Who doesn’t LOVE SPRING? As the winter transitions to spring, new life emerges. Birds begin to nest, trees and shrubs begin to bud, and my personal favorite – native spring wildflowers begin to emerge. Spring ephemerals emerge in early spring before the leaf canopy has filled out, here for us to enjoy only for a few short weeks before they fade away and make room for summer wildflowers. These colorful, low growing treasures dot the landscape, emerging from leaf litter, at the base of trees, and in clusters throughout the forest floor. Kettle Moraine State Forest is home to the most beautiful of spring ephemerals.
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.
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Lulu Lake State Natural Area, Wisconsin
Designated a State Natural Area in 1977, Lulu Lake SNA is located within the Mukwonago River Watershed in the southern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Located in southern Wisconsin, Lulu Lake State Natural Area and Preserve straddles Walworth and Waukesha Counties. The property is jointly owned by The Nature Conservancy and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Lulu Lake hosts 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 these conservative plants are not found elsewhere in Wisconsin.
Hiking Lulu Lake State Natural Area
Lulu Lake Preserve: N9564 Nature Road, Eagle, WIÂ
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. In addition, a boot brush is available to clean your boots of unwanted invasive species.
Combined trails are just under 2 miles, but there is much to see along the trails. A top feature of Lulu Lake is the presence of spring ephemerals. Native ephemerals include 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
Spring Ephemerals
The native hepatica americana varies in color from white to deep purple. These tiny flowers can be spotted at the base of trees and along northern slopes of the trail. They are among the earliest and most vibrant spring ephemerals.










Kettle Moraine State Forest
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 Blue Spring Lake Segment is also home to the famous Stone Elephant, a large erratic boulder roughly resembling an elephant. Such large boulders were deposited from melting ice as glaciers receded from the region.
Spring is an especially beautiful time along the Ice Age Trail. 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, and eastern pasqueflower. In addition, 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. This is located 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.



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.
pussy willow, hazelnut catkins






Kettle Moraine State Forest
Stoney Ridge Segment – 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. The Stoney Ridge Segment passes through 3.1-miles of oak forest, a pine plantation, and numerous dry prairies dotted with conservative native plants. During the spring season, (March – May), hikers can expect to find numerous spring ephemerals. Native plants include spring beauty, cutleaf toothwort, bloodroot, hepatica, Dutchman’s breeches, trout lily, anemones, trillium, and Virginia bluebells.
This trail segment also makes a great winter hike. If you’re interested, check out 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. The headquarters building is located at S91W39091 WI-59, Eagle, WI 53119. Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters/Visitor Center. Be sure to stop in for a trail map, to grab a souvenir, or to check out interpretive exhibits. Exhibits include 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.



Gear for Hiking in Kettle Moraine State Forest
Spring in the Midwest can be chilly through mid-April. 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, and curved backpanel to allow ventilation. In addition, this pack as a continuous-wrap hipbelt, two water bottle compartments and plenty of storage space.
For a lumbar off-the-back pack, check out the Seral 7. This 1.5 liter hydration pack has enough room for a spare tube and patch kit. A really stable and comfortable pack! For longer hikes, check out the Raptor 10. This spacious 2.5 liter hydration pack includes hipbelt pockets and shoulder harness. Osprey’s Packfinder will help you find the pack that best fits your frame and activity.
Waterproof Packs
If you’re looking for a great waterproof pack for rainy spring hikes, check out the Osprey Transporter Waterproof 18. This pack has padded shoulder straps, hipbelt and adjustable hipbelt with safety whistle. Although I’ve never needed to use the whistle, it is a great safety feature and addition to any pack! #ospreypacks @ospreypacks Get out there and enjoy the trails, the spring weather, and the wildflowers!
-Erin