Military Ridge State Trail: Ridgeway to Blue Mounds
The Military Ridge State Trail journeys from Ridgeway to Blue Mounds for 9.6 miles. A ride on this section of the trail is pleasant, but does involve a gradual ascent up the western mound for nearly seven miles. The path’s surface is in fair condition. After storms, twigs and branches may litter the trail. However, the picturesque landscape along the way is amazing, especially in forested Blue Mounds State Park. As the trail journeys from Ridgeway to Blue Mounds, it also passes through the village of Barneveld.
There are two options to reach the trail in Ridgeway by car. When traveling westbound on U.S. Highways 18-151, exit right (north) onto County Highway HHH on the east side of the village. Drive 1.1 mile into town to the water tower. The road becomes Main Street. When traveling eastbound on the U.S. highways, take exit 52 and follow County Highway HHH for two miles into Ridgeway to the trailhead at the old depot on Main Street.
The Ridgeway trailhead at the old depot is next to the water tower. The 1913 depot is the only remaining one on the Military Ridge State Trail. The trailhead has limited amenities: a parking lot, information kiosk, and park benches. But Ridgeway’s village park is next to the trailhead. It has restrooms, drinking water, playground, ball diamond, and a picnic shelter.
Ridgeway was settled in 1828 by J.B Skinner and other lead miners who came to the area seeking fortune. By the 1840s and 1850s, Irish, Welsh, Norwegians, and Germans made it their home. Ridgeway’s 1913 railroad depot is the only remaining one from the former Chicago Northwestern railroad line. The first depot was built in 1883. In 1913, a fire destroyed much of Ridgeway, including the depot. A new one was constructed that year, and still stands today. An interpretive marker conveys the village and railroad’s history.
Many longtime residents of Ridgeway claim that a phantom haunted the village for years. From 1840 to 1885, an apparition was spotted at times along the old military road and throughout the community. Supposedly, the ghost took various forms. Today, the main feature of Ridgeway is its Sunday farmers market. It is held at the park during spring, summer, and autumn months. The village has a few small businesses on Main Street.
Returning to the Military Ridge State Trail, the path leaves the historic depot and heads east out of town. After a half mile, the path crosses County Highway H. Naturalists may want to take the county road left (north) for 0.6 mile to the parking lot for Ridgeway Pine Relics State Natural Area. From the parking area, a short hike west leads to pristine pine forests that have remained since the last glacier receded. The pines of the natural area are set among sandstone cliffs, rocky outcrops, shallow caves, and rock shelters.
Continuing east on the Military Ridge State Trail, the path crosses Strutt Road about a half mile east of County Highway H. Immediately south of the trail on this road is Hi Point Steak House. Situated high on the military ridge, visitors come to the steakhouse to enjoy a traditional Wisconsin Supper Club experience. It’s a long-standing local attraction, being established back in the 1930s. Their high quality steaks and seafood dishes taste delicious.
From Ridgeway to Barneveld, it is nearly six miles. The elevation rises over 50 feet. After crossing Strutt Road, the trail parallels U.S. Highways 18-151 for less than a mile. Then it crosses Pikes Peak Road and makes a bend to the north away from the highway. As it passes through rolling farm country in this section, a corridor of trees and bushes surround the trail. White-tailed deer, squirrels, and other wildlife are often seen along the trail, and the distinct calls of cardinals and catbirds are heard as well.
Beautiful wildflowers speckle the sides of the trail in spring and summer. In spring months, purple wild geraniums (Geranium maculatum) may be spotted. Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis) grows prolifically next to the trail. During the summer time, poison ivy and wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) grow in open places along the path. Trail-goers should avoid contact with these plants, since they may cause a painful rash or burn to the skin. Periodic swarms of gnats may also pester trail-goers on calm summer days.
The Military Ridge State Trail returns to U.S. Highways 18-151 about 2.5 miles from Pikes Peak Road. The roar of highway traffic is heard here. This half-mile section is open with few trees to offer shade. Red-winged blackbirds perch on power lines, sqauwking and dive bombing passing trail-goers. The route next turns to the northeast and enters the village of Barneveld. It travels 0.6 mile through town to Memorial Park, which serves as trailhead.
