Find the Nordic trailhead
N9084 County Highway H, Whitewater, Wisconsin, south of Palmyra. Nordic is on the east side of the road, opposite the John Muir trailhead.
Places to Explore • Wisconsin
Green woodland paths, pine groves, and a different way to explore the Kettle Moraine.
Across County Highway H from the John Muir trails, Nordic offers another side of this familiar forest. Brian’s photographs follow broad green paths through tall pines, leafy woods, and meadow openings, with a few small discoveries along the way.
Two trail systems, different uses
The Wisconsin DNR calls this the Nordic Trail System. Its routes pass through hardwood forest, planted pine stands, and open meadows, with the rolling terrain that makes the Kettle Moraine distinctive. Six routes offer different lengths and levels of difficulty; use the current trail map to choose your outing.
Brian remembered Nordic as the hiking-and-skiing side of the road, and that distinction is useful. Nordic does not allow bicycles. The nearby John Muir trails are shared by hikers and mountain bikers.
N9084 County Highway H, Whitewater, Wisconsin, south of Palmyra. Nordic is on the east side of the road, opposite the John Muir trailhead.
Pick a route for your time and energy, and check the map at junctions. The photographed signs show numbered junctions and colored route markers. Brian’s photos are a look at the landscape, not a turn-by-turn account of one complete loop.
Nordic supports classic and skate cross-country skiing. Hiking is not allowed on its snow-covered trails; hiking, snowshoes, and pets are prohibited when the system is groomed for skiing. Skiers age 16 and older need a state trail pass. John Muir is one of the nearby options the DNR lists for snowshoeing.
The trailhead has parking, vault toilets, and a warming shelter. Check current admission requirements, seasonal notices, and conditions with the DNR. The forest’s trail information line is 262-594-6202.
The photographs move from orderly pine trunks to leafy woodland corridors and open grass. Notice how the light and character of the trail change from one stretch to another.
A closer look along the route: red Northern Prickly Ash fruit, blue Blue Cohosh fruit, a tiny Black Nightshade flower, and a Great Spangled Fritillary resting in the grass.
The entrance sign, trailhead map, and color-coded markers help tell the story of the visit. These are photographs from Brian’s outing; consult the current DNR map and posted notices when planning your own route.
