Blue Mound State Park
Encyclopedia
Blue Mound State Park is a state park
of Wisconsin
, USA, located atop the largest hill in the southern half of the state, near the village of Blue Mounds
. The 1153 acres (466.6 ha) park features a pair of observation towers affording views of the Wisconsin River
valley and Baraboo Range
to the north, the mounds, butte
s, and rolling forest
s of the Driftless Area to the south and west, and the young glacial
plains and city of Madison
to the east. The park contains a large open field; a swimming pool
(the only one in a Wisconsin State Park); shelters; campsites
; and many miles of trails for hiking
, biking, skiing
and snowshoe
ing. There is a nature center
by the picnic area with natural history exhibits. Naturalists offer programs in the summer.
West Blue Mound (elev. 1716 ft (523 m)), the park's namesake, rises approximately 450 feet (137.2 m) above the Military Ridge. However, when viewed from several miles to the north or south, the apparent local relief becomes more like 600 to 850 ft (182.9 to 259.1 ). The hill, as most of the other large mounds of the Driftless Area, is an outlier of Niagara dolomitic limestone
. It is a monadnock
of sorts, having been created through centuries
of erosion
, with the harder dolomite being more weather-resistant than the other surrounding rock of the region.
The Military Ridge State Trail
, which follows the natural east-west contour of the ridgeline from Fitchburg
to Dodgeville
, abuts on the southern edge of the park. The park is used as the finish line for the Horribly Hilly Hundreds bicycle challenge ride.
A volunteer group, the Friends of Blue Mounds State Park, is a group of volunteers working to benefit the park by enhancing and preserving its natural resources
, while offering activities and projects that improve the park guests' visits. The Friends play a key role in many special events, including the annual Candlelight Ski, annual campout, trail construction and interpretive presentations.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, USA, located atop the largest hill in the southern half of the state, near the village of Blue Mounds
Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
Blue Mounds is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 708. The population was estimated at 766 in 2009. The village is adjacent to the Town of Blue Mounds and is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Blue...
. The 1153 acres (466.6 ha) park features a pair of observation towers affording views of the Wisconsin River
Wisconsin River
-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...
valley and Baraboo Range
Baraboo Range
Baraboo Range is a monadnock located in Columbia and Sauk Counties, Wisconsin. It consists of highly eroded Precambrian metamorphic rock. It is about long and varies from 5 to in width. The Wisconsin River, previously traveling in a north to south direction, turns to the east just north of the...
to the north, the mounds, butte
Butte
A butte is a conspicuous isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; it is smaller than mesas, plateaus, and table landform tables. In some regions, such as the north central and northwestern United States, the word is used for any hill...
s, and rolling forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s of the Driftless Area to the south and west, and the young glacial
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
plains and city of Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
to the east. The park contains a large open field; a swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
(the only one in a Wisconsin State Park); shelters; campsites
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
; and many miles of trails for hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, biking, skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
and snowshoe
Snowshoe
A snowshoe is footwear for walking over the snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation"....
ing. There is a nature center
Nature center
A nature center is an organization with a visitor center or interpretive center designed to educate people about nature and the environment. Usually located within a protected open space, nature centers often have trails through their property. Some are located within a state or city park, and...
by the picnic area with natural history exhibits. Naturalists offer programs in the summer.
West Blue Mound (elev. 1716 ft (523 m)), the park's namesake, rises approximately 450 feet (137.2 m) above the Military Ridge. However, when viewed from several miles to the north or south, the apparent local relief becomes more like 600 to 850 ft (182.9 to 259.1 ). The hill, as most of the other large mounds of the Driftless Area, is an outlier of Niagara dolomitic limestone
Dolostone
Dolostone or dolomite rock is a sedimentary carbonate rock that contains a high percentage of the mineral dolomite. In old U.S.G.S. publications it was referred to as magnesian limestone. Most dolostone formed as a magnesium replacement of limestone or lime mud prior to lithification. It is...
. It is a monadnock
Monadnock
A monadnock or inselberg is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain...
of sorts, having been created through centuries
Century
A century is one hundred consecutive years. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages .-Start and end in the Gregorian Calendar:...
of erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
, with the harder dolomite being more weather-resistant than the other surrounding rock of the region.
The Military Ridge State Trail
Military Ridge State Trail
The Military Ridge State Trail is a long, recreational rail trail in Wisconsin.It connects the following communities:* Dodgeville* Ridgeway* Barneveld* Blue Mounds* Mount Horeb* Riley* Klevenville* Verona* Fitchburg...
, which follows the natural east-west contour of the ridgeline from Fitchburg
Fitchburg, Wisconsin
Fitchburg is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 25,260 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is a suburb of Madison and is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to Dodgeville
Dodgeville, Wisconsin
Dodgeville is the most populous city and county seat of Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,698 at the 2010 census, making it the 9th largest city within the Madison metropolitan area. The Greater Dodgeville Area however had a population of 6,529...
, abuts on the southern edge of the park. The park is used as the finish line for the Horribly Hilly Hundreds bicycle challenge ride.
A volunteer group, the Friends of Blue Mounds State Park, is a group of volunteers working to benefit the park by enhancing and preserving its natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
, while offering activities and projects that improve the park guests' visits. The Friends play a key role in many special events, including the annual Candlelight Ski, annual campout, trail construction and interpretive presentations.