Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Picnic Point Mound Group

Picnic Point Mound Group

Highlight • Historical Site

Picnic Point Mound Group

Hiking

5.0

(4)

Save

Location: Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

Save

See nearby routes

Take Me There

Tips

Tyler Sanders

March 11, 2024

Hiking

Around 2,000 years ago, local inhabitants initiated the burial of their dead in the sacred mounds that scatter across the Point. At one time, Picnic Point boasted seven mounds, but relic hunters destroyed one mound before 1912. Today, the Preserve harbors numerous burial mounds and other ancient archaeological sites, reflecting the rich history and cultural significance of the area.

UrbanExolorer_Mando

June 7, 2025

Hiking

Picnic Point Mound Group (DA121)
The sixth extant mound is a large hemispherical form visible on your right just before you reach The Narrows (where the main trail dips near the beach).

UrbanExolorer_Mando

June 7, 2025

Hiking

There are four “extant” (still visible) mound groups you can visit on the main campus, all but one of them located within the boundaries of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Recently these mound groups were surveyed and entered in a special burial sites catalog maintained by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The label associated with each location includes a number used in the state Archaeological Site Inventory (ASI) maintained by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The site surveys establish a 25-foot preservation buffer around the mounds.

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Nearby routes

Best routes near Picnic Point Mound Group

5.0

(1)

hikers

#1.

Picnic Point Marsh Loop

3.62km

00:56

20m

Embark on the Picnic Point Marsh Loop, an easy hike spanning 2.2 miles (3.6 km) with a gentle 73 feet (22 metres) of elevation gain, typically completed in about 56…

Navigate with device

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

5.0

(3)

hikers

#2.

Lake Mendota – Lakeshore Nature Preserve loop from University of Wisconsin-Madison

2.82km

00:43

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate with device

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

5.0

(2)

hikers

#3.

Lakeshore Nature Preserve – Lake Mendota loop from University of Wisconsin-Madison

2.78km

00:42

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate with device

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

Details

Informations

Elevation 260 m

Weather

Today

Friday 8 May

20°C

6°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See nearby routes

Take Me There

Location: Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

Other Popular Places to Check Out

University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum

Lower Yahara River Trail

Sunset Beach at Picnic Point (UW Lakeshore Preserve)

Willow Drive Effigy Mounds (University Creek Group)

Tent Colony Woods

Raymer’s Cove Parking & Trailhead – UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve

Stricker's Pond

Hoyt Park

Kathy Mosher Bench, Benson Wilderness Area

John and Pam McNelly Bench With Lake View – Tent Colony Forest, Lakeshore Nature Preserve

Ho Nee Um Pond

Red Panda at Henry Vilas Zoo

Picnic Point Mound Group

#1.

Picnic Point Marsh Loop

#2.

Lake Mendota – Lakeshore Nature Preserve loop from University of Wisconsin-Madison

#3.

Lakeshore Nature Preserve – Lake Mendota loop from University of Wisconsin-Madison

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️