In Beloit, the Rock River, trails along the water and a variety of cultural offerings shape the character of the area. Big Hill Park sits on the river’s bluffs; elsewhere, a paved loop trail, activities on a park lagoon and access to the Rock River offer different focal points. Museums and a park with earthworks round out the picture. For your stay, you can first consider whether you would rather focus on trails and river scenery, activities on the water, or art and collections.

Trails and scenery along the Rock River

Big Hill Park sits on the bluffs of the Rock River in Beloit. Its offerings include a cross-country ski trail, providing a specific option for winter activities in the park.

The Riverside Corridor Bike/Walking Trail offers a different perspective. This paved loop trail is about 9 miles long and runs along both banks of the Rock River. Public art can be found along the trail. This route brings together several distinct features: its loop, paved surface, riverside location and the art along the way. Its name also indicates that it is for cyclists and pedestrians, while the cross-country ski trail is part of Big Hill Park.

The Beloit Riverwalk is part of Riverside Park, which is located along the Rock River. The Riverwalk is therefore associated with this park; the Riverside Corridor Bike/Walking Trail and Big Hill Park are separate places and offerings.

Lagoon and river access

At Riverside Park, you can rent pedal boats, kayaks and tandem bicycles on the lagoon. The listed rentals include both watercraft and tandem bicycles. When choosing activities, this distinction can help you decide first whether you’d like to do something on the lagoon.

The John Rose Canoe and Kayak Launch is located in Downtown Beloit and provides access to the Rock River. It is the right place to look if river access is your priority; the rentals, by contrast, are specifically listed for the lagoon at Riverside Park. This lets you consider river access and lagoon rentals as separate planning questions, rather than combining them into a single offering.

Museums, art and earthworks

The Logan Museum of Anthropology is Beloit College’s center for exploring cultures around the world through more than 300,000 collection items. The “History of Mankind” series is also still on display at the same museum: it consists of twelve large-scale paintings and was unveiled in June 1925. The series provides a specific historical connection within the museum, while its collection has a worldwide focus.

Another cultural connection can be found at Totem Mound Park. Two well-preserved animal-shaped earthworks are noteworthy there. As a feature of the park, the earthworks are clearly distinct from the collections and exhibitions found in museums.

The Wright Museum of Art displays art from different centuries and around the world. New exhibitions open each year at the beginning of September, December, April and June. Since specific dates may vary, it’s best to check the opening date of the relevant exhibition before your visit. Unlike the Logan Museum, which focuses on cultures around the world and a large collection of anthropological objects, the Wright Museum focuses on art from different periods and regions.

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