Discover Lafayette County

Lafayette County combines impressive landscapes with the history of mining, railroads, and regional development. Those planning a trip with nature experiences and cultural attractions will find a range of options here: the rolling terrain of the Driftless Area, historic buildings, hiking trails, bodies of water, and unusual museums. When choosing a vacation rental or holiday home, it is therefore worth deciding early on the pace you want for your trip: should the journey focus primarily on scenery and activity, or are museums, historic sites, and local discoveries the main priorities?

Rolling Landscapes and Trails

Yellowstone Lake State Park is located in the Driftless region of southwestern Wisconsin. The Yellowstone Wildlife Area offers another characteristic landscape: the 4,000-acre area is part of the Southwest Savanna Ecoregion and is characterized by hilly terrain. It offers opportunities for hunting, trapping, and fishing, as well as 30 miles of horseback riding trails.

The regional trails also tell a story. The Pecatonica State Trail follows a former Milwaukee Road railway line that once transported lead through this valley. The Cheese Country Trail is a 47-mile-long, developed rail-trail running from Mineral Point to Monroe. It passes through farmland and wooded ridges in Iowa, Lafayette, and Green Counties. In winter, a snowmobile club prepares it for multiple uses. When choosing vacation accommodation, it can therefore be important to consider whether you are planning to travel during a season focused on hiking, horseback riding, or winter trail use.

Water Activities and Active Days

Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area offers 8 miles of hiking trails. It also has a universal kayak launch with an accessible access path, transfer benches, handrails, and guide rails for launching the boat, as well as a 150-foot-long sandy beach for swimming. Those who want to combine water and trails can take these options into account when planning their trip without structuring the day around just one activity.

Dougherty Creek is a 16-mile-long trout stream that flows through Green and Lafayette Counties. The Pecatonica River runs through Argyle, where boat launches are located above and below the dam. About 3 miles east of Argyle on Highway 81 is the Toy Train Barn Museum. It features interactive model railway layouts and a real railroad with a 12-inch gauge, on which visitors can ride across wooden trestle bridges.

History to See and Experience

In Darlington, Main Street forms the center of the city. Six picturesque blocks are home to shops, churches, museums, government buildings, and other facilities. The Driver Opera House was built in 1883 by Josephus Driver. Tours take place every Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saxton House was Robert M. La Follette’s childhood home from 1862 to 1870; a tour can be arranged by email.

The Lafayette County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 under number 78000114. First Capitol comprises restored buildings dating from 1836, including the Council House and the First Capitol Court House. At the Badger Mine & Museum, visitors descend 51 steps during a tour into a hand-excavated mine dating from 1827. Early mining tools, ore samples, and recreated shops and exhibits from a historic mining town illustrate the extraction of lead there using pickaxes, wedges, and black powder.

Regional Impressions for Trip Planning

The Darlington Farmers Market offers regional specialties, organic foods, vegetables, handicrafts, soaps, baked goods, and fruit. This allows visitors to complement their stay with local products in addition to landscapes and history. Those looking for accommodation can weigh their priorities against one another: trails and nature attractions are suited to a more active itinerary, while Darlington, museums, and historic buildings provide a cultural focus. A vacation rental or holiday home should above all match the planned daily destinations and the desired balance between exploration and relaxation.

As another destination in the direct page overview, you can also discover Belmont.

More destinations in the same overview: Waukesha, Lincoln County, Marquette County, Trempealeau County, Dodge County, Rusk County, Barron County.

To the higher-level travel overview: Wisconsin.