Hiking

Whitewater is beautiful any season of the year. Whether you are hiking the Kettle Moraine or the in summer or cross-country skiing in the winter, Whitewater has many trails for you to choose from. Close to home the Whitewater Country Club will provide many hours of cross-country skiing and refreshing exercise. If you venture 5-10 minutes east of town you can join the Ice Age Trail along Hwy 12 and view the Wisconsin terrain once carved by glaciers. Explore 22 miles of vistas, lowland prairies and hardwood forests on the Nordic Trails perfect for a day hike or a weekend get-a-way. Maps are available from the Whitewater Tourism Council 1-866-4WW-TOUR.

Ice Age Trail conditions

Hiking Map

Weekly Guided Walks

Twice weekly guided walks depart from the Hwy 12 Ice Age Trail crossing in the Kettle Moraine. Just 5 miles east of Whitewater on the north side of Hwy 12 the walk begins. Every Tuesday at 4pm and every Wednesday at 10:30am year round, walks are offered from 2-5 miles in length. Guided walks are provided free of charge. For more information contact Russ Helwig at 262-473-2187 or Eileene at 262-723-3716.

Cross-Country Ski maps

Emma Carlin Map
The McMILLER trail BLUE route is for cross-country skiing.
Trail Details

John Muir Map
The NORDIC trail BLUE route is for cross-country skiing.
Trail Details

Cross-Country Ski in Jefferson County

Dorothy Carnes County Park East and West Access will have a total of 8.4 miles of groomed trails open for the 2010/11 season.  The routes are posted at each of the trail head facilities and are easy to follow.  East and West Carnes Park features moderate rolling hills with gentle grades and great views of Rose Lake and the surrounding glaciated plains.  Trails are groomed and set for classic style cross country skiing and take you through majestic oak forests, restored prairies and savanna grasslands.  Plenty of parking, a great shelter and restrooms are available at the West trailhead facility.  If you're not familiar with Carnes Parks East Access, head north from Fort Atkinson on Banker Road, and turn left onto Jones Lane.  The Park begins at the end of the road, with more than 4.9 miles of groomed trails that meander throughout the properties beautiful landscape. 

Carlin Weld County Park, located in south eastern Jefferson County has an excellent trailhead facility with a shelter, restroom, large parking lot and a play ground for the kids.  Cross country ski trails are groomed and set for skate skiing with 2 miles of groomed trails following along the parks spring fed ponds, restored grasslands, wetlands, and savanna prairies. 

Korth County Park located on Rock Lake near Lake Mills currently has over 2.25 miles of groomed trails.  The trails meander along the Shore of Rock Lake and through the restored savanna and prairies of the park.  Park facilities include the Korth and Elm Point shelters, parking lots, and year round bathrooms at the Elm Point Road park entrance.

The Jefferson County Parks Department also maintains hiking and skiing trails at Upper Rock Lake County Park on the Northern edge of Rock Lake in Lake Mills.  The park offers a short .75 mile trail with challenging climbs and steep down hills sections.  The trails take you on a path through the parks hardwood forests and solitary park settings. 

The Jefferson County Dog Park and Terri Tinsley Dog Exercise Area boast four separate dog exercise areas totaling 109 acres, with a total of 3.1 miles of groomed hiking trails.  We recommend hiking or SNOWSHOEING only in this park due to the high number of our four legged friends running the rounds and creating unassuming obstacles.  This is a great area to get out into the white stuff with your four legged friends and stretch those neglected cold weather legs for some great outdoor fun.