WI Kenosha Kenosha Dunes
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Kenosha Dunes
Small dunes area with trails running through it suitable for short walks and nature viewing. Kenosha Dunes is part of the Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
- Terrain / Scenery: Small dunes area, wetlands and prairie area inland.
- Fees / Permits: None
- Trail Conditions: Sand or gravel
- Trail Markings: Unmarked
- Facilities: Water and restrooms (seasonal) located in Southport Park.
- Official Web Page: None
- Getting There: Access from Southport Park located off of 75th Street at the lakefront. Park in main lot and walk to south end of park (east of the sewerage treatment plant). Trail is located just beyond fence.
This area would be more aptly named “What’s left of Kenosha Dunes”. This very small dunes area (about a half mile long and just a couple hundred feet wide) is all that remains of dunes that were common throughout the area hundreds of years ago. Far from pristine, this dunes remnant had been abused in past decades by dirt bikes and other off-road vehicle use as well as a lot of teenage partiers. In addition, the shoreline is far from natural (large piled rocks for erosion control). Now that it’s protected, the dunes area is starting to look more natural.
The trail starts at the south end of Southport Park just beyond the fence that goes around the sewerage treatment plant (located between Southport Park and Kenosha Dunes). The main trail along the lake is basically an old gravel road. The trails going through the dunes are not marked. I mapped out what I consider to be the main dunes trail. It runs along the outside edge of the dunes bordering the large wetland area just west of the dunes. The wetland area is also protected and I’m not aware of any formal trails running through it. The dunes area is very fragile so I would suggest staying on the main trail even though you will see numerous smaller trails passing through the dunes. You’re not going to see anything on the smaller trails that you can’t see from the main trail.
If you want to see more dunes, a larger dunes area is located at the south end of Illinois Beach State Park located about 15 miles further south.
- Related Links:
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area
This page is authored and maintained by Dave Piasecki
