Halfway Prairie School is the oldest rural elementary school in Dane County. This one-room school was operated from 1844 until it closed as a result of consolidation in 1961. It was given the name of Halfway Prairie because it was halfway between Mineral Point and Portage, a popular transportation route for early miners. Visitors may […]
Facility Category: Parks
Devil’s Lake State Park
Founded in 1911, Devil’s Lake is the third oldest state park in Wisconsin, the largest and the most visited. Devil’s Lake offers magnificent views from 500-foot quartzite bluffs overlooking a 360-acre lake. Enjoy lakeshore picnic areas, sandy swimming beaches, 29 miles of hiking trails, a variety of camp sites, or ease into the backcountry solitude. […]
Tower Hill State Park
Visit Tower Hill State Park to see how lead shot was made in the mid-1800s, hike challenging bluff trails and enjoy panoramic views. Tower Hill is a 77-acre seasonal park open from mid-May through Columbus Day weekend each year. The wooden shaft and the smelter house at the top originally built in 1831, have been […]
Governor Dodge State Park
Governor Dodge State Park is one of the state’s largest parks, with 5,350 acres of steep hills, bluffs and deep valleys plus two lakes and a waterfall. Located in Wisconsin’s scenic Driftless area, Governor Dodge offers camping, picnicking, hiking, canoeing, biking, hunting, fishing, off-road biking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding opportunities. (Wisconsin Department of Natural […]
Stewart Lake County Park
Stewart Lake County Park was established in 1935, making it the first county Park in Dane County. Within this 191-acre park is shimmering Stewart Lake, an artificial lake on spring-fed tributary of Moen Creek. The lake offers a challenge for trout and bass fishing. (Dane County Parks Department) […]
Indian Lake County Park
At 483 acres, Indian Lake County Park is one of Dane County’s largest parks. A winding trail leads to a historic chapel built in 1857, located on a hilltop with a breathtaking view of the lake and surrounding valley. Trails provide access around the entire lake, offering many recreational opportunities including access to a log […]
Cave of The Mounds National Natural Landmark
Cave of the Mounds, a natural limestone cave located near Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, United States, is named for two nearby hills called the Blue Mounds. It is located in the southern slope of the east hill. The cave’s beauty comes from its many varieties of mineral formations called speleothems. The Chicago Academy of Sciences considers […]
Ice Age Complex at Cross Plains
The Ice Age Complex at Cross Plains is a compilation of federal, state and county land. Currently there is about 750 acres of public land available for recreation. The entire proposed project boundary encompasses about 1,500 acres. The facility is undeveloped for visitor use and minimally maintained. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) […]
Walking Iron County Park
Walking Iron County Park and Natural Resource Area is located just west of the Village of Mazomanie in the Town of Mazomanie. Walking Iron is reached by driving from US Highway 14, north on County Highway Y, then west on Hudson Road. The 288-acre site offers miles of hiking and equestrian trails which wind through […]
Brigham County Park
This 232-acre park is named after Ebenezer Brigham, one of the first settlers in this area. The park provides a panoramic view of the Wisconsin River Valley. (Dane County Parks Department) […]
Salmo Pond County Park
Salmo Pond is a 7.5-acre park that offers shoreline fishing, three accessible fishing piers, two accessible shore fishing stations, and picnic areas. It contains a three-acre lake (formerly a rock quarry) with a maximum depth of 15 ft and also provides public access to Black Earth Creek. Fish species primarily include panfish and trout. The […]
Festge County Park
Festge County Park is located in the Driftless Area of Dane County and offers a scenic view 100 feet above the Black Earth Creek Valley — one of the more spectacular views in the county. The park contains 155 acres of beautifully wooded parkland with hiking trails winding through a mature stand of hickory and […]
Blue Mound State Park
Perched atop the highest point in southern Wisconsin, 1,153-acre Blue Mound State Park offers spectacular views and unique geological features. A swimming pool is available in during summer. Over 20 miles of scenic hiking, off-road biking and cross-country ski trails, as well as a family campground, access to the Military Ridge State Trail with bike-in […]
Morton Forest County Park
Morton Forest, named after its benefactor Steve Morton, is approximately 114 acres and offers passive recreational use in a quiet and tranquil setting. The Forest is located about 2.5 miles south of the Village of Mazomanie within the Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin, known for its steep hills and lush valleys. The park offers year-round […]