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    Kettle Moraine State Forest - Lapham Peak Unit

    4.6 (51 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    Lapham Peak Observation Tower
    Natalie R.

    Great trails here! Well maintained hiking paths and can be enjoyed by hikers of any skill level. Dog friendly (leashed) except for the tower itself. Tower was a great lookout point to view surrounding lakes and forest. New building with restrooms off of the large parking lot at trail heads. Lovely way to enjoy a few hours in nature!

    Cross country ski area
    Ophelia M.

    What a wonderful state park! We had date night plans in Delafield and wanted to include a pre-dinner walk or hike into our plans. We read on Yelp that this state park has plenty of trails and given it was an unseasonably warm February day, we decided to give it a try. We were delighted to find, not only tons of hiking trails, but a pretty impressive cross country ski area. We've never been cross country skiing but after finding this spot so close to Milwaukee have vowed to give it a try one winter. We hiked the ice age trail (the yellow trail) which also led to a built lookout, which was cool (a little too windy to go all the way up when we were there). The trail did have some muddy spots so I lamented having word light sneakers. I'd definitely go for hiking boots my next visit. There were some picnic areas we spied and backpack camping areas. We are excited to picnic and hike this summer! Regardless of the season, though--get to it!

    Stephanie H.

    This is one of my favorite places to go hiking close to Milwaukee. It's only about a 40 minute drive and well worth it. It's worth getting a State Park pass for a year if you enjoy visiting many parks. There's different hikes at many multiple experience levels. You can stop at the look out tower and see excellent views of lakes, holy hill, etc. There are so many trails to explore, so come back several times. I'd highly recommend seeing the stunning Fall colors during October. We like to come here during all seasons. In the winter, they offer cross country skiing as well. I'm going to give it a try this year. Overall, this is a great place to get away from the busy city and get that fresh air.

    Prairie area
    PJ C.

    Over the years as both visitors to the state and now residents we have hiked in this park. It is huge with many interesting trails and a variety of terrain from hilly to flat prairies. There are also a number of geocaches in the park so that is a plus. The fire tower is a big plus for great views on clear days. We have never cross-country skied here since it is too far a drive for us in winter from Madison but I know it is a top notch place with snowmaking and lit trails. I believe you need a special trail pass for that in addition to the state park pass. Looks like they are about to build a large lodge near the cross-country parking lot - this appears to be a very nice addition.

    Taking in the view!
    Julia J.

    Lovely way to spend a beautiful fall day with my friend and her 3.5 year old daughter. We parked near the observation tower and climbed up once before we hiked around the wooded areas. Then her daughter insisted we go back up the observation tower again at the end. Beautifully clean park and not too busy so we were able to chat and not feel like it was too crowded. Would highly recommend this hike/state forest to friends - especially as the colors peak in Wisconsin fall!

    Bob A.

    Hey campers, guess what... there is exactly ONE campsite at this park! That means if you reserve it, the park is all yours for the night! I live in Minnesota and drive through Wisconsin to Chicago enough that I really wanted to break up the drive for once, so I decided to camp here for a night. The sole campsite is technically a backpacking site, but the walk to and from the nearest parking area is only about a quarter-mile. The drinking fountain over there is also the only water source (there aren't even any streams or ponds that I could find), so you might wind up making multiple trips anyway. This isn't a knock, just an observation. The site is really pretty, and very large; large enough to accomodate multiple large tents. In addition to a typical table and fire pit (surrounded by nice log benches), there is a shelter with a big open end where you could pitch a tent with the opening under the shelter. Or you can just use it as a place to store stuff. Whatever you want; I didn't use it when I was there but it's a cool option. The park has a lot of nice trails with some variation in elevation, and most of them are well-marked. There is also a tower with a view that is fetching enough to make it worth the climb. There are other amenities which I didn't visit since I was there to camp by myself; there are "lodges" which appear to only be intended as indoor party rooms, not for overnight stays. There's also an outdoor stage which appears to be used for various theatrical performances. But honestly, I think it's so cool that there's a park like this, all pretty and well-maintained, where you can reserve the only campsite. I look forward to doing it again sometime!

