Explore Juneau County in many ways: along biking and paddling routes, among wetlands and rocky landscapes, or through a look at the region’s history. It’s not only long routes that take center stage. A self-guided nature trail, an observation tower, or a historical collection can also give your visit a distinctive touch. The experiences you combine depend on whether you prefer to get around by bike, on foot, or on the water.
Biking Routes and Water Access
The 13-mile Omaha Trail runs through Juneau County from Camp Douglas south to Elroy. Its route includes a tunnel less than two city blocks long. In Elroy, the trail connects with the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and the 400 State Trail. Along the 400 State Trail, you can see wetlands and wildlife as well as sandstone bluffs, rolling farmland, and pastureland. The trail is also suitable for combined biking and paddling trips; seasonal shuttle service and rentals are available in Wonewoc.
Mill Bluff State Park also offers access to the Omaha Bike Trail: from the park, you can reach the trail via County Highway W and County Highway C toward Camp Douglas. In Wonewoc’s village park, beneath the Juneau County Highway FF bridge over the Upper Baraboo River, there is a concrete kayak and canoe landing. Kennedy Park has a small boat landing on the Lemonwier River. These access points differ in location and amenities, so you can visit them without planning a long bike ride.
Juneau County Castle Rock Park also offers a range of water activities: swimming, boating, water skiing, fishing, and canoeing. Buckhorn State Park includes a peninsula in the Castle Rock Flowage of the Wisconsin River. There, you’ll find an accessible boat landing with an accessible boarding pier.
Walking Trails: From Short Paths to a Scenic Overlook
At Mill Bluff State Park, options range from more than two miles of hiking trails with views of mesas, buttes, and rock spires to the 0.4-mile self-guided nature trail. Interpretive signs along the trail share information about wildlife, trees, wildflowers, and geology. To reach the overlook at the top of the rock, climb 223 stone steps. The same park also has a public swimming pond with a 2.5-acre water surface and a 250-foot-long white sand beach.
Buckhorn State Park offers four miles of hiking trails through wetlands, oak forests, pine thickets, shoreline areas, and a small prairie. The 1.5-mile Oak Barrens Nature Trail adds interpretive signs and an observation tower. In contrast, the 1.5-mile Chapel Gorge Trail in the Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area is a loop that leads to a riverfront beach between rocky outcrops. Parts of this protected area are in Juneau County. The varied trail lengths and landscapes give you concrete points of reference when choosing a walking excursion.
Wetlands and Distinctive Habitats
The Yellow River Oxbows show how the meandering Yellow River shapes the landscape: the area includes floodplain forest, as well as oxbows, cut-off and flowing marsh waters, and ponds. The best way to explore the natural area is by boat; there is also a trail accessible on foot. Since weather and management activities can affect conditions, check the current situation before your visit. Canoes and kayaks can access the Wisconsin River via a carry-in launch at Cambrian Overlook; access conditions and seasonal operations there may also change.
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge covers 44,000 acres in Juneau County. It is home to the world’s largest population of the endangered Karner blue butterfly. Boardwalks cross wetlands, and a two-story observation tower offers another view of the landscape. Meadow Valley Barrens features a different type of habitat: sand barrens shaped by Hill’s oaks and pines, scattered jack pines, blueberries, and huckleberries. The area is home to three rare insect species. Meadow Valley Barrens is a 631-acre State Natural Area within the Meadow Valley Wildlife Area in Juneau County and was designated a State Natural Area in 2008.
Cultural History and Everyday Life in Mauston
The Cranberry Creek Mound Group preserves a large, well-preserved complex of mounds. The forms include conical, linear, and oval mounds, as well as effigy mounds. Indigenous Woodland-period groups built them roughly between 800 and 100 BCE. Their varied forms and long history stand in clear contrast to the trails and landscapes you can explore elsewhere.
In Mauston, the Boorman House is home to the Juneau County Historical Society and displays local artifacts, records, and research materials. The Victorian mansion dates to 1876 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Greater Mauston Farmers Market offers a different view of city life: it takes place on the lawn of the Juneau County Courthouse downtown. There you’ll find fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, eggs, crafts, plants, and preserves. Offerings may vary by season and vendor; check market dates before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Mauston, Lafayette County, Ozaukee, Eau Claire, Racine County, Manitowoc County, Polk, Marquette County.
For the broader travel overview: Wisconsin.
