The autumn season has officially arrived! What better way to welcome fall than to celebrate its natural beauty? Here are some beautiful spots to experience and take in the changing fall foliage.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
This thousand-mile trail travels through some of Wisconsin’s most beautiful natural areas. The City of Janesville has more miles of Ice Age Trail located within the city limits than any other Wisconsin community. Janesville’s portion of the trail makes up a large part of the Janesville Trail System, and marks the southern-most point of the Ice Age Trail. Most of the trail in Janesville is paved, perfect for biking, walking, running and rollerblading. For more of a hike, read about the Devil’s Staircase segment a little bit later in the blog!
Robert O Cook Memorial Arboretum
Much of the Arboretum is covered by a beautiful mature forest, with prairie, marsh and wetland habitats adding even more variety to the landscape. Explore 8 miles of trails while keeping an eye out for the many bird species and other wildlife that call the Arboretum home.
Rock River Heritage County Park
Located northwest of Janesville along the eastern bank of the Rock River, Rock River Heritage County Park offers 178 acres of space to explore. Take in scenic river views, hike the 2.4-mile perimeter trail or one of several shorter trails, explore the man-made pond, or enjoy opportunities for fishing, wildlife viewing, and picnicking. In winter, the park adds even more ways to get outside with a sledding hill and a one-mile cross-country ski loop. Two playgrounds, picnic areas, and shelters round out this growing outdoor recreation destination.
Riverside Park
The 87-acre Riverside Park runs along the beautiful Rock River, with three scenic overlooks, picnic areas, pavilions with grills, and boat launches for boating and fishing. The Ice Age Trail runs through the park, featuring the Devil’s Staircase portion of the trail. This gorgeous trail travels along and up the side of the bluffs parallel to the Rock River for stuninng views of the changing leaves!
Palmer Park
Palmer Park packs plenty of outdoor adventure into one family-friendly destination. Kids can explore the large, accessible CAMDEN Playground and its kid-friendly zipline, while nearby connections make the park a popular starting point for exploring Janesville’s trail system. For a little more adrenaline, head to the 35-acre Palmer Urban Mountain Bike Park (PUMP), where off-road trails range from beginner-friendly routes to more challenging terrain, along with a dirt pump track and mountain biking skills area.
