CamRock Trail
In eastern Dane County, the 2.4-mile CamRock Trail offers beautiful views of natural scenery and wildlife. Running from Cambridge to Rockdale, the trail is situated within the 422 acres of CamRock County Park. The path weaves through oak savannahs, hardwood forests, and open prairies next to Koshkonong Creek. The trail crosses the creek three times.
The path surface is screened limestone, and in very good condition. The gradient is typically very level, with a few small hills. The CamRock Trail has trailheads at its beginning and end, as well as three park areas with ample amenities along the route.
In Cambridge, the trail begins on the south side of Water Street. This trailhead has a small parking lot, information kiosk, self-service bicycle repair station, park bench, drinking fountain, and self-service electronic pay station. There is no fee to use the CamRock Trail, but other activities require a permit.
In addition to the parking lot and amenities at this trailhead, a village park is located across the street. On the north side of Water Street, Westside Park has flush toilets, a small parking lot, a playground, and park benches. To reach the park and trailhead by car from U.S. Highway 12 in Cambridge, turn south on Water Street and drive 450 feet. The trailhead is on the left (south) side of the road. Continue another 400 feet to Pleasant Street and turn right (north) to Westside Park’s lot.
This area was originally home to Native Americans, and settled by white Americans in the mid-1800s. In 1847, the village of Cambridge emerged. By the late 1880s, it had grown into a community of 700 people with shops, hotels, and a post office. A devastating fire destroyed the town in 1890, but it was rebuilt by 1910.
Cambridge was also the home of immigrant Ole Evinrude, credited with inventing the outboard motor for watercraft in 1907. In the late 20th century, Cambridge became renowned as a center for artisan pottery, especially with the opening of Rowe Pottery. The area’s parks, lakes, and quaint downtown still attract visitors today.
From Cambridge’s trailhead, the bike trail heads south into a hardwood forest next to Koshkonong Creek. After a short distance the CamRock Trail turns slightly west, while a narrow mountain bike path continues to follow the creek. A half mile from the trailhead, the path crosses the stream. Before doing so, it also crosses the mountain bike trail. Signs warn trail-goers on the CamRock Trail to watch for mountain bikers passing through.
Over the next 0.3 mile, the path passes through a forest. It goes by an electric substation and then arrives at a park road. Turning right (east) on the road leads to CamRock County Park Area #1. It has restrooms, a playground, picnic shelter, and an athletic field.
From the park road, it is 0.2 mile to middle bridge, where the trail crosses Koshkonong Creek a second time. There’s a small rest area with park bench, information kiosk, and self-service bicycle repair station. From here the path advances through the forest, and also travels alongside open prairies and meadows. On occasion, mountain bike paths draw near to CamRock Trail before meandering back into the forest.
From middle bridge, it’s just over a mile to the trail’s end at Rockdale. Throughout this distance, the land to the left (east), adjacent to Koshkonong Creek, opens up into a vast bowl-shaped meadow. This open area was once Rockdale millpond. A 72-acre lake was formed by damming Koshkonong Creek, downstream at Rockdale. The dam and mill buildings were later removed and the pond drained. Native species were planted on the land around the creek, to restore a natural environment.
From middle bridge, it is 0.7 mile south to a spur trail that leads left (east) on a bridge over the Koshkong Creek. This path leads to CamRock County Park Area #2. The same facilities at the first park area are found here: restrooms, a playground, picnic shelter, and recreation field.
Just past the spur trail, a large open hill appears to the right (west), which serves as a sledding hill in winter. The shelter of CamRock County Park Area #3 is visible at the top of this hill. This area offers the same amenities as the other two park areas. However, this park area is not accessible directly from the trail. It is located off nearby Highland Drive.
As the CamRock Trail draws closer to Rockdale, it passes a rest area set in the forest on the edge of a rising hill. To the right (west) is a cave, framed with limestone blocks and enclosed with an iron gate. This is a historic beer cave, over a century old. In 1865, Ole Jacobson opened his Rockdale brewery, along with the beer cellar. The cellar’s three-foot-thick walls and four-foot- thick roof helped keep the beer cool and barrels dry.
The brewery eventually became a creamery, and the cellar was no longer used for storage. Local legends state that the cave was used as a warming hut for people ice skating on the millpond. The beer cave is currently in the process of being restored.
CamRock Trail proceeds south to Rockdale. At its end, the trail divides. One path turns right (west) and leads to Sheldon Street. The main trail turns left (east) and crosses Koshkonong Creek for the last time. Looking north from the bridge, the view presents the creek flowing south through the low, open area that once was a vast millpond. From the bridge, the path travels up a hill to a parking lot on Water Street in Rockdale. Looking back over the scenic valley provides a beautiful view.
The parking lot on Water Street is adjacent to a tavern, at the main intersection of several roads in Rockdale. To access the parking lot by car from U.S. Highway 12 in Cambridge, turn south on County Highway B (Spring Street). Drive 2.5 miles past CamRock County Park to Rockdale. The parking lot is on the right (west) side of the road.
An information kiosk and historical marker by this parking lot describe the 19th century dam and mill constructed at Rockdale. In 1846, Nathan and Thomas Van Horn built a log dam there on Koshkonong Creek. A year later, they constructed a saw, grist, and carding mill. The mill served the community until 1998, then was dismantled in 2005. The dam had been breached two years earlier, which drained the pond. Plans were then made to restore creek-side land with native vegetation.
The community of Rockdale was platted in 1836. William Murray Dennis had sought a site on Koshkonong Creek to generate waterpower. The village he platted was called Clinton, then later named Rockdale. Norwegian immigrants began streaming to Koshkonong Prairie and Rockdale in the 1840s. The mill built here by Nathan and Thomas Van Horn made the village a local destination for farmers. The village was incorporated in 1914. Today, this quiet community is the smallest incorporated municipality in Dane County.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
Rockdale and Cambridge have several dining options for trail-goers. Rockdale Bar and Grill is next to the trailhead and offers burgers, sandwiches, and pizza. The tavern’s outdoor patio overlooks Koshkonong Creek. Cambridge has several restaurants, cafés, and coffeehouses. In Cambridge, the downtown area is close to the trail. Just 500 feet from the trailhead, the Cambridge Market Café offers specialty coffees, baked goods, breakfast and lunch.
With its spectacular scenic landscapes and various amenities, the CamRock Trail is popular on warm summer weekends. Amongst the park lands and native plantings, blue jays, robins, and other birds are often seen. The trail is also perfect for families with young children. It crosses no streets other than a park road. Playgrounds and rest stops are found along the route, and there are only a few small hills to ascend. A 5-mile round trip excursion on the CamRock Trail is a pleasurable experience through beautiful natural spaces.
Trail last ridden and documented in October, 2023.