    Do you see what I see?
    Laura S.

    We visited the Lapham Peak Unit to do some hiking on a beautiful sunny weekday in early May, 2023. Our rating would actually be 4,5, but I'm rounding up to 5.0. Park entrance and fees. (rating: 5/5. Good value, especially if you get an annual pass). Daily parking in most (with some exceptions) Wisconsin state state parks is $8 for Wisconsin residents, and $11 for vehicles with out-of-state plates. Alternatively, you can purchase an annual pass (which is valid for the calendar year 2023). An additional Trail Pass is required if you plan to bike, ski, or ride a horse. This additional pass is not required for walkers or hikers. Plan. We were given a brochure that includes a map at the entrance station. We made the first right after the entrance, and parked in the Evergreen Parking Lot. This is a large lot that also has overflow parking. There are large, gender-specific restrooms there, picnic tables, and a water fountain. Armed with the trail map from the entrance station, as well as our AllTrails App, we set off on our hike. We would start on the Ice Age Trail to about the Observation Tower, climb to the top of the tower, have a relaxing picnic lunch at one of the picnic tables in the tower area, and then circle back on the Kettle View/Ice Age Trail. AllTrails showed that this would be about 3.0 miles total. We wore sunscreen and hiking boots (for presumed mud after recent rains; there wasn't too much mud), and carried water and our lunch. I'm heat-sensitive, so I also had a cooling towel that I had soaked in water. I also brought along a pair of hiking poles. Hike (4.5/5). Our actual hike was very good. The trails are well-maintained and well-marked with blazes and signs. Both of these trails were rated as 'intermediate' but most of the ups and downs were gentle. (I realized that I hadn't needed to have carried the hiking poles). There are wooden boardwalks over water-logged areas. Some parts of the trails were gently shaded; others were in full sunlight. There were regular benches along the trail. And, we saw a total of 4 deer and many songbirds along the way. (What are those pretty black birds with a splash of orange?). Usage on the trails was light. We saw a few others hikers and people walking their dogs (on leashes, as required. Thank you!). Bikes are not allowed on these trails. A few things would have made the experience a "5", though not all are within the ability of Wisconsin State Parks to control. -- Noise. The experience of being in nature was diminished by the sound of I-94 traffic, and occasional airplanes. -- Sun. There were some large stretches of the trails that were without shade. While the outdoor temperature was probably only about 75 degrees, it felt much warmer. Lucky that we had worn sunscreen and I had my cooling towel. -- Park map and signage. It's hard to get lost in this park because the signage and blazes are good, and there are regular signs that correspond to coordinates shown on the map (E18, W2, etc.). That said, there were a few critical points at which more signage would have been useful for those completely unfamiliar with the park (like us!) For instance, the Ice Age Trail goes through the Evergreen Park Lot, with trailheads for both directions. But, which direction should you walk to go towards the observation tower? Also, at one point, four of us reached a Y on the Ice Age Trail. The trail continued to the right, but there was no indication that, if you were to go left, you could reach the Observation Tower, a major attraction that we might have missed without AllTrails. The Observation Tower. We are happy to have explored the tower. As mentioned, we hiked to it, but you can also drive to a parking lot close to its base. There's a gender-specific restroom there (pit toilets), a water fountain, picnic tables, and the Lapham Peak Unit's only (reservable) camping site. We climbed up to the top of the tower (5 flights of stairs * 14 steps each = 70 steps) to discover 360-degree views of the surrounding area. Finally, when we finished the hike, we drove over to check out the Nature Center. Unfortunately, it was closed.

    Libby H.

