Hiking the Kettle Moraine State Forest

 Last year Heather sends me a message that we can get our Ice Age Trail stamp for National Parks Passport at the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest Visitor Center. Well because of COVID, the visitor centers were closed until summer this year. We picked a date that fit in both of our busy schedules took a road trip down to Campbellsport.

After stopping at the visitor center to get our stamps and a map, we drove over to Butler Lake and Flynn's Springs State Natural Area which included a section of the Ice Age trail. We actually ended up hiking the Butler Lake Trail. It was fairly easy to follow between the yellow Ice Age markers and purple Butler Trail markers.

I forgot when we decided to do this hike we were in the Kettle Moraine -- where there was a lot of glacial activity. It is name this because of the kettles or ponds that were filled in from melting glaciers. Because you have a kettles, you also have hills. We climbed a lot of hills. Up one hill, down the other side, repeat for three miles. At one point I thought of rolling down a grassy hill because it looked like fun until I realized I'd probably roll into the woods.

The first half of the trail is on the Ice Age Trail so it is wooden, rugged terrain. We had to climb over a lot of trees. It is not always very well maintained. 

The second half of the Butler Lake Trail is more open and you are walking on grass. The path is a lot wider here too. And the colors were just beginning to turn. It was a gorgeous day for a hike.

There was only one point we were unsure which way to go but using my trusty (rusty??) map reading skills, I figured out we went straight because the path across the trail was the horse route. Sure enough we saw the Ice Age and Butler Trail markers just into the woods again.

It was definitely a hilly challenge but it was a great day for a hike. I would love to hike more of the Ice Age trail or even more trails in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Too bad the hubby isn't much of a hiker. Sometimes I just want to get out and explore nature.