Please go to https://www.friendsofbluemound.org/

  

Just Published

From the early days of horse racing at the top of the Mound and the Pleasure Valley Ski Resort, learn about the origin of this special place through the lens of the park’s longtime naturalist, Al Swain. Swain takes the reader on an interpretive guided journey through the tapestry of unique trails that traverse through woods and prairie and comprise an ecosystem that is unmatched in the region.

Pick up a copy of this book at the park office or order it online from Little Creek Press.

The park office will be open Saturdays and Sundays 9AM-5PM through the middle of October.

Saturday, August 28th was our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Horribly Hilly Hundreds bike event. It was a hot but beautiful day and many bikers completed the grueling course.  Thanks to all who volunteered and all who participated!

 Summer is in full swing at the park. 

The pool/splash pad is open Sunday-Thursday 11AM-6PM, Friday and Saturday 11AM-7PM

Check out the weekend programs on our calendar page.

FREE MUSIC series on Saturday evenings this summer at the outdoor

amphitheater at the top of the Mound.  Check the schedule here. 

The Friends of Blue Mound State Park plan to replace our aging, undersized, poorly placed woodshed with a multipurpose building to supply firewood and ice to park visitors without getting in the way of the park entry gates.  We are actively seeking donations from individuals or organizations that would like to be part of this project. Thank you for considering. (The Friends of Blue Mound State Park is a 501(c)(3) non-profit so donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.)

Proposed plan for woodshed

 

As we transition from this wonderful winter to spring at Blue Mound State Park there will be many interesting things happening.  The melting snow wakes up thousands of spring flowers. These small flowers, called ephemerals for their fleeting appearances, decorate the forest floor from late March to late May.  Below is a link to an identification page.  ( Note: the Hepatica in the park is Triloba, with smooth leaf edges and white to lavender flowers).  Remember, these plants are for viewing only, do not pick the flowers or dig them up.  Some are more abundant in the eastern part of the park than in the poorer soils on the Upper Mound.  Enjoy your visit to the park this spring.

Spring Ephemerals

 

Blue Mound State Park is known for its superb cross country skiing. The park often gets more snow than the surrounding area and the snow lasts longer.

For the latest trail conditions check out the Madnorski website.

Fat tire biking and snowshoeing are also popular at the park.  For bike trail conditions check out the Madcitydirt website.

Virtual Birkie

Blue Mound State Park has been selected as a virtual host location for the American Birkebeiner, Kortelopet, and Prince Haakon. The dates are between Feb. 20th thru Feb. 28th. The long range weather forecast looks great for maintaining all the trails in good condition. You can find more information in the links below.

https://www.birkie.com/ski/events/virtual-events/

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/outwigo

 Here are a couple of recent projects of the Friends of Blue Mound State Park:

The entrance station/office building now has solar panels.

The park has a new entrance sign.

Looking ahead to the Friends' major fundraiser in 2021, the Horribly Hilly Hundreds Bike Event

Given the current and continued uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the scope of the Horrible Hilly Hundreds (HHH) event, and coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, it is unlikely we will be able to hold the HHH event in June 2021. Therefore, the Friends of Blue Mound State Park Board (FBMSP) has decided to move the date of the 2021 HHH to Saturday, August 28, 2021. We are hopeful that by late spring 2021 we will have an indication of Wisconsin State Park policies for the summer, allowing enough time to organize an August event. We will share updates on registration, lottery, and ride details as information becomes available.

Wishing you good health and tailwinds,

FBMSP

While you're at the park take a hike on the Indian Marker Trail

The campground is now open with special conditions to ensure the safety of staff and visitors. The swimming pool, splash pad and observation towers are closed until further notice due to COVID-19.

Spring is a great time to take a hike in the park and look for wildflowers.

The park is now open.  Please practice social distancing.

Update on the Horribly Hilly Hundreds Bike Event:

 Given the uncertainty surrounding the phased reopening of businesses, community gatherings, etc., we regret to inform you that, after careful consideration of our cyclist’s safety and the health of our community, volunteers, spectators, and event staff, we will not be holding the Horribly Hilly Hundreds (HHH) event on Saturday, June 20, 2020. Due to unknown factors associated with the COVID-19 virus, the HHH will NOT be rescheduled for a future date in 2020.

We appreciate the continued support of participants, volunteers, spectators, and event staff for HHH, the flagship fundraising event hosted by Friends of Blue Mound State Park. All proceeds from this annual event benefit year round programming and projects at Blue Mound State Park, a gem of a park! We look forward to seeing you in the park soon and back next June for the 2021 Horribly Hilly Hundreds.

Stay safe, be healthy

The mound has snow!

And people are skiing.

The mountain bike and snowshoe trails are beckoning.

Fall and winter are great times to visit the park. The mountain bike trails make for good hiking when there is no snow.

January is the time to become a member of the Friends of Blue Mound State Park or to renew your membership.

On Sunday, June 23, the Summit Players performed Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet for an appreciative audience in the Friends Shelter. (Moved to the indoor shelter because of threatening weather.)

On Saturday, June 15 the Friends hosted another successful Horribly Hilly Hundreds bike event - our chief fundraiser of the year. 

Thank you to the many volunteers and all the tough participants!

In between polar vortices, rainstorms, warm meltdown days, and ice cover there has been some excellent skiing, snowshoeing and fat tire biking at the Mound!

If you are concerned about a possible snowmobile trail through the park plan to attend the initial public meeting Tuesday, March 12, for the revision of the master plan for the park. See calendar page for location.

You can also submit comments using the online public input form here.

Our February Candlelight Ski, Snowshoe or Hike was thoroughly enjoyed by those who braved the fog and came.

Thanks to the volunteers who spent hours setting up and lighting candles and kept the fire going.

New: The Friends have provided a bike repair stand at the mountain bike trailhead. Thanks to the Friends board advisory member Gary for his suggestion and research.

One of the Friends' latest projects has been getting solar panels installed on the Friends Shelter. They are up and running now.

The hot and humid weather made for a very challenging 2018 Horribly Hilly Hundreds Bike Event on Saturday, June 16th. Congratulations to all the participants and thanks to all the volunteers. Thanks for making it a safe and memorable HHH. The HHH is a major fundraiser for the Friends of Blue Mound State Park.

Here are some photos from the County K rest stop.