The Cheese Country Trail southwestern Wisconsin follows a former rail line that meanders between valleys. The 47-mile trail travels from Monroe in Green County across neighboring Lafayette County and towards Mineral Point in Iowa County. Mineral Point is one of the oldest settlements in Wisconsin. Along the route riders will pass old mining towns like Calamine, Gratiot and South Wayne, as well a 440-foot trestle spanning the Pecatonica River, west of Browntown. The trail is accessible to riders of all abilities and open year-round when not covered in snow. In Darlington, riders can stop for a meal, refuel and explore the historic downtown with its landmark sandstone courthouse.The trail is accessible to riders of all abilities and open year-round when not covered in snow. There is no fee for ATV riders; however, riders on dirt bikes, mopeds, motorcycles, bicycles and other vehicles must pay a user fee, as of 2010.
Monroe, made famous for making cheese, was founded in 1845, and it's home to the oldest continually operated brewery in the Midwest. It is also home to the Cheese Country Trail trailhead, located at theintersection of 21st Street and 4th Avenue West. The City of Monroe has designated specific routes within its city limits for ATV and other vehicle use. These routes help connect riders with the trailhead. There are also a number of options for riders to have a meal or purchase fuel before accessing the trail (a map of accessible routes in the city is included in the "Resources" section). Riders should note that riding in the city is not permitted from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. --- because of noise complaints it illegal to use altered muffler systems.
From the Cheese Country Trail, riders can easily connect to other trails in the neighboring county of Lafayette, west of Monroe. The 10-mile Pecatonica State Trail allows riders to explore the picturesque Bonner Branch Valley between Calamine and Belmont. Also along the Cheese Country Trail, about halfway between Calamine and Darlington, riders can travel through club trails that web out into the east. This trail system takes riders to towns of Fayette, Blanchardville, Lamont and Wiota.
