🏃 Trail Running

Lapham Peak

Location: Delafield, Wisconsin

• Trails: 17+ miles of trails including the Meadow, Moraine Ridge, and Ice Age Trail segments
• Elevation: Summit at 1,233 feet, highest point in Waukesha County
• Terrain: Rolling hills, wooded trails, observation tower with panoramic views
• Highlights: Well-maintained trails, great for hill training, beautiful fall colors
• Distance from Milwaukee: ~45 minutes west
• Interactive Map: Lapham Peak Interactive Trail Map

📷 Photos

Observation Tower

View from Tower

Panoramic View

Boardwalk Trail

Butterfly Garden

Ice Age Trail Sign

Aerial View

Trail Map

Trail View

Other Southern Unit Sections

• Scuppernong Trail System: 15+ miles of interconnected loops, one of the most popular sections of the Southern Unit with varied terrain
• Whitewater Lake: 9+ miles of trails around scenic lake, mix of forest and prairie
• Emma Carlin Trail: 5-mile loop, technical single-track through glacial terrain
• John Muir Trail: 7-mile loop, challenging hills and beautiful kettle formations
• Nordic Trail: 4+ miles, rolling terrain through oak and hickory forests
• McMiller Sports Center: Network of trails with ski area terrain

About Devil's Lake

Location: Baraboo, Wisconsin

• Trail Network: 29+ miles of hiking trails, many suitable for trail running
• Signature Trails: East and West Bluff trails with 500-foot quartzite bluffs
• Terrain: Extremely challenging—steep, rocky climbs and technical descents
• Highlights: Stunning lake views, rock formations, some of the most challenging trails in Wisconsin
• Distance from Milwaukee: ~1 hour 20 minutes northwest
• Popular Routes: Balanced Rock Trail, Tumbled Rocks Trail, CCC Trail, Steinke Basin Trail
• Note: Very technical—great for building strength and technical skills

About Pike Lake Unit

Location: Hartford, Wisconsin (Washington County)

• Trail Network: 10+ miles of trails around Pike Lake
• Terrain: Rolling wooded hills with scenic lake views
• Highlights: Powder Hill offers panoramic views; quieter than Southern and Northern units
• Distance from Milwaukee: ~45 minutes northwest
• Features: Ice Age Trail passes through, good mix of easier and moderate trails
• Amenities: Beach, camping, well-maintained trails

About Holy Hill

Location: Hubertus, Wisconsin (Washington County)

• Trail Network: ~10 miles of trails on and around the hill
• Elevation: 1,350 feet at summit, one of the highest points in southeastern Wisconsin
• Terrain: Challenging climbs with significant elevation gain
• Highlights: Iconic basilica at summit, incredible views from observation towers, part of Ice Age Trail
• Distance from Milwaukee: ~35 minutes northwest
• Popular for: Hill repeats and elevation training
• Note: Parking fee; respect pilgrims visiting the shrine

About Retzer Nature Center

Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin

• Trail Network: 4+ miles of trails through diverse habitats
• Terrain: Gentle to moderate rolling terrain, very accessible
• Highlights: Prairie restoration, woodland trails, great for easy recovery runs
• Distance from Milwaukee: ~30 minutes west
• Features: Educational center, planetarium, well-maintained trails
• Best for: Shorter runs, beginners, or active recovery days

About Havenwoods

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin (city limits)

• Trail Network: 6+ miles of trails
• Terrain: Flat to gently rolling, grassland and woodland
• Highlights: Only state forest within a major U.S. city; great for quick workouts
• Distance from Milwaukee: Within city limits, north side
• Features: Prairie, wetlands, and forest; good for bird watching
• Best for: Convenient urban trail running, shorter runs, after-work training
• Amenities: Environmental education center, parking

About 9 Mile Forest

Location: Wausau, Wisconsin (Marathon County)

• Trail Network: 12+ miles of interconnected trails
• Terrain: Rolling hills through hardwood forest with pine plantations
• Surface: Natural single-track, well-maintained
• Uses: Multi-use trails for running, hiking, mountain biking (separate designated trails), and cross-country skiing in winter
• Highlights: Beautiful forest setting, great for all skill levels, popular local training spot
• Distance from Wausau: ~10 minutes northeast
• Amenities: Parking area, trail map kiosks, well-marked trails

About the Trail

A 1,200-mile National Scenic Trail that traces the edge of the last glacial advance in Wisconsin, approximately 12,000 years ago.

