Midwest Adventurers

We will be meeting at Brewfinity at 3:00 pm on Saturday, April 5th to paint this Wisconsin camping picture. No painting experience necessary! This will be guided by an artist at set Apart Studio in Watertown and she will help you as needed. There is a full bar to purchase drinks and food.

Fees
Your $41.00 meetup fee covers all supplies and artist instruction. Please send your fee through Venmo @Jennifer-Gray-318 or contact me with alternative payment options. Payment is due within 48 hours of signing up.

A full refund will be given if cancellation is within 30 days of event.

This event is open to all skill levels. Mirror Lake State Park is named for its centerpiece, a lake, which often is so calm that not a ripple marks its surface. The lake reflects a wooded shoreline with cliffs up to 50 feet high, a swimming beach and wetlands that are home to a variety of wildlife. The parks 2,200 acres includes several picnic areas, wooded campsites, summer rentals and a cabin for people with disabilities. The park offers recreational opportunities year around for everyone. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and hiking. In the spring/summer/fall months enjoy kayaking, swimming, paddle boarding, canoeing, fishing, hiking, biking, camping, shelters, and a playground.

Please be sure and bring water and snacks for the hike. Friendly dogs are welcome.

We will do the Lakeview Trail/Newport Trail/Northwest Trail a little over 3 miles. These trails are very nice with some steep, rolling hills through sandstone rock outcroppings. This hike will begin at the boat landing and go by the lake, beach and through the woods. If you have never been to the park before this is where you can rent kayaks and canoes.

If some would like to do more hiking afterwards we can hit another trail.

Weather
This is a winter outing weather could be anything, please come prepared for various temperatures and check the weather forecast before hand.

Fees
There are no fees for this hike.

You will need a Wisconsin State Park Pass to go into the park. Once you enter the park, follow the signs to the boat launch parking lot. We will meet down by the boat rental building. 

This event is open to all skill levels. Located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit, this 9.3-mile loop trail is near Whitewater, Wisconsin and is generally considered a moderately challenging route. There are some hills you will encounter on this hike. This trail is great for birding, cross-country skiing, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. The Nordic Trail Blue Loop features rolling terrain. Hikers will encounter stands of mixed hardwoods, pine plantations, and open fields. The trail also meanders through the unique Kettle Moraine terrain. While the loop is primarily gentle, there are some steep sections. There are many flora and fauna along the way. There are six different trails of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty, providing great hiking or skiing for all levels of ability. A warming shelter is open every day and convenient parking, vault toilets and a sledding hill are also available at the trailhead. Hiking is not allowed when the trails are snow covered. Bikes are not allowed on this trail system.

Hike
We will meet by the warming shelter/parking lot area at 9am then hike the Blue Loop Trail for a distance of 9.3 miles. We will take breaks along the way, stop and take pictures and just enjoy the scenery. At the 5-mile point, we will stop and have some snacks and take a longer break. Bring a camera or your phone for photos of some great views. There are bathrooms by the parking lot and be sure and bring water and snacks for the hike. Friendly leashed dogs are always welcome. Prior to the hike if you would like, you can download the hike off AllTrails “Nordic Trail Blue Loop”.

Weather
This is a end of spring outing, please come prepared for various temperatures and check the weather forecast beforehand.

Fees
There is no fee for this hike, but a Wisconsin State Park vehicle sticker is required.

Directions
Nordic Trails trailhead parking lot is located at N9084 CTH-H Whitewater, WI 53190
Coordinates 42.82147N, 88.60093W

Camping trip at Kettle Moraine Southern Unit - Pinewoods Campground Group Site A

This camping trip is open to all. Covering more than 22,000 acres of forested glacial hills, kettle lakes and prairies, the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is interlaced with more than 100 miles of mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking and many nature trails. Paddling, boating, swimming, fishing, hunting and winter sport opportunities are all available. It’s located about 37 miles southeast of Milwaukee.

The term “kettle moraine” is actually a geological description that comes from how the area was created. A moraine is an accumulation of rock and soil that comes from a glacier, while a kettle is a shallow body of water formed by a retreating glacier. You don’t need a degree in geology to figure out that this means the area is filled with rolling hills, valleys and ridges.

Pinewoods group camp offers four large sites (A, B, C and D) that accommodate up to 40 people and 20 vehicles per site. We have reserved Pinewoods group site A for this trip. The Pinewoods Campground has vault toilets near the group sites - the park will not have water turned on yet - so please come with plenty of water. Electricity is not available at the campsites.

Pinewoods Campground and Group Camp
W348 S4695 Waterville Rd.
Dousman, WI 53118

We’ll plan on hiking the Scuppernong Green & Observation Loop. It is a well marked trail with beautiful scenery. Considered a moderate hike, the loop totals 5.3 miles and would be perfect to do on Saturday. The trail features small hills, plenty of birdwatching, and a combination of sand, gravel, and rocky paths. It can get muddy during this time of year, so be sure to bring an extra pair of hiking boots, just in case. It’s also a good idea to bring your trekking poles in case some of the trails are a little gnarly:)

Weather
This is a late winter trip, please check the weather forecast and come prepared for cooler temperatures.

Friday
We will be at group site A both nights. Arrive any time after 3pm. Have dinner, get your tent set up and relax. We will probably go in town for our usual Friday night fish fry if you would like to join.

Saturday
Have breakfast and start exploring the park. We can plan a few hikes, and enjoy the day.

Sunday
Check out is at 1pm. We’ll have breakfast, and we can do another hike. You can venture off on your own, pack up and visit the surrounding area for the day, or head home when you are ready.

Fees
Your $15.00 meetup fee covers $10 in 2 nights of camping costs, $3 in Meetup fees and $2 in firewood. The fee DOES NOT cover personal equipment or food. You will need a WI state pass to enter the park. Payment is due 48 hours after signing up. Full refunds will be honored if notified by April 20th. Please send your fee by Venmo @Danielledomnitz or by Zelle at 414-759-6317. *When you make your payment, please let us know what trip this is for since we have many trips scheduled, and only a few organizers handling the funds. Thank you