Pittsville: Trails, Water and Local History

In Pittsville, you’ll find several ways to shape your stay: activities at Riverside Park, trails and wildlife watching at Dexter County Park, and insights into local history. When choosing your vacation rental, first consider what you’d like your vacation to focus on: outdoor recreation, water activities, nature, or history.

Activities at Riverside Park

Riverside Park in Pittsville offers tennis, basketball, kayaking, canoeing, disc golf, fishing, and a walking path. There are a variety of activities to choose from: you can focus on sports, time on the water, fishing, or a walk. If you like to plan varied days, you can think of the park as a destination with several different activity options.

Trails, Wilderness, and Lake Dexter

The hiking and biking trails at Dexter County Park include three loops: 1.75 miles, 3.75 miles, and 5.25 miles. The longest loop is therefore three times as long as the shortest, with the middle distance in between. If you’d like to include a loop in your day’s plans, you can use these specific lengths as a guide. The distances refer to the loops and are useful for comparing the trail lengths on offer.

The park encompasses more than 1,000 acres of wild, undeveloped land, with numerous trails and many opportunities for wildlife viewing. This offers a different focus from the sports and water activities at Riverside Park: here, the emphasis is on expansive natural areas, trails, and wildlife watching. Dexter County Park also has two boat ramps on Lake Dexter. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you’d mainly like to hike and bike, watch wildlife, or include the lake in your plans.

Local History and Community Life

The Pittsville Area Historical Society museum complex includes seven buildings. The Scranton School is located on the grounds. Visitors can ring the bell today by pulling the rope; the original bell is on display inside the school. Ringing the bell is a hands-on experience at the museum grounds and adds a tangible connection to school history alongside the historic buildings.

The Heart and Sole Race is also part of community life in Pittsville. The annual event is hosted by the Pittsville Fire Company. If you’re interested in local events as well as nature and local history, the race is another aspect of the town to explore. As it is an annual event, be sure to check the edition of the race that corresponds to your specific travel dates.

Which focus suits your trip?

When searching for a vacation rental, your decision may come down to whether you’d like to experience Pittsville as an active destination or focus on its local history.

Other destinations to research on your own include Hixton and Black River Falls.

For the broader travel overview: Jackson County.