Kettle Moraine North Backpack Sites Permit
Kettle Moraine North Unit (WI) · Wisconsin
Six backpack sites on the Ice Age Trail through the Northern Unit — the standard overnight for a trail section hike.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Kettle Moraine N were gone within 5 minutes.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
No permit needed to start
Kettle Moraine N Quick Facts
Kettle Moraine N Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Kettle Moraine N in Kettle Moraine North Unit (WI), Wisconsin requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Kettle Moraine N is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- Cancelled Kettle Moraine N permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
What to Expect
Highlights
- •DNR: "Five backpack shelters are available year-round for rustic camping along the 31-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail. One backpack shelter is available from April 1 through November at the Zillmer Trail area."
- •"Each site offers a roofed trail shelter, a fire ring and a pit toilet. Drinking water is available within a short distance of each site." — the only one of these eleven areas where DNR says that.
- •"These sites are not accessible by vehicle. All camping equipment must be backpacked in, and all refuse must be packed out."
- •DNR publishes no walk-in distance for the Northern Unit shelters.
- •The forest is linear, spread over 22 miles between Glenbeulah and West Bend, so which shelter you book decides which end of it you are hiking.
Best Time to Visit
Five of the six shelters take bookings year-round, which makes this one of the few Wisconsin backcountry sites you can plan a winter trip around. The Zillmer shelter runs April 1 through November. Note that water systems across the state park system are weather-dependent from roughly Oct. 1 to May 15.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Poison sumac. DNR asks visitors to stay on the Spruce Lake Bog boardwalk "due to the fragile nature of the habitat and the presence of poison sumac."
- !Steep, wet or snow-covered tread. DNR on the Summit Trail: "Use caution on the steep elevation changes as the trail tread may be wet or snow-covered in winter."
- !Wisconsin state park water systems are weather-dependent and may be off from roughly Oct. 1 through May 15, so the winter bookings are the ones to carry water for.
How to Get This Permit
Create a Wisconsin DNR (GoingToCamp) account
Sign up at Wisconsin DNR (GoingToCamp) if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
About This Permit
Wisconsin DNR: "The first and largest unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest offers year-round recreation among world-famous glacial landforms. Visitors can swim at three beaches, enjoy challenging mountain biking trails or groomed ski trails, hike the Ice Age Trail, take in a nature program, or just escape among 30,000 acres of rolling, wooded hills and prairies. The Henry S. Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center includes an exhibit area, auditorium and gift shop. The forest has over 350 campsites, including standard, group, equestrian and backpack opportunities." (dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/kmn, read 2026-08-09.)
The Experience
Why It Matters
The Northern Unit is where the Ice Age Trail runs through the landforms it was created to protect — DNR calls them "world-famous glacial landforms," and the forest is part of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve. The shelters are the reason a section hike here works without a car shuttle every night, and the one-night-per-site rule means a two-night trip is planned as a point-to-point rather than a base camp.
The Feeling
DNR describes the trail through here as moderate to difficult, following "sinuous eskers and tumbled moraines descending into bogs and deep kettles." A roof, a fire ring and a pit toilet is the whole of it, and in winter you may have all 30,000 acres to yourself.
Rules & Regulations
- •"Reservations are required for all backpack sites. Only one reservation (camping party) is allowed per site per night."
- •"Reservations are limited to 10 persons per site and are limited to one night per site. Another site may be reserved for a second night and a third night at a third site." — a multi-night trip means a different shelter each night.
- •Reservations open up to 11 months in advance, and same-day bookings are allowed.
- •"Check-in for camping is not required. Campers should proceed directly to their designated campsite."
- •Firewood must be certified or come from within 10 miles; vending trailers at Mauthe Lake, Long Lake, Greenbush and New Prospect Horseriders sell it 24/7.
- •Fires in fire rings and grills only.
- •Pets on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet, and not on marked nature trails (Spruce Lake Bog, Ice Age Center Moraine, Long Lake Summit).
- •The forest is closed to non-campers between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- •A vehicle admission pass is required. DNR honours certain federal entrance passes here because the forest is part of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve — "Holders of National Parks passports receive a waiver of the vehicle admission fees, but camping fees are not affected."
Gear Checklist
Required
- A pack — no vehicle reaches any of these sites
- Rubbish bags: all refuse is packed out
- A sleeping system rated for the season, since five of the six shelters are bookable in midwinter
Recommended
- A tarp or bivy — the shelter is roofed but open
- A second reservation if you want two nights, because one night per site is the rule
Plan Your Trip
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Kettle Moraine N
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttlesGuide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
Parnell Tower
A 3.5-mile loop starting with steps to the highest point in the forest, topped by a 60-foot observation tower "for a birds-eye-view of the glacial landscape." DNR notes the Ice Age Trail passes a reservable backpack shelter here.
Dundee Mountain (Summit Trail)
A 1-mile loop up "the highest kame in the forest, with panoramic views of the Campbellsport drumlins and other Ice Age topography."
Spruce Lake Bog
A 0.25-mile boardwalk. Designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service; DNR lists sundews and pitcher plants, and names poison sumac as the reason to stay on the boards.
Zillmer Trail Area
11.4 miles of trail, and the seasonal shelter — DNR: "A rustic backpack shelter is reservable for camping along the trail from April through November."
Henry S. Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center
Exhibit area, auditorium and gift shop on Highway 67, and the start of the 0.75-mile Moraine Trail.
Kettle Moraine N FAQ
How do I get a Kettle Moraine N permit?
Kettle Moraine N permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.
When is the best time to visit Kettle Moraine N?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Kettle Moraine N permit?
This permit has a demand score of 8/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
What if I can't get a Kettle Moraine N permit?
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Kettle Moraine N.
Trip Reports
Write ReportCan't Get a Kettle Moraine N Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Kettle Moraine South Backpack Sites
Similar ExperienceThe same shelter model on the southern 30 miles of the Ice Age Trail, but only three of them.
Tradeoffs
Half the choice and no water at the sites — DNR says all equipment and water must be backpacked in.
Chippewa Moraine Backcountry Sites
Similar ExperienceThree outpost sites on another Ice Age Trail segment, four hours northwest.
Tradeoffs
No roof and no stated water, but two of the three sit within half a mile of the interpretive centre.
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Kettle Moraine N trip
A small favor
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Takes less than a minute.