Whitewater Lake | Hike the Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Wisconsin’s Ice Age National Scenic Trail is one of only 11 National scenic trails in the United States. This scenic trail encompasses over 1000 miles and 28 counties throughout the state. The Whitewater Lake Segment in southern Wisconsin provides a beautiful setting for a hike in any season.

The varied terrain of the Ice Age Trail highlights Wisconsin’s unique glacial history. Sculpted by receding glaciers over 12,000 years ago, the state of Wisconsin is home to rolling hills, bluffs, agricultural land, woodlands and prairies rich with native plants, Midwestern residents and visitors from all over the country are fortunate to hike, snowshoe, and even cross-country ski (in some segments!) through the diverse landscapes of this beautiful trail.

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Ice Age National Scenic Trail – Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest

Whitewater Lake Segment | Ice Age Trail

Located in Walworth County, the Whitewater Lake segment includes 4.6-miles of hilly terrain. Along this segment, you’ll observe glacial kettles, glacial moraines, and a viewpoint (Lone Tree Bluff scenic outlook). This outlook overlooks Whitewater and Rice Lakes to the west. With an elevation gain of 377 feet, this segment is moderately strenuous for some hikers. You will enjoy the high-relief, hummocky topography, eskers, kettles, and kames throughout this segment.

Geology of the Whitewater Lake Segment

Beginning at the trailhead at State Highway 12, the Ice Age Trail follows the Green Bay Lobe of the Kettle Moraine. As the Green Bay Lobe glacier melted and retreated, glacial lake Scuppernong formed. This lake eventually drained through the Rock River, leaving a low-lying region of wetlands and springs that the trail now passes through. The Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail is now preserved as part of this area.

Continuing along the segment, you’ll cross Easterly Road. If you’re interested in checking out the Lone Tree Bluff scenic outlook, you can access the trailhead a half mile west on Easterly Rd. Lone Bluff offers a view to the west, standing about 200 feet above the low plain of glacial Lake Scuppernong.

Ice Age Trail yellow blaze trail marker — Yellow blaze – Ice Age Trail marker

Eskers and Kettles | Whitewater Lake

Further west of Easterly Rd., you’ll cross an esker (long, sinuous ridge) prior to crossing County Highway P, where you’ll cross a second esker which separates Rice Lake to the west from Whitewater Lake to the east. From here, the trail descends into a kettle (round depression formed from melting ice blocks).

Beyond County Highway P, you’ll ascend and descend out to the west side of the Kettle Moraine. Just northeast of the trailhead, you’ll cross the outlet of Whitewater and Rice lakes, (Whitewater Creek), Collectively, the terrain along this segment of the Ice Age Trail is referred to as high-relief, hummocky topography.

Wisconsin’s Post-Glacial Landforms

Esker: Eskers are long, sinuous ridges of glacial sediment (sand and gravel) formed from meltwater streams. Glaciers deposited sediment beneath them as they melted. These unique features appear snake-like from above, extending for hundreds of meters or even hundreds of kilometers. They vary in size and shape, with some with flat tops and others with sharp ridges.

Kettle: Kettles are round depressions formed by melting blocks of ice. As ice detached from (calved from) a receding glacier, depressions remained. These round depressions become kettle lakes. Kettles and kames exist in the same landscape, more commonly known as kettle and kame topography.

Kame: Kames are round hills of glacial sediment (sand and gravel) formed from meltwater streams from glaciers and arranged in layers. Kames often occur in clusters, and occur in the same regions with kettles.

Ice Age Trail Atlas/Maps

For detailed topographic maps, pick up a copy of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail Atlas (hard copy or e-version) from the Department of Natural Resources Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters Office and Visitors Center, located at S91W39091 WI-59, Eagle, WI 53119, or order a copy of the atlas online through the Ice Age Trail Alliance store.

All Trails Maps/App

You can find detailed information on 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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To explore the AllTrails app, sign up for a Free 7-day trial HERE.

Whitewater Lake Nearby Restaurants | Holi Cannoli Italian Restaurant

Looking for a post-hike meal? Check out Holi Cannoli in Elkhorn (N7065 U.S. Highway 12, Elkhorn, WI 53121) for authentic Italian, delicious desserts, and friendly service!

Scenic Ice Age Trail Beauty

While numerous other segments of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in this area are equally as scenic, diverse, and challenging to hike, the six highlighted above are my favorite segments during the winter season. Enjoy a variety of landscapes, the hilly terrain, open prairies, and pine plantations of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, and plenty of natural wonders to enjoy.

The Ice Age Trail is also beautiful in the spring season as the spring ephemerals emerge. If you’re interested in hiking the segments of the IAT that pass through the Kettle Moraine State Forest, read on for more information in my blog post: Kettle Moraine State Forest | 3 Beautiful Spring Wildflower Hikes.