You are invited to participate in our newest Shuttleguy Tours adventure, the Wisconsin Parks Ride, or as we have come to know it, WISPRIDE. We offer you six days of biking in some of the most scenic areas of Wisconsin. We have also worked closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Parks, to secure camping accommodations in five of the “gems” in the crown of our award winning state parks system.
This un-glaciated part of the state includes many rolling hills. Thousands of years ago glaciers “swept down” through what is now Wisconsin, leveling the hills and filling in the valleys, creating the flat plains of central Wisconsin. However, the glaciers stopped near Devils Lake State Park and left this tour’s part of the state in its original state of topography.
Our tour will feature this topography and visit five state parks that have capitalized on the natural landscape. At Devils Lake you will be able to ride near the terminal moraine, observing where the glaciers stopped and then began to recede.
This will be a challenging ride but worth every pedal rotation! Be part of this inaugural ride!
We offer you:
Beautiful vistas and scenery of the southwest five counties of the state
Superb camping accommodation in five of Wisconsin’s state parks
Great small town hospitality
Warm Spring Temperatures
A Challenging Route
Friendly and Knowledgeable Staff
Registration Day (Saturday, June 4)
We will start and end our six day loop tour at Governor Dodge State Park. You’ll want to arrive early to enjoy all that Dodgeville, has to offer. As the Madison Capital Times describes the city, "Dodgeville has always been one of the prettiest towns around, with its old courthouse and brick storefronts lining North and South Iowa streets, the main business district. Lately it's blossomed into a wonderful destination for anyone who likes good food, great art, history, architecture and a wealth of shopping possibilities." At Governor Dodge Park, hike around Cox Hollow and Twin Valley Lakes. Don't miss the short hike to Stephen's Falls. Have a great day but be back in time for our pre-ride meeting. It’s a chance to ask any final questions and meet your fellow riders. You may want to turn in early in order to be ready for the first big day of riding!
Day One (Sunday, June 5)
Today we start the ride by turning south and heading towards Yellowstone Park. Wait a minute, did I make a wrong turn!?!. No, that’s Yellowstone State Park located near Blanchardville, WI not Yellowstone National Park in WY. We’ll have our first encounter with the rolling hills of this un-glaciated part of the state. As you ride along, note the rock bluffs, beautiful wooded valleys, and meandering creeks and streams the local folks have come to love. Before long, we'll pedal into the city of Mineral Point. Mineral Point is truly a “must see”! Reminiscent of a rural English village, and nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of southwest Wisconsin, Mineral Point offers century old stone cottages and downtown buildings now home to renowned artists’ studios, galleries and specialty shops. Be sure to stop by Pendarvis, a cluster of restored stone houses located on Shake Rag Street and find out the origin of the streets name! And don’t forget award-winning Hook’s Cheese which has recently been in the news for their 15 year cheddar which sold out in a matter of days at $50 a pound. Then it’s on to Yellowstone Lake State Park, our home for the evening.
Day Two (Monday, June 6)
Today we’ll head northeast towards Devil’s Lake. You’ll want to stop at the charming Grandview near Hollandale. Grandview is a unique sculpture garden, house and museum, featuring the works of immigrant artist/dairy farmer Nick Engelbert (1881-1962). Truly unique, this is a stop you will want to make. From Hollandale, it is on to Barneveld and Botham Vineyards and Winery for a special Shuttleguy Tour. Feel free to get some souvenirs; we will transport them for you. Head north from Barneveld to Mazomanie, home of the Mazo Deli and The Old Feed Mill, both great places for food. From Mazo we will follow the Wisconsin River to Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, home of Wollersheim Winery and another opportunity for souvenirs. The award winning winery is open daily from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., with tours held every hour. Five local wines are produce and carry the prestigious appellation, "Lake Wisconsin Viticultural Area". At the Jerry D. Mead New World International Wine Competition in California, out of 1,300 entries, Wollersheim's Prairie Fumé 2010 was awarded a PLATINUM MEDAL, along with "Best of Varietal" and “BEST OF CLASS”. Out of 1,283 entries from 34 states and 9 countries, White Riesling took home one of only 64 DOUBLE GOLD medals at the Florida State Fair International Wine Competition. Become a caseclub member!
From the winery its on to the free Merrimac Ferry. The auto ferry carries bicyclist too and crosses the Wisconsin River every 15 minutes. Once across the river, we’ll bike into Devils Lake State Park. With over 1.4 million visitors a year, Devils Lake is Wisconsin’s most visited park. You will quickly see why as you notice the stunning cliffs and vistas develop millions of years ago by the debris pushed ahead and deposited by glaciers. As you enter the park from the south, look for towering views of the terminal moraine. The park is located on the Ice Age Trail, a National Park Service recognized trail, following the terminal moraine diagonally across the state.
