Madison Originals Magazine Madison Originals Magazine February 2012 | Page 39
MadisonOriginalsMagazine.com | 39 stops. Lighting highlights the colors,
pools of water, and patterns created as
the calcium carbonate recrystallizes and
make this walk unlike any other. Think
of a drip castle you might make at the
beach, or a doughnut or a cake with a
sugar glaze frosting drizzled over the
top (or bottom)!
Two longer walks highlight the surface
features, including old oaks and karst
topography. Limestone bedrock and
sinkholes characterize karst topography.
Water dissolves the limestone beneath
the surface and then the weakened
limestone collapses, leaving sinkholes.
In other parts of the country, houses
have been swallowed by holes, some as
deep as 300 feet!
Plan your visit so you can take advantage
of both above- and below-ground features
of the site. Prior to or following the
tour, browse the shop, pan for valuable
minerals in the homemade sluiceway, dig
for fossils, or walk the geologic timeline
or prairie gardens. For beautiful spring
through fall days, barbecues and picnic
space are provided. On winter days, try
a snowy walk or post-visit ski at Blue
Mounds State Park.
Because of its location, Cave of the
Mounds is linked with the Military Ridge
bike trail, making this a great stop on a
bike ride whether you are camping with
youngsters at nearby Blue Mounds State
Park or on a country tour out of Madison.
W inter adventurers can make this a stop
before or after skiing at Tyrol Basin or
the Blue Mounds State Park trails.
With a consistent 50-degree temperature
year-round, Cave of the Mounds is a great escape from summer heat and a reasonably warm hangout in the dead of winter. Who cares if it�s dark!And don�t go alone! Cave of the Mounds staff have put together birthday party and scout badge packages. Or bring a group of adult spelunkers and enjoy a BBQ, hike, or night skiing after you visit. A historic barn provides additional classroom and event space. Call to nd out whether your event can be accommodated. Liz Wessel is the owner of Green
Concierge Travel, which has information
for honeymoons and other ecotravel at
greenconciergetravel.com.
Photographs provided by Cave of the
Mounds National Natural Landmark ,
caveofthemounds.com. All rights reserved. Cave of the Mounds (caveofthemounds.com)
Member of Travel Green Wisconsin
(travelwisconsin.com/wisconsin/
Travel-Green/Overview) WINTER TOURS (November 16�March 14)
Weekdays: available daily; call for tour
information.
Weekends: on the hour, 10:00 a.m.�4:00 p.m.
(last tour 4:00 p.m.)
Closed: anksgiving Day, Christmas Eve,
and Christmas Day SPRING TOURS (March 15�Friday before Memorial Day)
Weekdays: on the hour, 10:00 a.m.�4:00 p.m.
(last tour 4:00 p.m.)
Weekends: 30-min. intervals, 9:00 a.m.�5:00 p.m.
(last tour 5:00 p.m.) SUMMER TOURS (Memorial Day Weekend�Labor Day Weekend)
Weekdays & Weekends: 20�30 min. intervals,
9:00 a.m.�6:00 p.m. (last tour 6:00 p.m.) FALL TOURS (Tuesday after Labor Day Weekend�November 15)
Weekdays: on the hour, 10:00 a.m.�4:00 p.m.
Weekends: 30-min. intervals, 9:00 a.m.�5:00 p.m.
(last tour 5:00 p.m.)