Parnell Tower Trail

Parnell Tower Trail is a 3.3-mile loop in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit-Iansr in Wisconsin, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The trail is rated easy, with a total elevation gain of 214 feet, and it starts and ends at about 1,232 feet, reaching a high of 1,310 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.57 miles in, where the grade reaches 7 percent. Late spring through early fall is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Plymouth show September highs around 72°F with lows near 51°F, and July highs around 81°F. That station sits roughly 480 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. The trail is part of a network of loops in the forest. The Purple Loop and Green Loop, both cross-country ski routes, are about 2.6 miles away, and the Red Loop hike is about 2.7 miles off. The Old Plank Road Trail lies about 5.2 miles away.