Lake La Grange Loop
- Distance: Approx. 4 miles
- Surface: Singletrack dirt + crushed stone (Nordic trail system)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Sherwood Forest Road parking lot, La Grange, WI (Kettle Moraine State Forest — Southern Unit)
About this route
This is the unofficial “first real trail run” route for the area. The loop circles Lake La Grange through the Kettle Moraine State Forest — Southern Unit Nordic trail system. Trees, rolling glacial terrain, lake views at multiple points. It’s the most highly rated trail in Whitewater on AllTrails (4.6 stars from ~900 reviews) — which means it’s popular and well-trafficked, especially on weekend mornings.
What to know before you go
- State park sticker required — Wisconsin DNR. Daily ($8 WI resident / $11 non-resident) or annual ($28 / $38) available at the trailhead.
- Trails are blazed by color. The Lake La Grange loop uses a combination of Nordic system trails.
- Shared with cross-country skiers in winter; running is allowed year-round but stay off groomed ski tracks Dec–Mar.
- Vault toilets and warming shelter at the Nordic trailhead.
- Cell signal patchy.
Variations
Once you know the Nordic system, you can lengthen or shorten by linking other color-coded loops. The Blue Loop (9.3 miles) is the longest single-loop option in the Nordic system if you’re building toward trail-marathon volume.
Why we run here
Real elevation change without driving an hour. Closer than Emma Carlin if you live on the west side of Whitewater. Cleaner singletrack than the John Muir mountain-bike loops (which are nearby but should be avoided on busy bike days).
Source: AllTrails, Wisconsin DNR Kettle Moraine State Forest — Southern Unit. Trailhead address approximate — confirm via DNR before publishing.