Mauston on the Lemonweir River

Mauston is located on the Lemonweir River. If you’re looking for a hotel in Mauston, local trails, parks and historic sites offer specific ways to plan your stay. The Riverwalk focuses attention on the river; the parks offer activities ranging from fishing to sledding, and the Boorman House adds a historic touch.

River trails and connections to downtown

The Riverwalk – Mauston is a paved trail or boardwalk along the north and south sides of the Lemonweir River. A recreation plan dated late 2017 gives the total trail length, including the connecting sections, as about 1.3 miles. This figure therefore refers to the full route described, not just one section along the riverbank.

The Gateway Ave Multi-use Path is about 1 mile long and connects Mauston’s hotel corridor with the Riverwalk and downtown. It passes under Interstate 90/94 and runs along the south side of Gateway Avenue and McEvoy Street. Based on these approximate figures, the Riverwalk is slightly longer. The trails also differ in purpose: the Riverwalk follows the river, while the Gateway path connects the hotel corridor with the Riverwalk and downtown.

Parks with a variety of activities

Riverside Park is located on Mansion Street next to Mauston City Hall and Lake Decorah; it has a fishing pier. May Park has trails with overlooks on the bluffs and disc golf; in winter, a hill is used for sledding. Lions Park-Grayside has pickleball courts. Oakridge Park is a dog park with separate areas for dogs. This makes it possible to distinguish the parks by the activities you’re interested in, rather than treating them as interchangeable destinations.

Marachowsky Park, also called Living Food Pantry, adds another specific activity: visitors can pick fruit from 25 fruit trees, including apples, cherries, pears and peaches. Fruit picking differs from the trails, sports and fishing offered at the other parks and provides a distinct perspective on the area’s green spaces.

History and geographical surroundings

The Boorman House at 211 N. Union St. is a Victorian mansion built in 1876 and home to the Juneau County Historical Society. The year 1876 refers to when it was built, while “Victorian” describes its architectural style. The Historical Society’s presence in the house also connects the building with local historical work.

Mauston is also close to Petenwell Lake and Castle Rock Lake. Petenwell Lake is Wisconsin’s second-largest lake, and Castle Rock Lake is the fourth-largest. These rankings show how the two lakes compare with other lakes in the state; geographically, they are also a different point of reference from the Lemonweir River, where Mauston is located.

For the broader travel overview: Juneau County.