Cross-Country Skiing

Within the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit, over 20 miles of rolling trails are groomed for cross-country skiing at the Greenbush and Zillmer recreation areas. 

A state trail pass is required for all skiers age 16 and over. Pets, hiking, snowshoeing and biking are not allowed on the ski trails when they are snow-covered.

Greenbush trail system

The Greenbush recreation area is on Kettle Moraine Drive, about 2.5 miles north of State Highway 67. At Greenbush, more than 13 miles of machine-groomed cross-country ski trails are provided for diagonal and skate skiers. The 1.2-mile Brown Loop is lighted for night skiing. The trail lights can be activated by skiers nightly between 4:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Volunteers from the Northern Kettle Moraine Nordic Ski Club (NKMNSC), in cooperation with the state forest, regularly machine groom the ski trail system for diagonal and skate skiing. For more information on trail conditions and the NKMNSC, visit the NKMNSC website [exit DNR].

A heated picnic shelter, sledding hill, picnic tables, grill, drinking water and vault toilets are near the trailhead. There is also access to the Ice Age Trail.

There are 9 miles of singletrack mountain bike trails interwoven with the ski trails. For safety reasons, these trails are user-specific; skiing is not allowed on the bike trails and biking is not allowed on the ski trails. Greenbush trail system [PDF].

Zillmer trail system

More than 11 miles of cross-country ski trails are available at the Zillmer recreation area. The Zillmer trails are on County Highway SS, about a quarter-mile west of County Highway G. 

Forest staff regularly machine groom the trails for diagonal and skate skiing. For current ski trails conditions in southeastern Wisconsin including Zillmer visit the Friends of Lapham Peak website [exit DNR].

The south trailhead has a heated shelter, vault toilets, picnic tables, grills and drinking water. Visitors can also access the trail from the visitor center. Zillmer trail system [PDF].