Who doesn’t LOVE the coming of SPRING? As the wintry, snowy, (sometimes brown) landscape wakes from its slumber, new life emerges. Birds begin to nest, trees and shrubs begin to bud, and my personal favorite – spring wildflowers begin to emerge. These colorful treasures dot the landscape, emerging from leaf litter, at the base of trees, and in clusters throughout the forest floor. One of my favorite parts of spring is hiking in woodlands and prairies in search of these tiny fleeting plants. In this post I’ll share three of my favorite spring hikes in the Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin.
- Lulu Lake State Natural Area
Designated a State Natural Area in 1977, Lulu Lake State Natural Area is located within the Mukwonago River Watershed in the southern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin. Lulu Lake Preserve straddles the county line between Walworth and Waukesha Counties. The property is jointly owned by The Nature Conservancy and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, encompassing 632 acres of oak openings, wetlands, and numerous conservative species of birds, butterflies, and plants.
Lulu Lake itself is a 40-foot deep, 95-acre glacial lake fed by the Mukwonago River. Today, Lulu Lake is slow, no-wake lake whose shoreline provides habitat for high-quality, conservative native plants, many of which are not found elsewhere in Wisconsin.
Hiking Lulu Lake State Natural Area:
Lulu Lake Preserve: N9564 Nature Road, Eagle, WI
To access the trailhead for Lulu Lake Preserve: from Troy Center, take Nature Rd. north for 1.5 miles; the Lulu Lake Preserve parking area will be on your right. Parking is limited to about 6 spots, but the lot is not generally full. At the entrance to the trail you’ll notice signage describing the species you may find along the trail, and a boot brush is available to clean your boots of any unwanted invasive species that you may have carried in. Combined trails are just under 2 miles, but there is much to see along the trails, including spring ephemerals such as bloodroot, hepatica, (both sharp-lobed and round-lobed), trout lily, anemones, trillium, spring beauty, and Virginia bluebells.
Check out the Lulu Lake Preserve map from The Nature Conservancy:
Lulu Lake Preserve Map – The Nature Conservancy
Hepatica vary in color from white to deep purple; they can be spotted at the base of trees and along northern slopes of the trail.
From left to right, top row: hepatica. From left to right, bottom row: spring beauty, jack-in-the pulpit stem and trillium, bloodroot.
2.) Blue Spring Lake Segment – Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Located in Jefferson County, this 7.1-mile Ice Age trail segment extends from County Highway Z to Young Rd., featuring varied terrain, hummocky topography (filled with small, rounded hills in an erratic pattern) the famous Stone Elephant, an isolated pitted-outwash plain west of Tamarack Rd., and a panoramic views from the top of Bald Bluff and the Stone Elephant, a large erratic boulder roughly resembling an elephant, deposited as glaciers receded from the region. This is also an excellent segment for a winter hike; check out my previous blog post highlighting this trail segment: 6 Beautiful Winter Hikes on the Ice Age Trail
Spring is an especially beautiful time along the Ice Age Trail, as native ephemeral species emerge for a few weeks, disappearing as the tree canopy above fills out. From March through May, spring ephemerals such as cutleaf toothwort, bloodroot, hepatica, (both sharp-lobed and round-lobed), eastern pasqueflower, Dutchman’s breeches, trout lily, anemones, trillium, and Virginia bluebells can be observed along the trail. Just north of Young Rd., hikers cross the highest point in Jefferson County, known commonly as Bald Bluff. For those interested in exploring Bald Bluff a bit further, the Bald Bluff Nature Trail can be accessed from County Highway H, on the east side of the road, south of Palmyra. Check out the map of the Bald Bluff Nature Trail .
I’ve included some pictures below of my favorite spring ephemerals along the Blue Spring Lake segment. From left to right: Virginia bluebells, trout lily, eastern pasqueflower stems.
When conditions are right, I often spot unique fungi like the black cup fungi pictured at left below. At right is the pincushion moss, a thick, soft moss that grows on boulders, bare soil, and wood that is common in temperate forests throughout North America. From left to right, top row: black cup fungi, pincushion moss, pincushion moss From left to right, bottom row: gray tree frog, pussy willow, hazelnut catkins
3.) Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail
Located in Waukesha County, the Stoney Ridge segment of the Ice Age Trail extends from State Highway 59 to County Highway Z, passing through 3.1-miles of oak forest, a pine plantation, and numerous dry prairies dotted with conservative native plants. During the spring season, between March and May, hikers can expect to find spring beauty, cutleaf toothwort, bloodroot, hepatica, (both sharp-lobed and round-lobed), Dutchman’s breeches, trout lily, anemones, trillium, and Virginia bluebells. This trail segment also makes a great winter hike – this is highlighted in a previous blog post titled, 6 Beautiful Winter Hikes on the Ice Age Trail
The Stoney Ridge segment passes directly through the headquarters and visitor center of the southern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, located at S91W39091 WI-59, Eagle, WI 53119. Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters/Visitor Center. Visitors can stop in at the headquarters information center for a trail map, to grab a souvenir, or to check out interpretive exhibits on glacial lakes, moraines, eskers, and other glacial landscape features found throughout the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Visitor center hours are generally 9am – 4pm, but may vary.
Below are some photos of my favorite spring ephemerals from the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail.
From left to right, top row: hepatica, bloodroot, Eastern pasqueflower
What to Pack for Hiking Adventures:
Spring in the Midwest can be chilly, especially in early to mid-March. Temperatures (and winds!) can vary from wooded sections of the trail to the open prairies, so your best bet is to dress in layers, wear comfortable hiking boots or shoes, and wool socks. In rainy years, trails can be quite muddy and somewhat slippery.
Make sure you have a comfortable backpack to carry your water, snacks, and other gear. I recommend Osprey’s Talon 11 – I have worn this pack faithfully for 10 years and it has never let me down. I cannot say enough positive about the durability and fit of Osprey packs (I have four!) The Talon 11 has comfortable padded shoulder straps with safety whistle, curved backpanel to allow ventilation, continuous-wrap hipbelt, two water bottle compartments and plenty of storage space. Sized by gender from small to large/extended fit to fit your frame. Osprey Talon/Tempest Packs If you’re looking for a great waterproof pack for rainy spring hikes, check out the Osprey Transporter Waterproof 25 with padded shoulder straps, hipbelt and adjustable hipbelt with safety whistle – a great addition to any pack! #ospreypacks @ospreypacks Get out there and enjoy the trails, the spring weather, and the wildflowers!
Me, with my trusty blue Talon 11 pack.
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