Mauston lies on the Lemonweir River and offers a range of landmarks to help you plan a stay. The Riverwalk follows the river; the Gateway Ave Multi-use Path connects Mauston’s hotel corridor with the Riverwalk and downtown. There are also parks with distinct activities, a Victorian mansion and a park where visitors can pick fruit. When choosing where to stay, it helps to consider whether you plan to spend more time on a riverside route, enjoying particular park amenities, or exploring local history and picking fruit.
Trails Along the River and Through the City
The Riverwalk – Mauston is a paved path or boardwalk along the north and south sides of the Lemonweir River. Including the connecting sections, it is about 1.3 miles (around 2.1 kilometers) long. The Gateway Ave Multi-use Path is shorter, at about 1 mile (around 1.6 kilometers), and serves a different purpose: it connects Mauston’s hotel corridor with the Riverwalk and downtown. It runs beneath Interstate 90/94 along the south side of Gateway Avenue and McEvoy Street. When comparing the paths, both the approximate length and the destination matter: one follows the river, while the other links the Riverwalk and downtown with the hotel corridor.
Riverside Park is on Mansion Street, next to Mauston City Hall and on Lake Decorah. There is a fishing pier where visitors can fish.
Parks for Different Interests
If you’re looking for a particular park activity, the options differ considerably: May Park has trails with viewpoints on the bluffs and disc golf; in winter, a hill there is used for sledding. Lions Park-Grayside has pickleball courts, and Oakridge Dog Park has separate areas for dogs.
History, Fruit and Scenery
One historic landmark in Mauston is the Boorman House at 211 N. Union St. The Victorian mansion dates from 1876 and houses the Juneau County Historical Society. The term “Victorian” offers an architectural clue, while the year 1876 specifies the age of the house.
At Marachowsky Park, also called the Living Food Pantry, visitors can pick apples, cherries, pears and peaches from 25 fruit trees. This complements the sports facilities with a hands-on fruit-picking activity, making the park appealing to travelers looking for local food experiences rather than physical activity.
Mauston is close to Petenwell Lake and Castle Rock Lake, Wisconsin’s second- and fourth-largest lakes, respectively. The Lemonweir River is the focus of the Riverwalk; Petenwell Lake and Castle Rock Lake add two nearby lakes to the geographic picture. In the city center, the Juneau County Courthouse was the site of a farmers market during the summer.
For a broader travel overview: Juneau County.
