Geological History of the Kettle Moraine State Forest
- kristina908
- Oct 6
- 5 min read
The landscape of the Kettle Moraine State Forest was created during the most recent period of the Ice Age, known as the Wisconsin Glaciation, which ended about 10,000 years ago. Wisconsin is one of the best places in the world to experience geologic landforms associated with almost exclusively with continental glaciation. That is why the last period of the Ice Age is known as the Wisconsin Glaciation. Wisconsin’s most recent glacier consisted of six lobes.
Some 20,000 years ago, two lobes, the Green Bay Lobe and the Lake Michigan Lobe, of the Laurentide Ice Sheet meet along a line that extends from Richmond in Walworth County through Oconomowoc in Waukesha County to Kewaunee County. These glaciers collided and created a 120-mile ridge, known as the Interlobate Moraine. The Kettle Moraine area rises to 300 or more feet above the land to the east and west.
As the two lobes met, there was tremendous pressure, friction, and buckling. Some large blocks of ice broke off and were buried under glacial deposit. As the ice melted, kettles were formed. Kettles were scattered across the interlobate moraine, so this area became known as the Kettle Moraine.
Key Glacial Landforms
As the glacier retreated, various moraines, drumlins, kames, and eskers formed. Erratics were left behind. Many lakes, bogs, wetlands and potholes are also a direct result of glacial activity.
Drumlin: An elongated, teardrop shaped hill. These hills were sculpted by the direction of the glacial ice movement.
Erratics: Large boulders left behind when the ice melted. The glaciers carried boulders long distances and then deposited them when the glacier melted.
Kames: A rounded ridge of sand and gravel. Eskers were formed by the streams that flows through the tunnels at the base of the glacier.
Kettle: A circular, funnel like depression. Kettles were formed by large buried blocks of ice. As the ice melted, the other material collapsed, leaving a crater like depression. Kettles that contain water are often called kettle ponds or kettle lakes.
Moraine: A ridge formed by gravel, sand, and boulders. The debris was carried by the glacier and deposited along the edge or front of the glacier.
Examples of Glacial Landforms in the KMSFSU
As you explore the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit, you will see many examples of glacial landforms.
Whitewater Lake Segment of the Ice Age Trail features rugged, rolling terrain passing many kettles along the way as well as passing Rice and Whitewater Lakes.
Two of the largest eskers in the region are near Whitewater Lake. Ridge Road lies on an esker divides two lobes of Whitewater Lake. State Park Road lies another esker that divides Rice Lake and Whitewater Lakes.
The Blue Spring Lake Segment of the Ice Age Trail provides outstanding views of glacial moraines, eskers, kettles, and erratics. Specifically, the Stone Elephant is one of the most famous erratics in the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit.
The Emerson Esker and Prairie Trail is located near the Emerson Cabin. Along this esker, you will find remnants of prairies and oak openings.
The Stony Ridge Segment provides opportunities to hike along an esker surrounded by kettles & marshes.
Brady Rocks are outcroppings of the Niagara Escarpment that was created by differential erosion during the Pleistocene Epoch which lasted from approximately 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago.
Scuppernong Segment features hilly terrain, through hardwood forests, and past many trailside kettles.
More Ways to Experience the Kettle Moraine
The Kettle Moraine is an area of varied topography from steep-sided ridges, conical hills (or kames), and flat outwash plans. The Kettle Moraine State Forest over a 100 miles and encompasses various state parks including the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit, Lapham Peak, Pike Lake, Loew Lake, and the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit.
Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit
The Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit spans over 22,000 acres through Walworth, Jefferson, and Waukesha counties. There are more than 100 miles of mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking and nature trails. Paddling, boating, swimming, fishing, hunting and winter sport opportunities are all available. There are three family campgrounds, a horseriders camp, two group camps and remote backpack shelters on the Ice Age Trail. The most notable lakes include Ottawa Lake, Whitewater Lake, and Rice Lake.
Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive
The Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive spans 115-miles across six counties ending from Whitewater Lake in Walworth County to Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County. There are many state natural areas, geological landmarks, and state parks along the Kettle Moraine Science Drive.
The Ice Age Trail
Interestingly, the Kettle Moraine is the birthplace of the Ice Age Trail. In 1959, the first segments of the Ice Age Trail were built in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The Ice Age Trail is the only national scenic trail located entirely in Wisconsin. It spans for over 1,000 miles from Interstate State Park in St. Croix Falls, Polk County through the Kettle Moraine State Forest to Potawatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay, Door County. Within the Kettle Moraine State Forest, the Ice Age Trail spans from the Whitewater Lake Segment in Walworth County to the Greenbush Segment in Sheboygan County.
Lapham Peak
Lapham Peak's glaciated topography provides excellent hiking, backpacking and cross-country skiing on lighted trails. Climb a 45-foot observation tower atop the highest point in Waukesha County (1,233 feet above sea level). Lapham Peak is an example of a conical hill towering above Nagawicka Lake.
Pike Lake
The Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is in the middle of the Kettle Moraine, a strip of glacial landforms which extends through southeast Wisconsin. The forest is named after the 522-acre, spring-fed kettle lake. Powder Hill, a large glacial kame, provides terrific views of the landscape. Visitors can enjoy camping, swimming, hiking, fishing, picnicking and more. Sugar Loaf or Pulford Peak is an other example of a conical hill overlooking Pike Lake.
Loew Lake
The Loew Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is situated along Wisconsin's Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Hiking, horseback riding, fishing and hunting opportunities are available in the forest. Loew Lake is a day-use property and there is no overnight camping.
Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit
The Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit spans over 30,000 acres and stretches over 30 miles across Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, and Washington Counties. Abundant recreational opportunities include three beaches, four boat lunches, challenging mountain biking trails, four campgrounds plus backpack shelters, cross country skiing trails, over 25 miles of hiking trails, great fishing spots, and over 40 miles of horseback riding trails. Paddling, boating, swimming, fishing, hunting and winter sport opportunities are all available. Created by kettles, the Northern Unit has over a dozen lakes and ponds. The most notable lakes include: Auburn Lake, Butler Lake, Crooked Lake, Kettle Moraine Lake (Round Lake), Lake Seven, Long Lake, and Mauthe Lake.
