Picnic Point Mound Group

Hiking

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Location: Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

Tips

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.

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Nearby routes

Best routes near Picnic Point Mound Group

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#1.

Picnic Point Marsh Loop

3.62km

00:56

20m

The Picnic Point Marsh Loop offers a delightful and easy hiking experience, winding through peaceful wooded areas and alongside a vibrant 6-acre marshland. You'll enjoy expansive views of Lake Mendota…

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