    To get into the park itself, there's an $8 day pass you can purchase unless you have the annual pass already. Great place for hiking! There's many trail options, I did the Ice Age Trail to the Observation Tower and then looped back on another trail that intersects with the Ice Age trail further on. I went with my dog and it took us about an hour and a half. The top of the Observation Tower was a pretty sight. There's a sign that says no dogs, food, or beverage allowed but since it wasn't crowded I took my dog with me up. The paths were well marked and it wasn't too muddy, despite all the rain we had the past week. It wasn't very busy either, which I prefer. The trails I took there weren't any bodies of water, which would've been nice for my dog to cool down in, but I brought him water as well. I would definitely come back!

    Daniela B.

    Great park, with different trails that clearly show its level of. For all ages as it has natural trails and paved trails. A great option for the entire family! Tip: There seems to be more than one parking area, if you see a small area with cars parked along the road, you are not in the main entrance. FYI This is a pet-friendly park.

    Hiking
    Sarah F.

    This place is a staple of mid-Wisconsin and makes for a lovely journey. We actually came in the winter, not knowing what to expect since most pictures and reviews are from Summer/Fall. We absolutely loved visiting, even with snowy flurries and white/gray skies. When we arrived, the lady at the gate told us we shouldn't go up to the Peak because it was too steep...I'm not sure if someone in a small car got stuck somewhere, but it was a piece of cake in my CRV. We are also from Colorado, so it seemed like nothing to us? We would have missed some great hiking and the watchtower if we had listened to her. Definitely make this part of your trip to Wisconsin!

    From the tower
    CJ A.

    Great place to go and hike and spend the day. Lots of maps along the way and trails are marked well. I would suggest bug spray for sure. Bathrooms had toilet paper but also a lot of mosquitoes. Not easy to control that at a place like this. I just appreciated that they were stocked with TP. I only did one trail so looking forward to going back again!

    Winter from lookout tower
    Kyle H.

    Went to Lapham Peak for some winter hiking and sight seeing. Our first stop after paying the parking fees was the lookout tower. About a 45-stair climb (shorter than the tower in Kettle Morraine north) offers great views of local lakes, the city of Milwaukee, kames near and far, and the beautiful oak forest near the tower. This would be a great stop in the summer/fall. We decided to hike the 4.8 mile "red trail" Prairie Path, which also crosses the yellow Ice Age Trail. Park at the Evergreen Lodge for the Prairie Path and also XX skiing, where there is man-made snow, and a small lodge. We had a map, but were pretty disappointed that the red trail was not marked. (W1, W15, W12, W11, W2 junctions- no red squares, no red anything!). It's a huge pet peeve of mine when visiting a new State or County park to see that the locals have left off trail markings because they're so familiar with the area. I'm not sure if the Kame and Kettle View Trails suffer similarly (the Ice Age Trail was marked) but a local lady had to keep telling us where the red trail was. Yes, it's a beautiful area, and all that. You can hike, bike, ski, do horseback riding, bring the dogs, that's awesome; now mark the red Prairie Path and you've got a great park.

    Map of the trails. We managed to ONLY do the red and some of the yellow in the NW quadrant.
    Vee B.

    We took a mid-week Thursday off to trek out to the park with our pooches in late August. It was phenomenal. We had no idea how large the space was. We managed to only check out the NW side of the grounds (red and partial yellow trails in the photo of the trail map) with our two mid-size dogs. At the end of August, there were a lot of dragon flies to keep us company and the yellow flowers were a-plenty throughout the walk. The dogs LOVED it, though STRONGLY recommend you bring enough water for both you and your four-legged friends. Note - there are limited bathrooms, so go before you get there - and bring your own mini-first aide kit if you're hiking. For example, we ensured that we took ample stops in shade, brought sunscreen and kept a light long sleeve to avoid sunburns. Be prepared for skin and hydration safety :) Coming off an ankle break (2.5 months post surgery), this was a great spot to walk and get the cross training I needed to build up my calf, foot and ankle muscle again. We took about 2 hours to wind our way through the space before calling it for the day. We intend to do the central and Eastern side of the space in mid-November as it gets a little colder.