Day Three (Tuesday, June 7)
Today will be a relatively short, but challenging, ride full of great surprises. We climb out of Devil’s Lake park and head though downtown Baraboo, home of the Circus World Museum, a popular tourist stop. If you are interested, stop to see the daily “Big Top’ show, complete with performers and animal acts. We leave Baraboo passing through the historic downtown area on our way to historic Reedsburg. Reedsburg boasts a Pioneer Log Village with a collection of cabins from the mid to late 1800s, a historic downtown with murals by local artists, a collection or Norman Rockwell art and the Popple Nature Area. We leave Reedsburg for the final ride to Mirror Lake State Park, our home for the next two nights. Get plenty of rest tonight because tomorrow will be action packed.
Day Four (Wednesday, June 8)
Today is our layover day. Take a loop ride along the Wisconsin River or spend the day off the bike. It is a great time to just relax around camp, take a swim in Mirror Lake or hike the trail system. For those wanting more activity you will have a hard time deciding among the many options. Of course there is Wisconsin Dells with scenic boat trips, waterslide parks and the famous “strip”. For those interested in spending their money other ways, just south of us is the Ho Chunk casino! Those looking for educational activities may want to visit the world renowned International Crane Foundation, featuring live displays of all fifteen species of cranes from around the world. You may also want to visit the Aldo Leopold Foundation Center celebrating the life of the well known conservationist. See great examples of LEED conservation minded construction techniques. And . . . for those who don’t mind backtracking a little, explore the bluffs of Devils Lake State Park, do some boulder scrambling or take a swim in the pristine lake. Wish to taste more wine? Head back to Von Klaus Winery located in downtown Baraboo. Home of Glacier Mist, Black Ice and Haunted Passion, experience the remarkable line of hand crafted, original recipe, all natural ingredient wines with no preservatives and no added sulfites. Check out their custom stemware! Make sure to leave time tonight for relaxing and discussing your day’s activities around the campfire . . . and for our own Shuttleguy Wine and Cheese party!
Day Five (Thursday, June 9)
Today we’ll head south from Mirror Lake passing through North Freedom, home of the Mid Continent Railroad Museum. Tour the museum and wait for the conductor’s call of “All Aboard”, for a seven mile, 50 minute train ride through the scenic Baraboo Hills aboard a 1915 restored steel coach train. From North Freedom we continue south past Natural Bridge State Park where we can see the natural sandstone arch which has been formed over millions of years. From there head south towards Spring Green, home of the world famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Tour the picturesque village of Spring Green with its many quaint shops and have lunch at the locally famous General Store featuring superb sandwiches and soups. As we cross the Wisconsin River immediately on your right you will see the beautiful Wright mansion named, Taliesin. Taliesin means “shining brow” in Welsh and aptly describes the home sitting atop a hill. It is a fine example of Wright’s prairie style architecture. For those interested, there are four types of tours offered and lunch is available in the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center located in the Riverview Terrace. We’ll have a few challenging hills left as we climb out of the Wisconsin River valley. We head southwest towards our overnight stay at Blue Mound State Park. On the way we'll pass the picturesque Old Hyde Mill. Built in 1850, Hyde's Mill, dam and millpond are surrounded by lush woodlands and prairie openings. Enjoy one of areas most tranquil and beautiful sites. Be sure to have your camera ready! From the mill it's a short ride to Blue Mound State Park.
Day Six (Friday, June 10)
Today we head west to the "Troll Capital of the World", Mount Horeb. Just outside of the park is Cave of the Mounds. Guided tours on paved, lighted walkways lead visitors past an unforgettable array of crystal formations. Two miles off route is Little Norway. Visit the 150 year old homestead now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Family owned for four generations, Little Norway is a lovingly preserved, authentic time capsule. From the stories of the pioneers who worked this land to the simple but striking Norse architecture of its buildings, it offers a unique look at the people and places that helped shape our history. As we enter Mount Horeb, discover the treasures of the Trollway, Mount Horeb’s Main Street guarded by trolls that have seemingly just appeared to welcome you. Today, is the first day of the three day Annual Spring Art Tour. Take a rare look into the studios of talented artists whose lifestyles and creativity will inspire and uplift you. Discover treasures you didn't know existed - exquisite fine arts and crafts hand made by regionally, nationally, and internationally renowned artists and artisans. Make sure to save time to check out the new Duluth Trading Company outlet store, the Grumpy Troll Brewery and the new winery. From Mount Horeb we head southwest towards Hollandale. Stop in for lunch at the Viking Cafe owned by Julie, our caterer from the night we spent at Yellowstone State Park. From Hollandale it's on towards Dodgeville. As we peddle through downtown Dodgeville stop and walk the restored “Main Street USA”. Note the beautiful and historic Iowa County courthouse made of local limestone. As you ride the final miles, think back over the week. The memories and new friends you made will be with you forever as you approach the end of the ride! It’s time to shake hands, say goodbye and a have a safe journey home. See you next year!
