(Beckman Mill photo courtesy of Rock County Historical Society)

6 Quirky, Offbeat Southern Wisconsin Places to Snow Shoe, X-C Ski, and Hike This Winter

You don't have to visit a popular, snow covered, state park to clear the mind, burn some calories and accumulate K's (cross-country skier' slang for kilometers.) Winter is also a season when many area attractions are closed which is good news for those of you that seek quieter more personal alternatives to the usual fare of famous seasonal destinations such as Kettle Moraine State Forest or Devil's Lake. Here a handful of unusual places in southern Wisconsin that might ignite creativity, foster an appreciation for our state's history, all while getting your heart rate up.

1. Historic Public Square, Cooksville/Town of Porter

Like a scene from a postcard of a snow covered, New England village, Cooksville's Historic Public Square is trip back in time and worth a visit even if you don't plan to burn calories. Created in 1846 by Massachusetts' transplant, Dr. John Porter after his purchase of the lands from prominent Senator Daniel Webster. Dr. Porter had named his land purchase, he subdivided into 14 blocks the "Village of Waucoma" after locally named creek (current day Bad Fish creek.)

Developing around the same time and bordering the Village of Waucoma (Porter) was the town of Cooksville, founded by brothers John and Daniel Cook in the early 1840s. And true to the history of many, small towns across Wisconsin the U.S. post office played a role in the final naming of the town. The post office originally established in 1849 resided in Cooksville until 1903 served both towns.

At over 175 years old, Cooksville's Historic Public Square is one of the oldest parks in Wisconsin! Modeled after New England, "village greens' Cooksville's Historic Public Square gives visitors a glimpse of early town settlements with delightful views of the town's 160+ year old homes nestled on snowy, wooded lots to the .south along Rock Street (Hwy. 59) and west along Webster Street. While, the eastern edge of the square you cross the quiet, Quincy Street. and get close up with the town's historic Schoolhouse now home to the Cooksville Community Center,

According to Cooksville's National Park Service application for historic designation, "The public square is entirely open on the south half but on the north side is covered with a grove of oak trees. At the northernmost side, the heavy, undisturbed undergrowth around these trees completely obscures the street on the north side of the square—a portion of Dane Street—quite effectively isolating the two houses in that block."

2. Milton House, Milton

Yes you can snowshoe step into the hallowed grounds of history The Milton House, a hotel and one of the best preserved and remaining vestiges of the Underground Railroad which ran right through downtown Milton thanks in part to its' abolitionist, founder Joseph Goodrich. Equally impressive is the most prominent element of the old stagecoach hotel, the hexagonal, shaped structure dating back more than 175 years. Like Dr. Porter in Cooksville, Goodrich was an East-coaster with a vision of building a new community from the ground up in the sparsely populated, rural "territory" of Wisconsin. Ironically, Goodrich set about to establish his town of Milton (1841), abolitionist rooted and strict Baptist doctrine on U.S. government land essentially, forcibly taken away from the local populations of Sauk, or Ho-Chunk. In 1998 the Milton House Museum was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Not only can you traverse around the Milton House property and hotel in solitude but if you're really ambitious the Ice Age trail is nearby which connects Milton to Janesville.

3. Beckman Mill, Beloit area

Situated among a 50 acre park of wetlands, woods and garden the Beckman Mill is the ideal setting for outdoor active, families to time travel back to winter in mid-19th century, southern Wisconsin. Built in 1868, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places the Beckman Mill property is comprised of several buildings including an 1840s cooperage, creamery, and blacksmith What's more, the Beckman Mill does not open its' doors to the public until May 2021 meaning you have many uncrowded opportunities to be up and close to all the historic structures on the property.

Beckman Mill County Park is open year round to the public.

4. Airport Park, Janesville

Just 10 minutes from I-39/I-90, this tiny park a mere 2 acres in total, offers a thrill like no other park. Get close up and personal view of planes taking off and landing at Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport.while you traverse the snow or stop for sip of hot chocolate from your thermos.

5. Leonard Leota Lake Park, Evansville

In the heart of downtown Evansville, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Leonard Leota Park is a quirky, fairyland or fancier, miniature golf-esque collection of small canals, and bridges with wooded overlook of Leota Lake. The lake itself is 40-acres and may offer hiking, snowshoeing opportunities as well, but check with the locals first. Know where the soft spots, or flowing water is, and what the fisherman are putting out there this time of year. If the anglers are getting ATVs out there chances are the ice is safe but still use caution and search for common used entry points to the lake which are generally the safest.

Lastly, good news the park is closed for the season so you will have even more room to spread out in and explore. You'll notice a number of fisherman's pickup trucks parked along Andres St just off Madison Street as they use the Leonord Leota Park's main entrance (closed) to bring their fishing gear in. This is a great access point to park and unload your gear from. Or you can go one block west to Grace Street where other trucks are parked and access the park from the top of the wooded hill on the west side.

6. The LABYRINTH on Lake Monona, Madison

For the last few years various Madison artists have constructed temporary installations from discarded Christmas trees on Lake Monona 2022 marks the first year for local artist Lillian Sizemore. Her 89-foot diameter temporary walking LABYRINTH constructed from recycled holiday tree branches received a blessing and city of Madison Blink! grant for her ephemeral installation on Lake Monona off the shore from Olbrich Park. At the core of the labyrinth is a  a central roundel or“The Moss Mound” within the labyrinth where visitors are invited to leave off a small, natural offering, perhaps as a blessing or remembrance, elevating the community spirit of the installation.

"Groups are encouraged to come together and walk. The project highlights the cycle of life through the re-use of the humble Holiday tree. When the labyrinth project is over, the branches will be collected, chipped, and used for mulching Wisconsin’s summer blueberry crops," says the Sizemore press release. The Labyrinth is open from January 30th through the month of February, 2022. Please note the site installation is more popular on the weekends. Use the boat launches or shoreline of Olbrich Park access.

Wisconsin DOT's 511

For up to the minute winter driving conditions in southern Wisconsin visit the Wisconsin

DOT's 511 Wisconsin or call 511 or (866) 511-9472.