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    Great hiking of all types, dog friendly and plenty levels and distance for hikes, plenty of parking and park maps with marked trails

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kettle Moraine State Forest - Lapham Peak Unit

    Review Highlights - Kettle Moraine State Forest - Lapham Peak Unit

    Specific amenities include multiple hiking trails of various lengths and intensity, including part of the Ice Age Trail!

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    Cushing Memorial Park

    Cushing Memorial Park

    4.8(4 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    tl;dr A gorgeous 8.8 acre park filled with history, giant shade trees, the gentle pleasant sound of…read morewater as it moves along in the Bark River, a crazy unique wooden playground themed after a fort, multiple war memorials, huge shade trees, and a bathroom with drinking fountain. The playground is titled 'Fort Cushing' and is an all wood structure, with primarily a mulch surface and a few minor spots with a rubber surface. Within the playground there are separated areas for the little kids side and the big kids side. The little kids side is fairly small, and consists of two slides, a sandpit, and a few swings. Safety note, the baby swings are crazy high off of the ground since the mulch has been worn down so much, so make sure your kiddo is secured as it would be a huge drop. The big kids side has a variety of slides, bridges, monkey bars, giant tires to climb through as well as a tire swing, and more. Note: The drop off of the covered twist slide also has a huge drop at the end from the worn down mulch. It's definitely a unique playground but if you have little kids you can't trust yet on their own you'll definitely have to be flexible and fast to get through it all. There is a huge open area filled with mature shade trees, a tall monument dedicated to the three Cushing Brothers, as well as an obelisk, and a few other memorials. The park is also situated along the Glacial Drumlin Trail. Oh, and dogs are allowed here! Plus, they have bags available for cleanup. If you're in the area, this park is definitely worth the stop!

    Went here because it was listed as one of the best playgrounds in the MKE metro, and it is indeed…read morethat. All wood, and lots of twists and turns, but fenced in so you can't lose the kids too easily.good amount of parking, but nice bike/walking access through the Lake Country and Ice Age trails. Clean bathrooms. Nice view of the Bark River. Definitely worth a trip out here, plus Delafield is a cute town.

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    Cushing Memorial Park
    Cushing Memorial Park
    Cushing Memorial Park

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    Naga-Waukee County Park - Beach area

    Naga-Waukee County Park

    3.3(3 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Took the pups here to go paddle boarding…read more Arrived around 8am so still fairly early, it was a little confusing where to park for the beach. The beach parking is the same as the boat launch parking (large lot) there is then a path that will take you down to the beach about .25 mile walk. Not horrible but good to note! We asked the park staff and were informed if the pups are swimming they can be off leash on the sand to go in and out of the water but otherwise their leashes need to be on (which was no problem) Bathrooms located near the water and up by the parking nice and clean. Really only downfall was the labeling of parking for the beach and then access to get there, we only figured it out after driving in circles and finding a park staff member. However now we know! Also there is not an easy way to get into the water (walk in style) with a paddle board, since they only have docks to drop down from so a little challenging with the pups, but otherwise it might be easier if you are going with a kayak. They do also have kayak rentals located in the boat launch area. Will definitely return

    It's really nice for 4th of July fireworks. You can bring a small grill or they have a few…read morepermanent ones if you get there early enough. There are also a number of picnic tables but they also are claimed quickly. The beach is small but never crowded and is a nice sandy beach. The swimming area is adequate, but very rocky. Therefore, I recommend bringing shoes if you are going to walk in the water. There used to be a lifeguard, but as of 2019, there wasn't one for the fireworks. They also have a playground area that is decent but I noticed there was a step that was cracked and I'm not sure how well it's managed. The bathrooms have been under some level of repair for the last 5 years, often a toilet, sink, shower, or urinal. Nothing major, but noticeably annoying. However, they are usually stocked though I've rarely seen staff here to restock. That said, there are showers to rinse and they have a second area in each stall to change or hold dry clothes.

