If there had been snow we would have been cross country skiing but since the last month has been relatively snow free we opted for a winter hike instead. Our friends know this park inside and out so we followed their lead and hiked on what would be the ski trails vs. the mountain biking trails. The park was pretty empty given the cold gray day and the icy trails (we were glad we had our yak trax with us or it would have been a tough hike). We didn't explore the fire towers or much beyond the trails but we will definitely come back to ski this winter and to hike in better weather. Also the staff in the office was very friendly when I went it to buy my annual pass. They were closed when we arrived earlier in the day so they let me use my day pass purchase towards the yearly pass fee. read more

Whilst in the area, I decided to drive to the state park since it was right here. I turned where the sign said Blue Mound State Park... but to be honest, I couldn't actually find the park. I must have been there or right by it because there was the sign announcing it, but it was just driving through the wooded area; I never saw a place to pull out that was a park. I didn't see any trails crossing the road, either, so I'm not sure what was up. I did see four deer whilst driving through, so that was pretty cool. There are probably better parks in the area. read more

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Camp Site #22 is very nice and away from road noise. The sites are a little bit close together, so you will definitely see and hear your neighbors, so if you have good ones, great! If you have ones with dogs and kids, there's going to be noise. And this is a great campground for kids because there is the nearby Cave of the Mounds attraction, which is why we stayed here. We don't have kids and haven't been to this attraction, so we didn't know it is mainly meant for children. We hiked up to the towers and had great views. During fall when the leaves are changing this is a beautiful place to camp. There is a nearby general store that sells fire-starter, which came in really handy because most of the wood was wet and the Camp Host sign said they had fire-starter, but there wasn't any in the storage area where all the wood was kept. We had a great time biking the trails, going to nearby Military Ridge State Trail, and seeing one neighbor's starry light show at night in their campsite. The bathroom near Site #22 was the biggest, cleanest, and most well-maintained in all the State Parks we've camped in. All in all, a great family campground. read more

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Went camping weekend before Memorial Day. Was looking forward to the Shine Trail, but they didn't have the items up until Memorial Day weekend. It's a fun trail that we've done before - we'll have to make a special trip to see it again read more

Small state park and campground. Fabulous trails and facilities for hikers and campers (RV & tent). Has a pool and splash pad on the grounds ($3-4 per person/day). Views are beautiful from the observation towers. Great place for a short getaway or just a day trip. read more

I thought Blue Mound State Park was great, I'm quite surprised at the lower reviews. I won't mention the fact that all the negative reviewers seem to be from out of state... oh wait, I just did. The ranger was very helpful at discussing the various trails and recommending one that would be a good fit for what we wanted to do. The hike was great, through the woods, over a stream, (no Grandma's house), through a prairie, etc. We barely saw any other people either, it was great! Dogs are allowed, on leash. I would definitely head back here to try out some other trails and the lookout tower. It's a nice alternative to the nearby (and definitely busier) Governor Dodge State Park. read more

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I've had Blue Mounds SP on my to-do list for years now and can see after visiting, why I waited to come here. The positives about BMSP include the number of trails to walk, hike, bike, ski..etc. Not sure how many miles of trail exist but there are easily a dozen of them to choose from with additional unmarked trails as well. Two lookout towers at the top are easily accessible and the east tower offers a nice view of the southern edge of Wisconsin's Driftless Zone. There are also a couple of good informational markers noting the history of the mound. While there are a number of trails to pick from, none of them are very inspiring. I could have hiked a local forest and gotten the same feel. While walking portions of at least five different trails I found little variation, visual appeal or challenge. You also don't get any extended views of the surrounding area from the trails, that can only be done at the top of the mound. Blue Mounds was a disappointment for me. There's nothing memorable here and if I'm going to pay $10 to get into a park, I'll venture a tad further to one of my favorites.. Devil's Lake. read more

Blue Mound State Park - view from the east tower - Parks Near Me - Blue Mounds, Wisconsin

Short hiking trails, but pretty good workout. 2 observatory towers with good views. More of a family friendly state park.

This park has very nice hiking trails, several of them. And if you come upon the observation tower, a climb up is well worth it for the view. You can see for miles and miles. Quite pretty. One major complaint, however. We came here with two dogs. The park allows them, on leash, which these were. Dogs are animals, so when they eat, they produce, um, leavings. My friend bagged his dog's leavings, but the park has NO GARBAGE CANS, for leavings or for anything else. Even near the parking lot and guard station. My friend had to carry his dog's leavings around with him the entire time. And it was a warm day. Now I am no parks expert, but you would think that a few well-placed garbage cans wouldn't be a bad idea, especially if they want you to leave no trace behind. Just saying. read more

