Mounds View State Trail: Belmont to Platteville

The scenic Mounds View State Trail runs west from Belmont to Platteville, through open countryside and rolling farmland. The trail passes the Belmont and Platte Mounds, which rise to the north above farm fields. The 7-mile trail is in good condition and paved with asphalt. Some sections have a level grade, following an old railroad route. Other segments are quite hilly, with ascents and descents of over 150 feet. Numerous park benches provide chances to rest and enjoy the scenery.

In Belmont at Spring Street, the Pecatonica State Trail becomes the Mounds View State Trail. Traveling east next to Bonner Branch stream for 10 miles, the scenic Pecatonica State Trail is open to bicyclists, hikers, horseback riders, and motorized all-terrain vehicles. The surface is gravel and stone, creating a bumpy ride for cyclists. Mountain bikes work best on this trail. In Belmont at Park Street, the surface turns to paved asphalt.

Belmont’s Bond Park serves as an excellent trailhead for the Mounds View State Trail. The park has a parking lot, restrooms, picnic tables, a playground, an athletic field, and an outdoor exercise course. The trail skirts the park adjacent to Bonner Branch.

To reach Bond Park from U.S. Highway 151, exit at mile marker 26. Go south onto County Road G (1st Capitol Avenue) into Belmont. Turn left on Liberty Avenue and drive east. Turn right on Park Street and go south. Continue on Park Street until arriving at the park on the right (west). It is one mile from the highway to the parking lot.

Belmont has several convenience stores and taverns, and there are two sites worth visiting north of U.S. Highway 151 on County Road G. Belmont Mounds State Park offers restrooms, picnic facilities, hiking trails, and a 64-foot observation tower atop the 400-foot mound.

Next to the state park is the First Capitol Historic Site. Operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society, its two buildings were used by legislators when forming the Wisconsin Territory in 1836. The buildings may be toured, and interpretive markers also convey history.

Back at Bond Park, the Mounds View State Trail journeys northwest through Belmont for a half mile to Spring Street. Along the way, it crosses Bonner Branch twice and Mound Avenue. The Mounds View State Trail officially begins at Spring Street. It continues northwest for another half mile out of Belmont. The trail crosses Bonner Branch again before passing under the four-lane, busy U.S. Highway 151.

The trail turns west and travels next to the highway for a short distance. The trail route runs near the highway most of the way to Platteville. Although the road is not always visible, traffic may be heard throughout the ride.

Also present along the trail are red-winged blackbirds. These birds are natural defenders of their nests and territory. Trail-goers may hear their loud cackling and experience an occasional dive-bomb. Other prairie songbirds are commonly seen from the trail, including eastern bluebirds and a variety of different sparrows.

After passing under U.S. Highway 151, the Mounds View State Trail heads west and enters Belmont Prairie State Natural Area. This small prairie remnant shelters more than 80 species of native plants. Only 36 acres, the refuge’s unique native plants include Wild Quinine, also called American Feverfew. Grassland birds are drawn here, with American Goldfinches, Song Sparrows, and Bell’s Vireo commonly seen in the prairie.

The grade dips and rises for a half mile through the natural area, then ascends a long high hill. After the ascent, a reward comes with a relaxing coast down the hill to the west. The bottom of the hill has a spillover bridge, with a sign warning of potential flooding during heavy rainfall or high water periods.

At the bottom of the hill, the path follows Gassman Lane. There’s another long ascent for 0.3 mile before the trail descends the hill for a half mile. Near the bottom of the hill, the trail crosses Mounds Road and turns south, then west alongside U.S. Highway 151.

A rest area with picnic table is located a mile down the trail. Rountree Branch flows nearby, and a spur trail leads north under the highway to a mobile home park. In this one mile stretch from Mounds Road to the rest area, Platte Mound is easily seen to the north, including a view of the world’s largest letter “M.” Made on the hillside of large whitewashed stones, the “M” is 241 feet high. The letter reflects the long tradition of mining and engineering education associated with nearby University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Returning to the trail, it’s less than a mile until the path becomes Rountree Branch Trail. In that distance, the trail swings north to cross Rountree Branch then curves back west. Along the way, it passes through a beautiful oak savanna, next to the flowing stream.

The Mounds View State Trail ends at a scenic rest area on the eastern edge of Platteville. The city of Platteville’s Rountree Branch Trail arrives at the rest area from the southeast. It begins just a short distance up the path by Walmart and Menards. The rest area contains a picnic table under a shelter, bike rack, portable toilet, and several interpretive markers.

Bicyclists may want to continue their ride into Platteville on the Rountree Branch Trail. To conclude a ride on the Mounds View State Trail, the nearby Walmart or Menards parking lots may serve as trailheads. To access them by bicycle from the rest area, follow the Rountree Branch Trail up the hill to the southeast. Cross Keystone Parkway and continue south until reaching the two stores.

By car from U.S. Highway 151, the Walmart and Menards parking lots are accessed by taking exit 21 and going west on U.S. Business Highway 151. Drive for 0.2 mile. Then turn left (north) on Commercial Drive into either of the parking lots.

Platteville was settled by early lead miners between 1820 and 1850. It was founded in 1829 by John H. Rountree, a southern businessman who arrived during the lead rush. The town became a flourishing mining community. By 1850, lead production was decreasing, but zinc mining filled the void. By that time, Platteville had become well-established. After surviving a devastating fire, it incorporated as a city in 1876.

^{Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.}

Two significant schools- a normal school for teacher training, and a mining college, were established in Platteville. In 1959, the two colleges merged to become Wisconsin State College and Institute of Technology. In 1971, this became the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. Today the university offers a range of degree programs, and is known for its engineering and criminal justice programs.

For the visiting cyclist, Platteville has numerous hotels, dining and shopping opportunities. Popular restaurants include Steve’s Pizza Palace, Pizzeria Uno and Fiesta Cancun. The Driftless Market in downtown Platteville is another option for a light snack or meal. The market features fair trade, organic, and locally grown foods.

Trail last ridden and documented in July, 2023.