UW-Whitewater Nature Preserve
- Distance: 2-mile loop (5+ miles of trail total)
- Surface: Crushed stone + dirt, with bridge crossings
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead: NE corner of UW-Whitewater campus, behind Esker Dining Hall, Whitewater, WI
About this route
The UW-Whitewater Nature Preserve covers 110 acres in the northeast corner of campus, accessible just behind Esker Dining Hall. The signature loop is about 2 miles, with 5+ miles of total trail through woodland, wetland, and prairie ecosystems. Includes a footbridge over a small pond.
This is the best easy-access trail running option for anyone living on or near campus — student or otherwise.
Variations
- Single 2-mile loop: the signature route, easy and well-marked
- Multiple laps: stack 2 or 3 laps for a 4–6 mile easy day
- Full trail network exploration: ~5 miles of interconnected trails; you can string together a 5-mile run without retracing much
- Combine with on-campus roads: start at Esker, run the preserve, then cool down with a campus loop back to the residence halls
What to know before you go
- Free and open to the public year-round.
- Parking near Esker Dining Hall is the easiest start point.
- Trails are also used for running, hiking, cross-country skiing, and biking by the campus community.
- Wildlife: deer are common; the preserve is intentionally managed for native species.
- No state park sticker required (this is UW-W property, not DNR).
Why we run here
For college runners, it’s a 5-minute walk from residence halls and academic buildings. For non-students, it’s a free, no-sticker-required alternative when you don’t want to drive to Kettle Moraine. Closer than Emma Carlin, easier than Nordic, and the singletrack experience without leaving city limits.
Source: UW-Whitewater Office of Sustainability — Nature Preserve documentation. Trail mileage confirmed at “over five miles” per campus sustainability office.