Kettle Moraine — Emma Carlin Trailhead
- Distance: 4 to 12+ miles (loop options)
- Surface: Singletrack dirt + rolling glacial terrain
- Difficulty: Moderate to hard
- Trailhead: Emma Carlin Trailhead, Hwy ZZ, Palmyra, WI
About this route
The Emma Carlin trailhead is in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, about 20 minutes from Whitewater. This is the same terrain that hosts the Kettle Moraine 100 Endurance Runs every June — it’s serious trail country.
Loop options
| Loop | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 2.2 mi | Easiest intro loop |
| Yellow | 4.0 mi | First “real” loop, rolling |
| Red (with cutoff) | 6.0 mi | Adds the harder ridge section |
| Full red loop | 8.7 mi | Standard distance for trail training |
| Emma Carlin to Hwy 12 + back | 11–14 mi | Out-and-back on the Ice Age Trail |
What to know before you go
- State park sticker required — Wisconsin DNR
- Cell signal is unreliable — tell someone your route
- Mountain bikers share these trails — yield where it’s posted
- Bring water. No water on trail; refill at the trailhead
- Black flies and mosquitoes are aggressive May–early July
Why we run here
Trail running on rolling terrain builds:
- Ankle and foot strength (uneven surface)
- Aerobic capacity (rolling = constant intensity changes)
- Mental endurance (no GPS pace; you run by feel)
- Real climbing tolerance (rare in the Whitewater grid)
Most WRC adult long runs in summer rotate through this trailhead at least once a month.