Trail Characteristics:

• Total Length: ~1,200 miles when complete
• Terrain: Glacial moraines, kettles, eskers, and kames
• Runs through: Kettle Moraine State Forest (both Northern and Southern units)
• Trail Surface: Natural surface, single-track, some rocky/rooty sections
• Difficulty: Varies from easy to challenging depending on section

Notable Kettle Moraine Sections:

• Southern Unit: ~30 miles through Lapham Peak, Eagle, and Whitewater Lake areas
• Northern Unit: ~30+ miles through Dundee, Greenbush, and New Fane areas
• Scenic Highlights: Glacial formations, forest canopy, kettle lakes, prairie vistas
• Access Points: Multiple trailheads with parking throughout the forest

Resources:

• Ice Age Trail Alliance website for maps and conditions
• AllTrails and Gaia GPS for navigation
• Trail passes required for Wisconsin State Parks

Northern Unit Trail Systems

• Greenbush Trail System: 30+ miles of interconnected loops, varied terrain with significant elevation changes
• New Fane Trail: 7+ miles through forest and prairie with glacial features
• Zillmer Trail: Connects various sections, part of Ice Age Trail
• Butler Lake Area: Scenic trails around pristine lake with beach access
• Mauthe Lake Recreation Area: Trail network with lake views and camping

Northern Unit Highlights:

• More remote and less crowded than Southern Unit
• Significant elevation changes and technical terrain
• Beautiful glacial kettles and moraine formations
• Excellent for long training runs and exploring
• Distance from Milwaukee: ~1 hour north

Spring Races

• Kettle Moraine 100 (May): 100-mile, 100K, 50-mile, and 38-mile options through Southern Unit. One of the toughest ultras in the Midwest
• Ice Age Trail 50 (May): 50-mile and 50K point-to-point along the Ice Age Trail
• Zumbro 100 (April): Near Minnesota border, 100-mile, 50-mile, and 17-mile options with significant elevation

Summer & Fall Races

• Dances with Dirt Devil's Lake (June): Marathon and half-marathon at Devil's Lake State Park, challenging bluff trails
• Lapham Peak Trail Race (August): 20K and 10K on Lapham Peak trails, great for beginners and experienced runners
• White River 50 (September): 50-mile and 50K in Kettle Moraine Northern Unit
• Glacial Trail 50K (October): Point-to-point through Kettle Moraine Southern Unit
• Potawatomi Trail Runs (October): 50K, 27-mile, and 17-mile at Devil's Lake State Park

Winter Races

• Ice Age Trail 50K Winter Ultra (February): Winter ultra through snowy terrain
• Frozen Gnome (January): 10K, 20K, and 50K winter trail races at Lapham Peak

Race Organizations & Resources

• Kettles Trail Running: Hosts multiple races in Kettle Moraine
• Vacation Races: Organizes Ice Age Trail races
• UltraSignup.com: Registration and race calendar
• Wisconsin Trail Running Series: Points series across multiple races

Books & Media

• "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall
• "Relentless Forward Progress" by Bryon Powell
• "Training Essentials for Ultrarunning" by Jason Koop
• iRunFar (website & podcast)
• Trail Runner Magazine

Apps & Tools

• Strava (tracking & community)
• AllTrails (finding trails)
• Gaia GPS (navigation)
• TrainingPeaks (structured training)