Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive

Highway in Wisconsin, United States

Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive
Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive highlighted in green
Route information
Length	115 mi^[1] (185 km)
Major junctions
South end	Jct State Park Rd and Kettle Moraine Rd near Whitewater
North end	CTH-P / CTH-J near Elkhart Lake

Location
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin

Highway system
Wisconsin State Trunk Highway System Interstate US State Scenic Rustic

The Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive is a designated scenic route in southeastern Wisconsin that links the two units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The route traverses through scenic and historic areas, including landscape shaped by glaciers from the latest ice age, known as the Wisconsin glaciation.

Route description

Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive generally follows county and local roads. It begins near Whitewater – at the southern expanse of the Kettle Moraine State Forest's southern unit (42°45′56″N 88°42′18″W / 42.76556°N 88.70500°W / 42.76556; -88.70500), the drive takes a northeast trek and passes through six counties: Walworth, Jefferson, Waukesha, Washington, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan. The route's northern terminus is near Sheboygan County Broughton Marsh Park northwest of Elkhart Lake (43°50′53″N 88°02′29″W / 43.84806°N 88.04139°W / 43.84806; -88.04139).^[2]

History

The idea of a route along the Kettle Moraine was believed to be conceived in the early 1940s by the Kettle Moraine Committee of the Izaak Walton League – Milwaukee Chapter, which was the backbone behind the development of the Kettle Moraine State Forest units. The first surveying of the area did not begin until 1946. The Wisconsin Highway Commission approved the route in 1948 and the first paving project was completed in 1950.^[1]

Attractions along the drive

The drive passes by various opportunities for recreation and tourism in the Kettle Moraine area. Access is provided to sightseeing, hiking, biking, camping, cross-country skiing and fishing facilities.^[3]

The following state parks and forests are accessible via the scenic drive – from south to north:^[1]

Kettle Moraine – Southern Unit
Glacial Drumlin State Trail
Kettle Moraine – Lapham Peak Unit
Kettle Moraine – Pike Lake Unit
Kettle Moraine – Northern Unit

The following historical sites are accessible via the scenic drive – from south to north:^[1]

Old World Wisconsin in Eagle
Holy Hill near Hubertus
Sylvanus Wade House in Greenbush
Parnell Tower, an observation tower near Parnell
The north terminus and the northernmost several miles of pavement was part of the original track circuit for Road America in 1950. The corner at the north terminus was called the "Marsh Turn", and it is marked with a historical marker. There is also a historical marker along the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive in the city of Elkhart Lake marking the site of the 1951 and 1952 start/finish line.^[4]

Gallery

March 2013 on the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive in the Southern Unit
Busy traffic in fall
1951/1952 start/finish line for Elkhart Lake race

Major intersections

County	Location	Destinations	Notes
Walworth	Town of Whitewater	R and W Townline Road
	Town of Whitewater	CTH-P
	Town of La Grange	CTH-O
	Town of La Grange	CTH-H	Southern end of CTH-H overlap
	Community of La Grange	US 12
Jefferson	Palmyra	WIS 59 west	Western end of WIS 59 overlap
	Palmyra	CTH-E
	Town of Palmyra	CTH-H	Northern end of CTH-H overlap
Jefferson–Waukesha county line	Palmyra–Eagle town line	CTH-Z

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (January 2021)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "WDNR – Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive". Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
^ Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "WDNR – Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive (Driving Directions)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
^ Internet KMoraine. "The Drive". Northern Kettle Moraine. Archived from the original on 4 August 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
^ Simon, Brian (21 December 1999). Kettle Moraine Ride. Retrieved on 2007-08-26 from "Kettle Moraine Ride". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007..