Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive highlighted in green
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| Route information | |
| Length | 115 mi (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 |
| Highway system | |
| Wisconsin highways County • Bannered • Rustic |
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The Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive is a special road in southeastern Wisconsin. It connects the two main parts of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. This drive takes you through beautiful and historic places. You'll see land shaped by huge sheets of ice called glaciers. These glaciers were here during the last ice age, known as the Wisconsin glaciation.
Contents
Exploring the Scenic Drive
The Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive mostly follows smaller county and local roads. It starts near Whitewater in the southern part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. From there, the drive heads northeast. It goes through six different counties: Walworth, Jefferson, Waukesha, Washington, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan. The northern end of the drive is near Sheboygan County Broughton Marsh Park, close to Elkhart Lake.
History of the Drive
The idea for a road along the Kettle Moraine came about in the early 1940s. A group called the Kettle Moraine Committee first thought of it. This group was very important in creating the Kettle Moraine State Forest. People didn't start mapping out the road until 1946. The Wisconsin Highway Commission officially approved the route in 1948. The first part of the road was paved and finished in 1950.
Fun Things to Do Along the Drive
The Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive offers many chances for outdoor fun and sightseeing. You can find places for hiking, biking, camping, and fishing. In winter, some areas are great for cross-country skiing.
State Parks and Forests
You can easily reach these state parks and forests from the scenic drive:
- Kettle Moraine – Southern Unit
- Glacial Drumlin State Trail
- Kettle Moraine – Lapham Peak Unit
- Kettle Moraine – Pike Lake Unit
- Kettle Moraine – Northern Unit
Historical Sites
The drive also passes by several interesting historical places:
- Old World Wisconsin in Eagle: This is a living history museum. You can see what life was like in the past.
- Holy Hill near Hubertus: A beautiful church on a high hill with amazing views.
- Sylvanus Wade House in Greenbush: An old inn where travelers used to stop.
- Road America Race Track: The northern end of the drive was once part of the original race track for Road America in 1950. A corner there was called the "Marsh Turn." There's a special sign about it. Another sign in Elkhart Lake marks where the race's start and finish line were in 1951 and 1952.
Images for kids
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March 2013 on the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive in the Southern Unit
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Busy traffic in fall
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1951/1952 start/finish line for Elkhart Lake race
