lakes. Mountain bikers have nine miles of single-track at Greenbush. The geological connection to the golf is the point, and walking the Ice Age Trail provides context for the landscape you play on, which is something few destinations can offer.
Half a day. Open year-round, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. $13 vehicle entry for Wisconsin plates, $16 out-of-state. Trail maps at the forest headquarters; cell service is limited inside. Bring water and proper footwear. Located between Elkhart Lake and Fond du Lac, roughly 20 minutes from Kohler Village, which makes it a clean morning hike before an afternoon round at Whistling Straits or a non-golf day paired with the nearby Old Wade House.