Kettle Moraine State Forest | 3 Beautiful Spring Wildflower Hikes

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 appear in early spring before the leaf canopy has filled out. They are here for us to enjoy only for a few short weeks before they fade away and make room for summer wildflowers. Kettle Moraine State Forest is a top destination for spring ephemerals in southern Wisconsin.

These colorful, low growing 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 the woodlands and prairies of Kettle Moraine State Forest 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.

Who doesn’t LOVE SPRING?

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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, 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. 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

All Trails Maps/App

You can find detailed information on the Wisconsin’s many scenic trails on the AllTrails website and AllTrails app. Search 500,000+ trails by state and trail type – includes photos, maps, and detailed trail reviews.

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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, the 7.1-mile Blue Spring Lake Segment of the 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. This large glacial erratic boulder roughly resembles an elephant. Such large boulders were plucked from the ground by receding glaciers, deposited as the ice receded from the region.

Spring is an especially beautiful time along the Ice Age Trail.  Native ephemerals emerge for a few weeks, disappearing as the tree canopy 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.

Bald Bluff Nature 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 .

Below, I’ve included some photos 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 below. I’ve observed Pincushion moss – a thick, soft moss that grows on boulders, bare soil, and wood. Pincushion moss is common in temperate forests throughout North America. This tiny gray tree frog was spotted perched on leaf litter along the trail. Pussy willows are abundant on the trail in early spring, and the Hazelnut shrub pictured below produces catkins, small, drooping cluster of petal-less flowers that look like tassels.

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. 

Below are some photos of my favorite spring ephemerals from the Stoney Ridge Segment of the Ice Age Trail.

Get out there and enjoy the trails, the spring weather, and nature’s gifts!

-Erin