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    Naga-Waukee County Park - Beach area playground

    Beach area playground

    Naga-Waukee County Park - Dog friendly swimming

    Dog friendly swimming

    Naga-Waukee County Park

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    Nixon Park - ComedySportz at Nixon Park Event

    Nixon Park

    4.5(4 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    Nixon Park is what small-town living is all about. The local families appreciate all it offers…read moreover 14.5 acres: a huge playground, splash pad, picnic tables, outdoor music, snack bar (open at times), stage entertainment, tennis courts, and this is just the start! A handicapped-accessible pathway invites everyone in. We watched some young boys fishing and they caught 23" northern pikes- repeatedly! There is lots of room for kids to run and play, traffic is far away, and there are wonderful events regularly scheduled throughout the seasons. We just visited the Healing Wall, and have also enjoyed several stage programs. All free! Whether you have young children or are empty nesters, this park is peaceful and fun for all ages. Dogs are welcome also. After having fun at the park grab dinner down the street; there are many restaurants to choose from. Hartland is a small town that offers lots for everyone to enjoy!

    This is a nice little unique park that Hartland has at the heart of its downtown center, and every…read moreresident can find something to do here that will allow them to have both relaxing summer evenings or chilly but fun winter nights. The layout is simple--there's a stage and pavilion for bands, movie nights, performances, etc., a baseball diamond, some large open fields/areas, a space for a beer garden during the warmer months, and a playground and picnic pavilion. An ice rink is also installed during the winter months, so if you have your own ice skates or want to pay a few bucks to rent a pair, head down here for some fun night-skating under the bright lights. I've personally spent time at the beer garden in the summer, which is run by Pat Endter, the owner of nearby Endter's Sports Grill, and it's a great little treat to have for the area--the staff is always super nice, the beer is always ice cold, and the selection is great throughout the different months it's open. There are more than enough umbrella-covered picnic tables to accommodate a large crowd, and the fact that we can bring our dog with us to have a beer outside is awesome. The pavilion/stage is also a unique draw for the park--I've seen movies, comedy shows, and bands perform on the stage there, and the events are always free for the public. There have also been instances of major sports games shown on the inflatable projector screen the Village of Hartland owns and uses at the park, and this allows for a cool sort of community camaraderie when the weather is warm enough to allow for such activities, especially with the food and beer from the beer garden. Probably the coolest part of the park though is the mere fact that it's on the Ice Age Trail, one of Wisconsin's big claims-to-fame. For those who don't know, the Ice Age Trail is one of eleven National Scenic Trails, and it runs solely through the state of Wisconsin, meaning it's locally maintained and managed for the most part. There are only a few municipalities throughout the state of Wisconsin who can say that the Ice Age Trail runs through the heart of their communities, and the fact that this park features a segment of the IAT itself is pretty cool and a fact to brag about to neighboring communities.

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    Nixon Park - Splash pad!

    Splash pad!

    Nixon Park - Watching the Wisconsin game!

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    Watching the Wisconsin game!

    Nashotah Park - Park map

    Nashotah Park

    5.0(3 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    Nashotah Park is in the Waukesha County Park system. Get your yearly parking pass for next to…read morenothing and enjoy this gem all year long. That parking pass is then good for all the Waukesha County parks. I have used the large and small dog off-leash areas, the open field, the rest areas, but mostly the wonderful trails all through the woods. Today, my sister and our two dogs did the long hike all around the area, a nice way to stretch our legs with easy and slightly harder terrain. Nothing to worry about, but in the end, we put on a few miles and enjoyed a full drink of water at the end. There are drinking fountains for both human and animal use (separate spigots.) The restrooms are clean and well-maintained, not port-a-potties. Park your car in one of the two parking lots, take a look at the map and find the colored trail(s) you want to hike and set out. The trails are never really crowded, and you will meet other people and pets along the way. Dogs are to be on leash at all times, and be sure to take poop bags with you; there are some available at each parking area in case you forget your own. There are few garbage cans along the trails so prepare to carry it out with you. We trek here all year long and enjoy the changing seasons as well as the quiet even with roads all around us. This is a nice place to just get away. There are areas marked as environmentally sensitive, so stay on the trails and you will have a wonderful time out in nature.