Barneveld was founded in 1881 as a small railroad town, first named Simpsonville. It was incorporated in 1906. The village was rebuilt after a devastating tornado hit in 1984. It has restaurants and gas stations. Ope Haus Pub is a popular pub house that serves appetizers, burgers, and sandwiches. It is directly off the trail at Arneson Road. Botham Vineyards and Winery, located south of town on County Highway K, is a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine after a ride. The winery has a tasting room, offers tours, and features a variety of wines for sale. Their Uplands Reserve is a customer favorite. It is a dry, oak-aged, dry red wine.
Barneveld’s Memorial Park serves as trailhead. The park has ample amenities. Two parking lots, restrooms, drinking water, bike rakes, and an information kiosk are found there. It also has a covered picnic facility, playground, splash pad, and sports court. The park is located at 304 County Highway ID in Barnveld. To access the park by car, take exit ramp 58 from U.S. Highways 18-151. Drive northeast on County Highway ID for one mile. To access the parking lots, turn left (north) on Church Street, and left again (west) on Main Street.
After crossing Church Street, the Military Ridge State Trail leaves Barneveld. It travels northeast for a half mile through a corridor of trees before crossing County Highway K. After this intersection, the trail gradually ascends in elevation through open countryside. The path offers stunning views of west Blue Mound. Along the way, it crosses over Blue Mounds Road. About two miles from the Barneveld trailhead, open fields and meadows give way to the cool shade of hardwood forests. The elevation increases also. While the climb is gradual, about 50 feet over the next mile, the cool shade of the forest lessens the burden.
Near the top of the climb, a paved spur trail on the left (north) side of the path leads to Blue Mounds State Park. A trail sign marks the intersection also. The park has a wide variety of activities for outdoor enthusiasts. It is perched atop the highest point in southern Wisconsin, and offers spectacular views of the countryside. The park has a swimming pool, hiking and off-road biking trails, observation tower, playground, picnic area, large campground, and bike-in campsites. An admission fee is required to enter the park.
Less than a mile after the spur trail, the Military Ridge State Trail arrives in the village of Blue Mounds. The scenery along this stretch of west Blue Mound is beautiful. The trail crosses several ravines over wooden bridges. From the heights of the hill, the countryside sprawls out for miles, although it is not always easy to see through the thick vegetation. The green forest that covers the mound is attractive itself, and creates a tranquil ride.
Blue Mounds Village Park serves trailhead. It appears on the left (north) after crossing Mounds Road, and has many amenities. Parking is available there, and other facilities include an information kiosk, restrooms with flush toilets, playground, ball diamond, and picnic area. The park is reached by car from U.S. Highways 18-151. Turn right (north) on County Highway F and drive 0.2 mile. Turn lefty (west) on County Highway ID. Travel a half mile and turn right (north) on Mounds Road. The park is 0.3 miles ahead.
Blue Mounds was officially incorporated as a village in 1912. But white American and European settlement goes back to the 1820s, when lead was discovered in southwestern Wisconsin. A settlement there was first founded in 1828 by Ebenezer Brigham, the first permanent white settler in Dane County. In the mid-1800s, immigrants from Norway and Germany began settling in the area of Blue Mounds, looking for fertile farmland.
Today, there are a few taverns and restaurants in Blue Mounds. It has gas stations, convenience stores, and a coffeehouse. Nearby is Bigham County Park and Cave of the Mounds National Historic Landmark. Bigham County Park has a campground, two shelter facilities, picnic area, playground, hiking trails, and interpretive markers. The Brigham Trail connects the park to the Military Ridge State Trail east of Blue Mounds. Cave of the Mounds is a popular attraction that features a natural limestone cave located in the southern slope of the east mound. The cave contains numerous unique geologic formations.
During the Black Hawk War in 1832, local Blue Mounds citizen Ebenezer Brigham, and 25 other residents, built a fort south of Blue Mounds to protect themselves from factions of warring Native Americans. A marker on County Highway F conveys the fort’s history. Blue Mounds has historically served as a distinguishable feature for Natives Americans and white settlers passing through the area. The military road, built in 1835 by troops from Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien, traveled along the south side of the mounds.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
It is 9.6 miles from Ridgeway to Blue Mounds on the Military Ridge State Trail. Along the way, the route passes through Barneveld and skirts Blue Mounds State Park. While it is a gradual climb in elevation from Barneveld to Blue Mounds, this is the most scenic part of the trail. The ascent certainly is not strenuous. Adding to the exhilaration of the ride is the enjoyment of the beautiful hardwood forest through which the trail journeys.
Trail last ridden and documented in May, 2026.