This park was beautiful and offered a lot of different hiking and biking trails. Also, the park is huge and there is a pool on the grounds. I only camped there one night but it was a wonderful experience. The campsites provide good privacy and the surroundings were quiet. My friends and I hiked to a lookout tower where we saw a fantastic view of southern Wisconsin. It was a trek but well worth it and you are over 1700 feet high. We also swam in the pool which was nice especially on a hot day after hiking. There was a small grocery store down the street from the park where we got some cheap firewood and snacks for night time. The camp sites come with a fire pit so no need to worry about creating one. Probably the only downfall were the bathrooms. They weren't particularly dirty just smelly because you basically do business into a sewage pit underground. Don't worry its concealed so you don't see anyone's droppings but it does create a smell after a thunderstorm and torrential downpour. Although, if you plan to camp you should not expect to be peeing in luxury so the bathrooms are easy to deal with. Blue Mound also has a lot of water fountains around the campsite so you are never short of hydrating yourself and there are showers available. Overall this campsite is great! I would definitely go back and explore more trails. read more

Pretty underwhelmed by this park, unfortunately. I've tried to hike here twice and each time what should have been an easy to moderate hike can be very taxing. Trail maintenance seems very haphazard - some trails are clear and some are very overgrown. Vegetation that desperately needs to be cut back is allowed to grow over the trail to the point where it actually obscures the path. Not good for hikers or the park. There are also a couple signs which seem to point in the opposite direction that trails go off on! read more

Absolutely love this park! We try to camp here several times a year. The campsites are well spaced and wooded. They also have a pool and splash pad that only costs a few bucks. Walk up the lookout tower for the views. This is a pretty chill campground, we've never heard partiers. read more

I have visited Blue Mounds State Park three times this fall. We even went camping there last weekend. I love this park! There is so much to do! The camping sites are well maintained along with the restrooms. I liked the fact that the camping sites are well spaced so that you do not feel other campers too close. The hiking trails (there are many) are well groomed and beautiful to hike. There is a playground area, maybe two or three. I don't have little ones so I did not spend too much time in those areas. The picnic areas are very nice. The big reason to visit this park is the scenic views. They are truly breathtaking. Dogs are welcome in most areas. Bring a trash bag or two with you because one thing this park doesn't have is garbage cans. The staff is very friendly and helpful. We will be back again and again I'm sure. read more

Blue Mound State Park is a great low-traffic parks just east of Madison, near Mount Horeb. The camping area is well wooded and the sites are all spacious with tent pads, picnic tables, and generous amounts of wooded pace between sites. Many sites have electric hook-up, and you're never too far from toilets. There is also a hot shower facility and several small playgrounds throughout the camping area. Despite camping over Labor Day weekend with nearly ever site occupied it was surprisingly quiet (although there is a low din of nearby highway traffic) It is very easy to get from the camp to either the top of the mound or the pool area on well-marked trails. The park features two observation towers, one facing each West and East, with good views. There are plenty of water fountains in the park area. There are dozens of miles of hiking trails with a variety of vegetation and topography. Everything from mostly level hikes on wide trails through maple, oak and walnut forest; to moderately strenuous hikes up and down elevation over small bedrock outcroppings; and a few miles of trail in restored prairie. There is also a trail that follows a spring-fed creek through a cut in the bedrock for a couple miles, with limestone rock faces dripping with spring water. There are also several mountain biking trails, most of them single-track and dedicated to riding. I did not bring my bike, so I did not experience the trails, but many people in the campground had their bikes. The road biking in the region around Blue Mounds is excellent - the area was considered for the road biking events for the 2016 Olympic Bid by Chicago. Picturesque and low-traffic. Blue Mounds is also adjacent to the Military Ridge Trail, which is over 40 miles of crushed limestone that connects directly to the Madison area paths, and travels strait through Mount Horeb and Verona. Heading west, the trail terminates in Dodgeville after skirting Governor Dodge State Park. The most unique feature of the Park, in addition to its elevation, is a nearly new pool and splash pad. The Pool is very inexpensive ($2/adult, $1/child) and is the only pool in a Wisconsin State Park. If it is really hot or you and the kids need a break from hiking, this a great feature. Blue Mounds is a fun, low-key park for a great weekend of hiking or biking. read more

Great state park! Tent only campsites are a bit small so we upgraded to a spot with electricity + $10./day. Showers are great! We hiked the Paradise trail which was sunny & also shaded in parts - easy walk. Dogs are permitted as long as they are on leash. Of course a family left their lab to run around the parking lot while checking in...& our campsite neighbor left food out so we were awake all night hearing the raccoons & possums fighting & scurrying around - so gross! Put your coolers & all food in your car at night people! read more

I really like this State Park. The towers are unique, we enjoy coming here during the different seasons as the landscape changes. We haven't camped here, but the trails are all maintained nicely and vary in difficulty. read more

