Kettle Moraine — Nordic Trailhead Loops
- Distance: 1.5 to 9.3 miles (six color-coded loops)
- Surface: Singletrack dirt + grass (Nordic ski trail system in summer mode)
- Difficulty: Easy to Hard depending on loop
- Trailhead: Nordic Trail parking lot, County Highway H south of Palmyra, WI
About this route
The Nordic trailhead is one of three major trail clusters in the Kettle Moraine — Southern Unit Forest (the other two are Emma Carlin and Scuppernong, both also in our route list). Of the three, Nordic has the widest distance spread — six loops, color-coded, with the Blue Loop topping out at 9.3 miles. That makes it the most versatile trailhead for the club: easy runs to long runs all from one parking lot.
Loop options
| Loop | Approx. distance | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | ~3.5 mi | Easy–Moderate | Pines and hardwoods, passes a kettle lowland |
| Orange | adjoins Brown | Moderate | Often run as Brown + Orange combination |
| Green | ~3.5 mi | Moderate | Rolling moraine terrain |
| Red | ~5–6 mi | Moderate | Longer mid-range loop |
| Black | ~6–7 mi | Moderate–Hard | Skips back through several hill sections |
| Blue | 9.3 mi | Hard | The signature long-trail loop; staged as a Fastest Known Time route |
Distances are approximate per AllTrails / DNR. Exact loop mileages vary by source.
What to know before you go
- State park sticker required — Wisconsin DNR.
- Warming shelter at the trailhead open year-round (helpful in winter for layer changes).
- Vault toilets, parking, water at trailhead. Sledding hill in winter.
- Shared with classical-stride and skate cross-country skiers in winter.
- All trails are signed at intersections by color.
Why we run here
Closest to Whitewater of the three KMSF trail clusters. Best for “rotate through different loops by season” training. Adults building toward a fall marathon often do their 9–10 mi long run on the Blue Loop weekly through July–September.
Source: Wisconsin DNR, AllTrails, Fastest Known Time (Nordic Blue Loop). Confirm exact loop mileages with the DNR Kettle Moraine — Southern Unit office before publishing.