Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit — Attraction in Town of Auburn

I backpacked with my 5 kids to the hiking shelter B6 in the Zellmer loop of the northern Kettle Moraine. We went at the start of July. Pluses: were that it is a short hike in from the trailhead-less than a mile- so for a first try backpacking for the kids it wasn't an overwhelming thought. We saw deer, frogs, Lunar moth other cool bugs, and blackberries were ripening along trail. The campsite had a spring next to it- it is recommended to still treat it though. The campsite had firepit, pit toilet, and a shelter. Here are the down sides that we laughed off as story plot items- mosquitoes and deer flies oh my. Be ready to deal with those. Also, the hiking shelter...bring a tent for sure. I brought a 2.5 man tent thinking most of us will just use the bench in shelter...at night time out came the mice- cute as they were, it meant that 5 people slept in the little tent and I slept in hammock swatting mosquitoes all night. The shelter also smelled like, well wet mouse droppings. So, overall I am glad we went but I don't think it was good enough to do a second time in the future and obviously I would be better prepared and hopefully you can be if you have...

Zilmer ski trails are among the best. Scenic vistas and great biodiversity combined with great trail grooming, warming cabin and ice age nature center, trail layout, and wonderful human visitors to this (one of the many) gems of the North Kettle Moraine make this drive worth repeating on a regular basis.

On a sad note, be sure to watch out for pack dog coyote hunting and some seasonal hunting pressures which scare wildlife and nature lovers. Apparently the DNR in their infinite wisdom (and undoubtedly politically influenced management) has decided to revert parts of this and other former preserves to an open hunting area. It is beyond common sense... considering virtually the entire 38000 acres of North Kettle Moraine remains open to this barbaric coyote...

We spent a day hiking between Greenbush Picnic area and the Parnell Tower on the Ice Age Trail and spent the night at backpacking shelter B5.

The trail is very well marked. Some rocky areas and moderate inclines.

Shelter B5 has a dirt floor, high hooks for one hammock, fire pit, and a one-holer pit outhouse. Benches along the inside wide enough to sleep on, enough space in the floor to set up two small tents. Parking is maybe .2 of a mile away and there’s a hand water pump near the parking.

There’s a scenic highway that’s worth checking out, if you have time. And a ton of trails in the area. Definitely worth checking out.

We noticed shelter B4 had a cement floor and one set of hooks...