Pine River Trail: Richland Center to Twin Bluffs
The Pine River Trail journeys south from Richland Center to Twin Bluffs. As it travels through this part of Richland County, it follows close to its namesake river. The first four miles of the route are in Richland Center. The final three miles pass through forests, meadows, and pastures. In the distance rise the Ocooch Mountains. This area of Wisconsin is also known as the Driftless Region, meaning it was untouched by ancient glaciers.
A perfect place to begin a ride on the Pine River Trail is Krouskop Park in Richland Center. The amenities of this 37-acre park include picnic shelters, gazeboes, athletic fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, a disc golf course, horseshoe pits, and campsites. The Pine River runs through the park, and a canoe/kayak launch is located there.
Krouskop Park is located at 1050 N. Orange Street in Richland Center, but the parking lot and trail access are reached from Jefferson Street. By car from U.S. Highway 14, drive east on 6th Street. From Wisconsin State Highway 80, turn left (west) onto the same street. At the junction of 6th Street and Jefferson Street, turn north and proceed 0.2 mile to the park.
There are several restaurants in Richland Center from which visiting trail-goers may chose. Many are located downtown or on the south side of the city off U.S. Highway 14. Hotels, campgrounds, and B&Bs are also found in Richland Center and the surrounding area.
Richland Center was established in 1851. An abundance of waterpower, fertile prairies, and a central location in Richland County attracted settlers. A year later, Richland Center was made the seat of government for Richland County. Some local residents were highly active in the women’s suffrage movement, and Susan B. Anthony visited Richland Center in 1886.
Frank Lloyd Wright also had strong ties to the city; he was born in Richland Center in 1867. He designed the 1920’s A. D. German Warehouse, which still stands today in the downtown area. This building was perceived as an early representation of Mayan Revival style.
Verizon also has early roots in Richland Center. The General Telephone & Electronics Corporation (GTE) began in 1918 with the purchase of the Richland Center Telephone Company. It operated under different names until 1959, with more mergers and reorganizations in following decades. In 2000, GTE and Bell Atlantic merged to form Verizon.
In 1876, a narrow-gauge railroad branch connected Richland Center with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at Lone Rock. The railroad improved the town’s economy. It was replaced by a standard gauge railway in 1880. The Pine River Trail now follows the route of that former rail line.
Back at Krouskop Park, the path is called the Otto Bellman Trail. This paved path runs atop the Pine River levee. The trail runs adjacent to Krouskop Park for the first 0.3 mile, before crossing U.S. Highway 14. For safety, cyclists may use the flashing lights at the crosswalk. After following the levee another 0.3 mile, the trail intersections with Mapleside Pedestrian Bridge. The iconic bridge was built in 1912 over the Pine River.
After another 0.3 mile, the trail crosses Seminary Street. Bicyclists may want to diverge from the trail, heading one block east on Seminary Street to Richland Center’s visitor center. This restored building is the former railroad depot, and was built in 1909.
The next attraction on the trail is Richland Center’s arboretum, with 65 species of trees and 100 shrubs and perennials. Cyclists are asked to use extreme caution at the next intersection. Posted signs inform cyclists to walk their bikes through the crosswalk across Wisconsin State Highway 80. Afterwards, the trail follows U.S. Highway 14 for a short distance, then diverges from the busy road near a covered picnic shelter.
The trail passes by industrial businesses for the next 2 miles. A rest area in this section has a portable toilet, picnic table, and bicycle self-service station. After crossing County Highway O (Bowman Road), the trail’s surface changes from pavement to crushed limestone.
It is 3.3 miles from Richland Center to the little community of Twin Bluffs. The surface of the trail is in fair condition throughout this section. The path travels through forests and farm fields, with the Pine River meandering nearby and high bluffs visible to the west.
It is 7 miles from Krouskop Park to Twin Bluffs. A trailhead is located in the little hamlet. It has a parking lot, covered picnic table, and portable toilet. This community is named for the two bluffs rising up from the ridge to the west. An excellent view of the bluffs is seen from the nearby bridge where the trail crosses the Pine River.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
To access the trailhead by car, take Twin Bluffs Drive west from U.S. Highway 14. This intersection is 3 miles south of Richland Center. Drive a half mile west to the trailhead parking lot. It is located on the south side of the road.
Trail last ridden and documented in June, 2021.