Places to Explore / Ice Age Trail

Whitewater Lake Segment

Boardwalks tucked into green vegetation, quiet pine woods, and small discoveries along a rolling woodland trail.

WisconsinKettle Moraine · Southern UnitThrough my photographs
A wooden bridge surrounded by green along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A wooden bridge surrounded by green

A walk through the Kettle Moraine

More than a lakeside trail

The Whitewater Lake Segment winds through the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest. The Ice Age Trail Alliance describes a hilly route through wooded moraines and kettles, with views of Rice and Whitewater lakes from a steep rise.

My photographs focus on the trail itself: narrow boardwalks, bridges wrapped in greenery, paths between tall pines, and rockier stretches beneath the trees. They offer a look at the places and details I noticed while exploring this segment.

Those changes in scenery make a lovely contrast—open views between the trees in one spot, then a close look at a flower or moth just beside the path.

Purple flowers beside the path along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Purple flowers beside the path
Shooting Star blossoms along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Shooting Star blossoms

Pause for the smaller things

Flowers, moths, and woodland details

Shooting Star blossoms, blackberry flowers, and tiny grape flowers add variety to the greenery. The gallery also includes a pale green moth, a striking black-and-white moth, and a robber fly holding its prey.

I’ve grouped the photographs so you can browse the boardwalks together, follow the woodland paths, and then take a closer look at the plants and small wildlife. Click a photograph to open the larger slideshow.

From my visits

Explore Whitewater Lake in photographs

Thirty selected photographs, organized by subject. Expand the woodland group to see the remaining trail views.

Boardwalks and bridges

A wooden bridge surrounded by green along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A wooden bridge surrounded by green
Boardwalk through lush vegetation along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Boardwalk through lush vegetation
A narrow boardwalk through the wetland along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A narrow boardwalk through the wetland
Looking along the bridge along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Looking along the bridge
The boardwalk curves into the trees along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
The boardwalk curves into the trees

Woodland paths and trail signs

Purple flowers beside the path along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Purple flowers beside the path
A woodland bench beside the trail along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A woodland bench beside the trail
A path between tall pines along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A path between tall pines
A leafy woodland corridor along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A leafy woodland corridor
Steps up the wooded slope along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Steps up the wooded slope
A glimpse beyond the hillside along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A glimpse beyond the hillside
Under an arch of branches along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Under an arch of branches
A winding woodland path along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A winding woodland path
Show 7 more woodland photos
Rocky footing beneath the trees along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Rocky footing beneath the trees
Follow the yellow blaze along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Follow the yellow blaze
A rocky woodland descent along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A rocky woodland descent
A quiet path through the pines along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A quiet path through the pines
Green understory beneath tall trunks along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Green understory beneath tall trunks
Ice Age Trail sign at the woodland entrance along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Ice Age Trail sign at the woodland entrance
A weathered trailside sign along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A weathered trailside sign

Flowers and plants

Blackberry blossoms along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Blackberry blossoms
Giant Chickweed along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Giant Chickweed
Shooting Star blossoms along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Shooting Star blossoms
Riverbank Grape flowers along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Riverbank Grape flowers
Poison Ivy flowers along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Poison Ivy flowers
Sedges along the woodland edge along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Sedges along the woodland edge

Small wildlife and woodland details

Pale Beauty moth along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
Pale Beauty moth
A robber fly with its prey along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A robber fly with its prey
White-striped Black moth along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
White-striped Black moth
A woolly gall on oak leaves along the Ice Age Trail’s Whitewater Lake Segment, Wisconsin.
A woolly gall on oak leaves

Plan your own walk

Exploring the segment

Plan your distance

The Alliance’s 2026 itinerary lists the full Whitewater Lake Segment at 4.6 miles one way. Choose a shorter out-and-back or arrange transportation for a one-way walk. This photo collection does not document every mile.

Choose your access

Use the official interactive map to find the segment, access points, and parking. Whitewater Lake and Rice Lake are useful landmarks when planning your visit.

Expect changing footing

The photographs show boardwalks, steps, exposed rocks, and wooded hills. Choose a distance that suits your pace and allow time to enjoy the details along the way.

Check current information

Review the official map and Wisconsin DNR visitor information before heading out. A state park vehicle admission sticker is required for designated Southern Unit parking lots.

Explore the interactive trail map ↗ Back to Ice Age Trail

Sources & planning: Ice Age Trail Alliance — 2026 Whitewater itinerary and maps · Wisconsin DNR — Kettle Moraine Southern Unit.

Photographs by Brian Woolman / Where’s Wildlife.

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