Export to Trail Guide
Create Guidebook 
Download GPX 
Print Friendly MapMost suited for ATVers, snowmobilers and motorized trail-bikers, the Cheese Country Recreation Trail, also knowns as the Tri-County Trail, spans 47-miles through Wisconsin’s rugged Driftless Area. On dirt, crushed stone and gravel surfaces, non-motorized users on foot or bike might find this trail difficult. Some areas areas have deep mud or dust while other sections are rutted or deeply graveled. Motorized traffic is heaviest on weekends.
About the Route
The Cheese Country Recreation Trail’s northwestern endpoint is at Commerce St & Old Darlington Rd (Mineral Point). Adjacent to the trail entrance is the Old Railroad Depot Museum, built in 1856 and the oldest in the state. A historic mining village, the town is rich with artists’ studios and galleries, restored homes, restaurants, and bed-and-breakfasts.
Heading south from Mineral Point, the trail follows Brewery Creek, winding through a mix of forest and farmland for about 9 miles before reaching Calamine, a small village where the trail connects to the Pecatonica State Trail. The next town, 6 miles further south, is Darlington, and has dining and convenience options. South of Darlington, the trail snakes through wooded ridges and farmland and begins to curve eastward. The old mining town of Gratiot, more or less in the middle of the trail, offers and a good place for a break at the local restaurants and shops.
In Browntown, the trail crosses a 440-foot trestle bridge, whose stone supports have been around since the 1880s. East from Browntown, the trail passes the lakes of the Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area. Here the trail begins to gain altitude on an incline heading east to Monroe, the easternmost town on the trail, which bills itself as the “Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA.” The Cheese Country Recreation Trail’s southeastern endpoint is at W 21st St & Fourth Ave W (Monroe). The trailhead is just 0.2 mile from the Badger State Trail and 0.7 mile from the National Historic Cheesemaking Center, both east on 21st Street.
Connections
In Calamine, the trail connects to the Pecatonica State Trail, another ATV/snowmobile route. From the endpoint in Monroe, a connection is available to the Badger State Trail 0.2 miles east on W 21 St.
Trail History
The Cheese Country Recreation Trail follows a corridor of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, which used the line until 1980. In addition to the graded route between Monroe and Mineral Point, the railroad left behind dozens of bridges, including the 440-foot Browntown trestle, whose stone supports date to the 1880s.
The Cheese Country Recreation Trail runs between Commerce St. & Old Darlington Rd. (Mineral Point) and W 21st St. & Fourth Ave. W (Monroe), with parking available at both endpoints.
Parking is also available at:
These are approximate addresses. There are numerous parking options along this route, see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Note: Cheese Country Recreation Trail stickers are required for motorcycles, mopeds, golf carts, and dirt bikes, as well as bicyclists and horseback riders ages 18 and older. ATVs and UTVs are not required to have a Cheese Country sticker, although they do need an in-state DNR registration sticker. For information, go to https://www.lafayettecountywi.org/trails/page/trail-passes
Road Mineral to calamine and back on a ebike with 1.5" tires at 45psi. Scenic but rather brutal ride. Sections are ok but then you come across sections that are really rough. The atvs go fast relative to a bike rider plus generate lots of dust and noise. I would not recommend it for biking.
Replace a bridge, with breaker rock up a 20 foot embankment. Where did the insurance money go? Close the tunnel, let land owners destroy the trail south of Monroe (driveways and drainage tubes). Please, who ever is in charge, QUIT.
I live in Darlington and this trail is near my house so it’s nice for me to go during week and just bike to path. I rarely see any ATVs ironically, but I try to go on days/hours they may not be there. ATV riders though are respectful and I slow down or stop if big group goes by. This trail is doable with a mountain bike. I gave it 4 stars since the trail is getting pretty rutty probably due to all the rain we are having, mixed with the motorized vehicles on it.
I rode just part this trail today on my electric fat tired bike (Monroe to South Wayne and back). Most of the trail is gravel/crushed limestone. I’m afraid if I didn’t have the fat tires it could have very difficult. It was a little rough also. Overall it was a beautiful ride, I just had to be very careful. It was a weekday and I didn’t see anyone else.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy
(a non-profit) and we need your support!