    Loved this park! We headed here for the dog park. They have separate areas for large and small…read moredogs. The large dog area was huge. Lots of room to run and play catch. There were a nice amount of dogs to hang with. We did a couple of laps around the outside then headed to the trails. The yellow trail is just over 3 miles. It's about half shade and half sun. The shade parts through the woods were covered with mulch. The nature area had grass and tons of wild flowers. The trails were nice and wide for easy passing. There are some lakes along the way but they are hard to see through the foliage. We bought a day pass which required a whole process of setting up an account and such. There really should be a quick option to just be a guest for the day. There isn't great reception but my husband was able to get it to work scanning the QR code. Would definitely come back here. Very nice park.

    Photos
    Nashotah Park - Nature

    Nature

    Nashotah Park - Trail

    Trail

    Nashotah Park - Lake

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    Lake

    Lower Nemahbin Lake - Paddle boarding

    Lower Nemahbin Lake

    5.0(2 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    I've been on the hunt for solid paddle boarding spots that aren't too far from Milwaukee…read more We tried the pond at Veterans Park on the lakefront in Milwaukee, but I was so worried about falling in the water (it's not clean...at all) that I didn't enjoy it. We tried Pewaukee Lake, but there was a bit too much motor boat action to enjoy paddle boarding. I was flummoxed, until I spoke to someone who lives in Delafield. She recommended Lower Nemahbin Lake. Yahtzee! With free parking and easy access to a kayak/paddle board dedicated dock, Lower Nemahbin Lake is the perfect lake for us! Clean lake water flanked by lush green without too much motor boat activity (it isn't a wake-free lake but boaters are respectful and aren't abundant), we couldn't ask for a better location for paddle boarding. It has an anchored dock in the middle of the lake that we love paddling out to for an afternoon picnic on the lake (and to let the kiddo get some dock jumping/swimming in). It's also kinda fun to paddle under the overpass. Last time we went through, we were able to see a birds nest with peeping baby birds. All in all, a great spot to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon. Get to it!

    Easy access: ***** Boat traffic: ***** (not a lot)…read moreWater quality: ***** Free access: ***** Lower Nemahbin Lake is located in Waukesha County in the Village of Summit. This review is for the lake in general for kayaking or paddle boarding. We have been kayaking and paddle boarding for three years now and been to 6 different lakes. I've lived on Okauchee Lake and grew up boating on many of these lake. The public access is down Sugar Island Road just off of I94 provides quick and easy access to the lake which is a bonus. Parking is limited but many cars don't seem to follow the signs which limits 10 cars to the parking lot. Without DNR manning and charging people this will happen. Still plenty of room to unload your gear and a short 100 feet walk or so to the kayak launch area with a short 20 feet pier. There is a public launch for boats but is for small fishing boats as it is a shallow launch and very shallow water for a long way past the island. The shallow water way has a sandy bottom so very little to no weeds and warmer water. Lower Nemahbin Lake is a 239 acre lake located in Waukesha County. It has a maximum depth of 36 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. Overall a Great Lake to kayak, canoe or paddle boarding.

    Photos
    Lower Nemahbin Lake
    Lower Nemahbin Lake - Kayak area launch

    Kayak area launch

    Lower Nemahbin Lake - Sandy north West part of the lake near launch means very little weeds!

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    Sandy north West part of the lake near launch means very little weeds!

    Kettle Moraine State Forest - Lapham Peak Unit - parks - Updated May 2026

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