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Pike Lake
In the Area
Kettle Moraine State Forest—Pike Lake Unit
Hartford, Wisconsin
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 southeastern Wisconsin to Lake Winnebago. This provides for a beautiful glacial remnant landscape of kames, kettles, and eskers.
From the observation tower on Powder Hill, you can see Pike Lake and the glacial landscape.
DNR Photo
The forest is named after the 522-acre, spring-fed kettle: Pike Lake. Powder Hill, a large glacial kame, provides the opportunity for a great hike and view. Visitors can enjoy camping, swimming, hiking, fishing, picnicking, and much more within the forest.
Boating and Fishing: Pike Lake provides a great place for boating and fishing for the entire family. There is not a boat launch within the state forest boundaries. However, there are one public and two private landings across the lake from the state forest. Pike Lake was named for its excellent walleye pike fishing, but there are also several other types of game fish found in the lake. Anglers can either fish from boats or from shore, outside the marked swimming area (tall white buoys).
Picnicking: The Pike Lake Unit has picnic tables and grills available throughout the picnic area. Two shelters can be reserved for group activities by phone or by mailing a form [PDF 112KB] to the Forest Headquarters.
Most Naturalist programs are offered Memorial Day through Labor Day.
More Information
See the links to the left and below for more information about Pike Lake.
How to Get There
Pike Lake is on State Highway 60 between Hartford and Slinger, Wisconsin. It is about 25 miles north of Milwaukee, 60 miles east of Madison, and 40 miles south of Fond du Lac. The forest entrance is about 3 miles west of US Highway 41 and 7 miles west of US Highway 45.
Any motor vehicle parking in the forest must have a Wisconsin State Parks vehicle admission sticker. You can buy stickers at the forest headquarters, beach area contact station, or self-registration pay stations throughout the forest.
In the Area
Area Attractions and Lodging
The area around Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit has many motels, bed and breakfast inns, and privately-owned campgrounds, as well as trails, museums, historic sites, parks, swimming pools, downhill ski areas, and other recreational facilities. For information about them, see the following:
Washington
County [exit DNR]—Accommodations,
activities, dining, events, and more
Washington
County Visitors Bureau [exit DNR], (888)
974-8687
Hartford Chamber of
Commerce [exit DNR], (866) 222-5401
Village of Slinger
[exit DNR], (262) 644-5265
Friends Group
Friends of Pike Lake
The Friends of Pike Lake Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a greater appreciation of the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit. Anyone can become a member and help in planning and staffing special activities in the forest such as the candlelight ski/hike, community campfire, and other activities.
For more information or to join the Friends, pease see the Friends of Pike Lake web site [exit DNR]
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit
3544 Kettle Moraine Road
Hartford, WI 53027
(262) 670-3400
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