The Kettle Moraine State Forest is known for its rugged and rocky glacial terrain, but there’s more to this place than glacial hills. In Washington County’s Pike Lake Unit, there’s a scenic little trail that crosses a wetland along the shore of a glacial lake. The trail is one of Wisconsin’s best boardwalk trails, and it’s a very pleasant little hike. The day I walked the trail, I found that the boardwalk provided a quiet little escape from the park’s busy beach area. Here’s what you need to know about this pleasant trail in the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

The Kettle Moraine State Forest is a sprawling state forest that covers more than 56,000 acres. It’s named after the Kettle Moraine, a geological formation caused by the retreat of glaciers over 10,000 years ago.
Alltrails / Nathaniel Rolbiecki
The forest spans a huge swath of southeast Wisconsin, and it’s divided into distinct units, each with its own unique features and recreational opportunities.
Alltrails / Matt Lucarelli
The Pike Lake Unit is named after a 522-acre, spring-fed kettle lake. This area of the forest covers nearly 700 acres, and it includes several hiking trails, picnic areas, a sand beach, and an observation tower.
Alltrails / Sandy Stone

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The Boardwalk Trail can be picked up at the edge of the north picnic trail. It traces the lakeshore, and as the name suggests, includes walk along a scenic boardwalk.
Alltrails / Karoline Bakemeyer
The boardwalk is not long, but it will take you to some quiet places in the trees where you can wade into the water. When I hiked the trail, I came across a couple that was taking their dog for a swim!
Altrails / Alexandra Kushnir
If you want to continue your hike, the options are almost endless. You can even jump onto the Ice Age National Scenic trail, the longest trail in Wisconsin!
Alltrails / Stacy DeKeyser

Learn more about the Boardwalk Trail on the Kettle Moraine’s Pike Lake Unit at the state Department of Natural Resources website. Interested in discovering other Wisconsin adventures? Here are some more great outdoor activities in Wisconsin.

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