Kettle Moraine State Forest – Loew Lake Unit
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(262) 670-3400
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Washington County, about 4 miles west of Richfield, Kettle Moraine State Forest – Loew Lake Unit covers about 1,236 acres.
Visitors come for horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, boating, and fishing.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
| Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round. The forest is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets allowed on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet at all times and under control; loose pets may be seized. Property-specific pet areas/restrictions appear on park pages.
Statewide rule from Wisconsin's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, resident vs nonresident pricing: a vehicle admission pass is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas (daily $13 WI / $16 out-of-state; annual $28 / $50; rates effective Aug. 19, 2025). State trails use a per-person trail pass for certain uses. Heritage Hill SP charges a per-person admission instead.
Statewide fee rule from Wisconsin's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Wisconsin park passes
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (Wisconsin plates) — $28. All Wisconsin state parks, forests and recreation areas for 12 months Details
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (out-of-state plates) — $50. Same, nonresident vehicles Details
- 12-month pass, Wisconsin residents 65+ — $13. Resident senior vehicles Details
- 12-month reduced-rate pass (additional household vehicle) — $15.50 resident / $32.50 nonresident. Additional vehicles at the same household address; bought with a full-price pass Details
- Daily vehicle admission pass — $13 resident / $3 resident 65+ / $16 nonresident Details
From the Wisconsin state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
BoatingCanoeing and kayakingFishingHikingHorseback ridingHunting
Trails
Hiking: Over 4 miles of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail go through the forest, winding through the forest and along Emerald Drive. To the north, the Ice Age Trail continues through the Holy Hill area and to the Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. To the south, the Ice Age Trail continues to the Lapham Peak Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.
The yellow trail posts guide your path on Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
Boating and paddling
Canoeing, kayaking and boating are very popular activities at Loew Lake. There is a free boat launch on County Highway Q, just west of the DNR parking lot. Only small boats are able to make it to the lake via the river from the boat launch. The river is very shallow in places and there is a low bridge across it. Loew Lake is less than 50 acres and is slow, no-wake only.
Amenities
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 989 Emerald Dr.
Hartford, WI 53027 - Nearest town
- Richfield — about 4 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 43.2249, -88.3160
- Phone
- (262) 670-3400
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The Loew Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is near the town of Monches, just north of the Washington/Waukesha county line. The main parking lot and trailhead is on Emerald Drive, about 2 miles east of County Highway K in southern Washington County. • Get directions
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Wisconsin State Park System — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Wisconsin DNR 'Find a Park' directory (server-rendered Drupal view, ?page=0..5), filtered to /topic/parks/ property pages
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology