If you’re a nature lover, East Troy will capture your heart with its striking waterfronts and flourishing green space. Here are our top recommendations for getting outdoors and moving your body.

BEST BIKING

ALPINE VALLEY RESORT

    The Mountain Bike Trail at Alpine Valley Resort, W2501 County Road D, features 8.1 miles of single track with a 1,043 feet ascent and 1,035 descent.

    From the start, the trail is an ascending, leg-burning climb in the trees up the side of the ski hill. After you go around the excavation pit, miles of twists, turns, punchy climbs, and fast descents await. 

    Enter via Alpine’s driveway toward the resort. At the bottom of the hill, you’ll see a blue sign that says Mountain Bike Trail. For more information, visit alpinevalleyresort.com.

JOHN MUIR TRAILS

    The John Muir Trails, known for its high-quality single-track mountain bike trail system, are among the most popular in the state.

    Part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest’s Southern Unit, the trail system, about two miles north of La Grange, N9097 County Road H, features five loops ranging from 1.25 to 12 miles.

SPECTACULAR SUMMER HIKES

PICKEREL LAKE FEN PRESERVE

    Pickeral Lake Fen Preserve, which includes a portion of Pickerel Lake Fen, a rare wetland type, contains several springs that feed Pickerel Lake and an oak woodland, located at N8740 Pickerel Lake Road. The State Natural Area, managed by the Nature Conservancy, features a trail that is accessible to people who use power-driven mobility devices to help them get around.

LULU LAKE

    The focal point of the diverse wetland and upland communities located on County Road J is the 95-acre Lulu Lake, a 40-foot deep, hard water drainage kettle lake fed by the Mukwonago River and situated at the base of glacial deposits. Best seen by canoe via the Mukwonago River or through the channel from Eagle Spring Lake.

KETTLE MORAINE STATE FOREST-MUKWONAGO RIVER UNIT

    The 970-acre former Rainbow Springs property is situated in the Mukwonago River watershed and is an area known for its outstanding resource waters, including the 35-acre Rainbow Springs Lake, varied habitats and biological diversity. Visitors can park in lots on Highway LO, County Road J (near Stringers Bridge Road) or County Road E.

KETTLE MORAINE STATE FOREST-SOUTHERN UNIT

    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 nature trails. Forest Headquarters is 3 miles west of the Village of Eagle, S91 W39092 Highway 59.

BEULAH BOG

    Located on Stringers Bridge Road, visitors can travel along Beulah Bog’s hiking trail east to catch sight of its shallow bog lake, floating mud flats, tamarack forest and wet open moat.

BEULAH BLUFF PRESERVE

            Beulah Bluff Preserve, a Kettle Moraine Land Trust nature preserve, is located at N9026 Bakavi Way, East Troy. The preserve overlooks the northwest shoreline of Lake Beulah and is open to the public for passive recreation and environmental education