Beloit Hike At Big Hill Park Treats To Rolling Trails And Rock River Views

 

Scenic Beloit, Wisconsin hiking trails inside the beautiful, 190-acre Big Hill Park beckon to be explored. Just as the name Big Hill Park indicates, the preserve offers nature adventurers the opportunity to wander bluffs up above the Rock River. On a recent summer day, we reveled in fantastic river views, the shade of the woodlands, and rolling trails at Big Hill Park.

Peeking at the Rock River through the joyful green leaves
of summer at Big Hill Park in Beloit, Wisconsin.

The preserve presents a variety of trails to hike. Cross-country skiing and biking are also popular in the park. We began our journey on a trail hugging the Rock River enjoying the discovery of breaks in the dense foliage for viewing the river. We found the perfect spot for a summer hike -- a trail winding beneath the shade of woodlands along a picturesque river.

Outstanding Rock River view from an overlook at Big Hill Park.

Big Hill once served as the site of a ski jump constructed in 1911 by the Beloit Ski Club which had been founded by Norwegian immigrants. The ski jump was damaged by a storm in 1916 and eventually was rebuilt in 1939. It was in use until 1959 when it was dismantled due to unreliable snowfall and diminished usage. Today at the site, visitors can bask in an amazing view from the overlook. Somehow, I have missed this on previous visits to Beloit and I was totally enthralled by the view. Spectacular!

A natural dirt trail winds through the forest.

Throughout the park you may see some elements created by the CCC in the 1930's including some stone fireplaces. It is truly amazing how many elements from the CCC still remain in our preserves today and it is equally as impressive how many of natural spaces the corps improved.

We ventured to Big Hill Park to enjoy the trails. However, the preserve also offers other activities including playground equipment, volleyball, softball, and more. The Welty Environmental Center encourages nature learning. The preserve truly has a wealth of adventures available for anyone looking for some time in nature.

Overall, we found Big Hill Park to be a delightful natural space welcoming visitors to explore and experience the wonders of nature. We delighted in hiking in the preserve and appreciated time to rejuvenate taking in forest views and lovely river vistas. We appreciated trails that wound up Big Hill as well as gentler ones along the Rock River. Big Hill Park provides a fantastic foundation for a nature escape.