Kettle Moraine John Muir + Emma Carlin

Always a treat, the blue trail offers some great technical combined with some great hills, especially the last "hill b4 the lot"!!
Remember.....safety first! I've seen people bloody, walking their Yeti bikes out too.
And yes, they were crying.

There are many trail options for different skill levels. Overall excellent experience.

I've gone to his trail my whole life an even know it has changed throughout the years i still love it! I've ridden on here with a hardtail and a full and have had great experiences. Make sure to bring bug spray there because you'll encounter a lo of mosquitoes and gnats.

These trails are great in regards to challenge, elevation and overall fun in the woods for all ages. The Emma Carlin is my favorite with it's single track, sweet log obstacles and banked turns. John Muir is also great with some easier options for the whole family to enjoy.

Near-perfect winter conditions at Muir today. There were five downed trees on the blue loop. Two were hoppable and two had ad-hoc detours. Only one required a dismount.

I thought the trails this weekend were on point. Had a blast and would recommend this trail to anyone. It lives up to it's reputation.

Trails are in exceptional shape. Thank you for such wonderful trail conditions!!!!

Emma Carlin used to be an amazing trail. Most of this trail system has become tight switchbacks and useless turns designed to zap any momentum. You'll need to hit the brakes every few seconds, so it really takes away from the fitness value. The Muir trail is headed this way as well. Dissapointing.

All XC. There is a few somewhat fun sections, but it's mostly lost of pedaling. Over the past few years, they have been making it less technical. It closes due to rain quite easily. Good place to work on endurance, not so much to work on bike skills.

JOHN MUIR REVIEW
While the Orange is listed as a shorter, intermediate, it's steep, narrow and rocky, without much downhill and flow to justify the effort. Lots of work, not much reward. Though when we were there, they had trail maintenance and a detour, so perhaps we didn't ride the full Orange experience. A couple loops of the Brown was fun, though not much of a challenge.

The ride atmosphere on a Summer Weekend is festive. Families. Kids. Riders of all stripes. Big picnic area and shelters. Water. Restrooms. Bike wash setup repair station. Great place to make new friends! Bring a cooler and some lawn chairs for after ride schmoozing.

One of my favorite trail systems in Wisconsin. Not as technical as Levis or as many miles as CAMBA, but definitely worth a day or two to explore

The weather was 80 and sunny at the time of the ride. Best ride of the year!!

This is a trail system with something for everyone. Tons of mileage and plenty of technical aspects, avoid the crowds by parking at emma carlin riding the longest loop at emma to the connector then the blue loop at muir. take a mid ride stop at backyard bikes. That will get you around a 30 mile loop without seeing the same thing twice! Great for training for endurance rides. rolling terrain keeps it interesting. John muir is much wider and smoother than emma so if you're looking for more technical elements head to emma.

These trails have just about everything, easy to very hard. Worth the trip.

Awesome trail, pretty hilly for Wisconsin. every thing from fast flowy sections to super rocky uphill. There are even some awesome technical parts including the "Manogator." Must do trail system if your any where near southern Wisconsin.

lots of tough trails

Awesome EPIC if you do Blue(Muir) - Connecter - Green (Emma). One of the best marked/maintained trails I have ever been on. John Muir stuff is fun and fast. Connecter is fun but a tad over grown in spots. Emma is definitely harder of the two, and wouldn't she be. Best riding near MKE and CHI hands down.

All the trails are well maintained and have good markings. I strongly believe that these are the best MTB trails around northern chicago area. Its worth the drive and money spent for annual parking permit and annual trail pass.

The John muir trails are move groomed and well maintained. This is where even the beginner can start MTB as the brown loop is a good beginner level loop.

Also you will find lot of kids and family riders in John muir trails.

This trail also has a bike stand clamp and water cleaning station at the John Muir trail head.

Rode early in the morning. Great ride and the colors are spectacular this time of yr. Had the trail to myself being it was early on a Monday morning. Love these trails.

Plenty of shade and few people were seen riding in these glacial morain formed hills. Didn't find tech trails here

Kettle Moraine south is a neat loop within a loop type trail system. It has some nice challenges for riders of all skill levels.

Trails are well maintained.

The ratings in the posted maps are misleading. The orange loop is the hardest technically of all the loops. The blue loop is the longest and somewhat challenging. Because of its length you get to experience various levels of terrain.