In southern Wisconsin, a gorgeous ATV route is arguably the best “whey” to experience the beauty of the countryside. The Cheese Country Multiple-Use Recreation Trail is a 47-mile trail that passes through the heart of dairy country and farms that produce the milk used for Wisconsin’s famously delicious cheese.
The trail is open to ATV and UTV riders and it’s a popular trail for riders looking to cruise through a long stretch of gorgeous countryside. At the end of the trail, you’ll find the delicious product of the dairy farms you passed: cheese curds!
Read on to see why the Cheese Country Trail is so popular.
The trail meanders through parts of three counties and travels from Mineral Point to Monroe, which is known as “Cheese City USA” and “The Gateway to Cheese County.”
Alltrails Kevin Barba
The route cuts through Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, a region missed by the last glacier. It passes ancient rocky bluffs and rolling hills. The riding is unforgettable!
Travel Wisconsin
The trail is on the bed of an old railroad - the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad, which ceased operation in 1980. Because the trail is on a rail bed, the riding is flat and appropriate for all levels.
Lafayette County
The northern trailhead is located in Mineral Point, a historic community that was founded as a mining town. A railroad museum is housed in an 1856 building near the trailhead.
Alltrails / Sam Meeker
There are a number of trails and road routes that connect or are near the trail, including the Pecatonica State Trail, another ATV/snowmobile trail that runs 10 miles west to Belmont.
Tri-County ATV Club
You’ll pass through the old mining town of Gratiot and the historic community of Darlington - both are good places to enjoy a rest stop and grab some food or fuel.
Alltrails / Sam Meeker
Save your appetite though for the end of the trail. Monroe has some great taverns serving cold local beer and heaping baskets of cheese curds. After this journey, you’ve earned it!
Facebook / Buggyworks Restaurant and Pub
While the trail is popular with ATV riders, it’s also open to bicyclists, equestrian riders, walkers, and joggers. If you’re not using a motorized vehicle, you might be happier on one of the nearby silent sports trails. Be sure to check the trail conditions before you head out. Some users of the Cheese Country Trail are required to purchase a Cheese Country Recreation Trail sticker.
Alltrails Kevin Barba
Travel Wisconsin
Lafayette County
Alltrails / Sam Meeker
Tri-County ATV Club
Facebook / Buggyworks Restaurant and Pub
It’s required for motorcycles, mopeds, golf carts, and dirt bikes, as well as bicyclists and horseback riders aged 18 and older. ATVs and UTVs are not required to have a Cheese Country sticker, although they do need a Wisconsin DNR registration sticker.
Looking for more adventure in Wisconsin? Head to the Northwoods and see what an Argo ATV can do.
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Address: Cheese Country Trail Head Monroe WI, Monroe, WI 53566, USA