I loved this park, I'm surprised to see the low reviews, though to be fair I came only for a day trip to hike the trails and didn't stay overnight in a campsite. But as I drove away I thought, "I should totally come back here to camp overnight". Lots of trails that are secluded - I was here on the first day of a long holiday weekend and ran into only a few other people. My only disappointment was the pool - I'm sure it was lots of fun for the people in it, but the screams and squeals of the kids can be heard well into the forest which detracts a bit from the nature experience. read more

We really liked this park. The sites are very wooded, level, and nicely spaced. Facilities are updated and clean. We enjoyed the pool and riding our bikes on the Military Ridge Trail. The view is beautiful from the two towers on top of the mound. We were pleasantly surprised by this park - it was our first visit and we didn't know what to expect. read more

Great RV camp sites. Site 36 is very wooded. Backing up the 5th wheel was a challenge, but we got it in there. We hiked all over the place too. Hills got the heart rate up. Views at the top are outstanding. I know this can't be said for every week, but we have no bugs. Loving it. So why not 5 star? We do not use the outhouses because we have an RV, but when we walk by the ones without showers, we can smell the sewage. Don't book the sites nearby. The shower house was one of the cleanest we have ever seen, so I don't why the outhouses smell. We will not hesitate to recommend this park to others. It is beautiful. read more

Blue Mounds State Park has a spectacular view from the top of the lookout tower. From ground level however, the view is mostly blocked by trees. There are lots of trials compared to other smaller parks but again unless you are high up on the mound, you will not see much of the distant scenery. In my opinion there are better parks with more features however this one is convenient as it is only a short drive from Madison WI. read more

I've not camped at Blue Mounds, but I have hiked here,walked a dog, and traveled the surrounding roads by car. The roads and the Military trail are great for biking, too. The park is located conveniently near the Village of Blue Mounds where you can find a small general store/gas station, and a couple of small bars with good breakfasts and decent pub fare, burgers, fish fry, etc. It's convenient if you're camping and not prepared to, or don't want to cook. Many state or county parks do not have provisions located near the park, like Blue Mounds. The elevation of the park with lookout towers offer fantastic views both north and south. It's worth coming in for a hike, a dip in the pool, and checking out of the vistas.To the north is a commanding view of The Wisconsin River valley. One of Wisconsin's "seven wonders, " Cave of the Mounds." is also very close by, for even more family fun. The pool is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the fee is $1.00-2.00. read more

This park is not made for big fifth wheels or motor homes. Not enough room to get the rig on the site as roads are very narrow and trees on each side. The site we were to have was very narrow on front entrance and then there was a raised "mound" in the middle so we could not get level. It would be nice if there was a note on the website advising limited room for big rigs to maneuver to get into site. We left and went to Potosi, Wisconsin. I will be sure to advise other friends well in advance. The park user fee is also a rip off. You already have paid for camping and then have to pay another fee for the park's use! Really? I truly appreciate all the more my own state parks in Iowa. read more

We camped here for 3 nights. Upon arrival it's a beautiful and scenic (Wisconsin-type) drive. The road into the park is not well maintained and definitely needs to be re-paved. The Ranger Station staff were very welcoming and have great information on what trails fit your needs/physical ability. We initially reserved a tent site. The tent sites are extremely small and the raised tent bed wouldn't fit our small four person tent. Our only other option was to place our tent on gravel. We were able to change sites to an electric site that was more spacious and accommodating. If you are looking to utilize the burn pit for cooking be aware they do have 1/4 grates in each fire pit but they are in disrepair and we found not usable or sturdy enough to hold food or cast iron. The pool on site is a few bucks per person and actually quite nice. The little ones enjoyed the splash pad...they also have plenty of chairs and numerous tanning decks with umbrellas. The major downfall to our trip was the racoon infestation. Upon arrival the Ranger tells you literally to put everything away at night...coolers included. I have never in my life heard such "coon" noise at night. My little ones are now afraid to camp and even walk outside at night. My husband, an experienced minimalist camper, said this was the worst experience he had ever had with the animals. So...beware... you are warned. read more

They used to be great but now on every trail it's no dog this no dog that. There are the largest park in Wisconsin that does not accommodate dogs. Stay away if you have a pet. read more

The electric sites are TINY. The fire ring (which was super cockeyed and had no grill) was full to the top with ashes which I had to shovel out myself because there was only one person on staff for the whole park and she was over-worked as it was. The showers were out of order (a warning on their website would have been polite). We couldn't fill our water tank in the camper completely because the ground is too sloped at the water station, and 2/3 full still took 25 minutes because the water comes out slower than I could spit. Can't purchase wood after 4pm on Saturday because the office closed then. Want to walk the trails? You will need to PURCHASE a permit, and don't even think about bringing your dog on the trails because they're not allowed. I still gave one star because the electricity at our site worked. I keep trying Wisconsin State Parks and I keep being disappointed. I'm going back to Minnesota. read more