- Miles: 39
- Road Surface: paved
- Terrain: varies from moderately hilly, to very hilly, to level
This route shows off everything I love about southwest Wisconsin. The Linden Railroad passed through what is now State Road 39, carrying lead ore from Linden to Mineral Point and beyond. It's a beautiful winding valley, with gentle grades, spring-fed creeks, and forests. Sunnyslope Rd coasts between large family farms boasting expanses of corn and soybean fields. Sinbad Rd is brutal. If you want hills, these are hills. But don't despair. If you work up enough speed on the downhill, that will get you a long way up the next rise. Black Hawk Lake is a little used jewel, rarely visited by anyone but locals. The winding roads back from Black Hawk Lake to Dodgeville are through the astonishing Wyoming Valley - with swaths of heavily forested land, interspersed with more farms. This is the country that Frank Lloyd Wright loved. Stop in Dodgeville for a break, if you like, then continue on the new bike path back to Mineral Point, enjoying the view from the elevated ridge.
Directions:
Outbound
- From the intersection of Ridge and Fountain in Mineral Point, go west on State Highway 39 to Sunnyslope Drive (6 miles - moderately hilly. Generally not much traffic on this road.)
- Turn right (north) on Sunnyslope Drive to US-18 (3.5 miles – mostly level. Even less traffic on this road.)
- Turn left (west) on US-18 (.5 miles) to Sinbad Rd. (level. Watch for traffic. This is a busy state highway. Stay in the bike lane on the right side of the road.)
- Turn right (north) on Sinbad Rd. to Mt. Hope Rd. (2.5 miles – steep hills. A great workout! Very few cars, if any).
- Turn left (west on Mount Hope Rd. Follow the signs to Black Hawk Lake (.5 miles - numerous beautiful places to stop, hike, rest, gaze.)
Return
- North on Mt Hope Rd to County Q (.2 miles - hilly)
- Turn right onto County Q (1 mile - hilly)
- Turn slight left onto County M (5.1 miles - hilly)
- Turn slight right onto State Road 130 (1.7 miles - mostly level)
- Turn right onto State Road 23, and continue into and through Dodgeville (9 miles - level, traffic, stay in bicycle lanes)
- At the south end of Dodgeville, access the bicycle path. Take the bicycle path to Mineral Point (11 miles - mostly level)
Other notes of interest along the route:
- To add a bit more to your ride, visit at Governor Dodge State Park as you swing down State Road 23. Two large lakes boast beaches for swimming.
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