Pine River Trail: Twin Bluffs to Lone Rock

A ride on the Pine River Trail from Twin Bluffs to Lone Roack traverses two types of landscape. From Twin Bluffs to Gotham, it travels through scenic pastures, farm fields, meadows, and marshes. The high hills of the Driftless Region, also known as the Ocooach Mountains, tower in the distance. After departing Gotham and heading east toward Lone Rock, the trail passes through the flat and sandy terrain of the Wisconsin River lowlands.

The trailhead at Twin Bluffs is easy to locate by car. Drive 3 miles south of Richland Center or 4 miles north of Gotham on U.S. Highway 14. Turn west on Twin Bluffs Drive and drive 0.5 mile. The trailhead on the south side of the road has a parking lot, covered picnic table, and portable toilet. It is situated in the tiny community of Twin Bluffs, which was named for the distinguishable twin bluffs that rise up from the ridge to the west.

Heading south from Twin Bluffs, the trail passes open and semi-wooded pastures. There are a few cattle bridges on the trail, and extreme caution should be used when crossing them. The gates are a series of metal bars set in the ground to allow the passage of pedestrians and vehicles, but not cattle.

The trail also runs through lowlands of the Pine River valley. The hills of the Ocooch Mountains rise to the west. This part of the Driftless Region has rugged hills, high ridges, deep hollows, and snaking river valleys. The unique terrain escaped the movement of glaciers over this section of southwest Wisconsin.

One mile from Twin Bluffs, the trail crosses Pine River. A short distance further, it crosses a 241-foot wooden bridge over an old oxbow pond. This oxbow pond was formed when a bend of the Pine River was cut off from the river channel, creating a free-standing pond.

It is nearly 4 miles from the trailhead in Twin Bluffs to Gotham. Pronounced with a long ō, the name Gotham came from Captain Myron Wheeler Gotham who once lived in the village. In 1902, Gotham died with his two sons during a violent storm on the Great Lakes.

There is a community park on Fulton Street in Gotham that may serve as a trailhead. To reach the park from the trail, go south on Fulton Street, where the trail crosses it and Wisconsin State Highway 60. It is 175 yards south and on the left (west) side of the street. The town park has a playground, athletic field, and picnic shelter.

The landscape changes as the trail turn east and travels along U.S. Highway 14. From Richland Center to Gotham, the land features hardwood forests, cattail marshes, and open pastures. From Gotham to Lone Rock, it traverses oak savannahs, sandy prairies, and stands of jack pine. Desert-like microclimates exist in this section.

This trail section runs near the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. The 45,000-acre property hugs the Wisconsin River for 92 miles, from Prairie du Sac to the Mississippi River. The lowland has sandy terrain, one of the factors that create a desert-like microclimate. The result is that unique plants not commonly seen in other parts of the state grow here.

Little shade is found on the trail between Gotham and Lone Rock. On sunny days, trail-goers may want to apply sunscreen. The traffic noise from U.S. Highway 14 is noticeable. In certain places, the surface of the trail has eroded or has an excessive amount of sand. Bicyclists should keep one eye on the trail.

In other places where the path moves away from the highway, the ride is serene and filled with the scent of pine. Wild birds, including Baltimore Orioles, Northern Cardinals, and Red-Winged Blackbirds may be seen. Sometimes the trail moves by pine groves. In other areas, clusters of Prickly-Pear Cacti grow in sandy open spaces. The occasional Eastern Fox Snake (Pine Snake) may be seen warming itself in the sun.

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

West of Lone Rock, the trail passes a road leading to Smith and Cruson Slough and Sand Prairie State Natural Area. The slough is an oxbow lake that has become separated from the Wisconsin River. The sedge meadow and sand prairie are home to distinct types of trees, and the shallow slough is a popular fishing hole.

The Pine River Trail ends in Lone Rock at the end of W. Richland Street, with a parking area and information kiosk. It is 9.1 miles from Twin Bluff to the trail’s end. This trailhead may be reached from U.S. Highway 14 by turning south on Wisconsin State Highway 130 (Commercial Street) in Lone Rock. Drive 0.6 mile and turn right (west) onto W. Richland Street. Drive 0.4 mile to the trailhead.

Lone Rock was founded in 1856 and incorporated as a village in 1866. An interpretive marker explains that “The Lone Rock” was once a massive sandstone rock on the north bank of the Wisconsin River. This rock was long used as a landmark by river travelers. However, most of the rock was destroyed when it was cut out and used to build the town. The last remains of the rock are found across from Brace Park on Wisconsin State Highway 130.

Trail last ridden and documented in June, 2021.