Local Attractions
Stewart Tunnel
Each year thousands of visitors discover Belleville’s unique charm, festivals, recreational resources and nature habitats. Belleville is a small community abounding with friendly, warmhearted people always willing to share their downtown, trails and parks, and newly refurbished lake.
Recreation
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Rare Prothonotary Warbler
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Sugar River through Belleville
Beautiful Lake Belle View and the Sugar River offer a variety of recreational activities for all ages and abilities, including the following:
- Walking / Bicycling – Paths include the Badger State Trail and a 3,130-foot lake/river berm path through the wetlands. The Badger State Trail features the one-of-a-kind Stewart Tunnel just three miles south of Belleville. Trail passes are now sold at Belleville Public Library. For details, visit the Belleville Public Library site.
- Fishing / Ice fishing – Offered in both the restocked lake (fish catch and release only at this time) and Sugar River.
- Canoeing / Kayaking – In addition to above or below dam canoeing and kayaking, the restored lake features a canoe loop through the floodplain forest islands.
- Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing along the path and trails. Badger State Trail also allows snowmobiling.
- Swimming – Swimming in the lake is at your own risk. Please be aware of lake depths, as it is 9 feet deep in places. A sprint triathlon using the lake is held annually on Labor Day Weekend. See the Race Day Events site for more information.
- Nature observation – Many rare species have been found throughout the area, including Blanding’s turtles, Prothonotary warblers, eagles, and rare plants. The area also serves as a migration corridor. The acquisition and restoration of the rare floodplain forest wetland system is a major focus of the expanded project. The WI-DNR’s website states the importance of areas like this: “The extensive floodplain forests, together with their associated large river systems, are major repositories of native diversity. Additional protection of floodplain and river systems is needed, taking into account their statewide and continental significance.” As such, the Lake Belle View / Sugar River restoration area has great regional and statewide significance.
- Sports and music recreation – The Community Park offers pavilions, playground equipment, restrooms, a ball field, and a wide grassy area for free play. It also hosts picnics and concerts. See the Chamber site for a list of events.
Badger State Trail
Trail passes are now sold at Belleville Public Library.
Green County Tourism Site
Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau
Belleville's Recreation Areas
This map will show you what you can do in Belleville's parks, and the locations of water, bike and nature trails.
Public Recreation Areas of Greater Belleville Area
This map will show you water, bike and nature trails in the greater Belleville area. Maps courtesy of Dane County Land & Water Resources Department.
