Discover Beloit

Beloit’s recreational attractions offer a range of activities: trails and parks connected to the Rock River, as well as museums and historic art. Big Hill Park also has a cross-country ski trail. If you’re looking for hotels in Beloit, you can plan your stay around whether you’d rather spend time on river trails, enjoy winter activities, or explore the area’s culture.

Trails and parks along the Rock River

The Riverside Corridor Bike/Walking Trail is an approximately 9-mile loop. It is paved and runs along both banks of the Rock River. Its approximate length gives you a specific point of reference when choosing activities for your stay. Public art can be found along the trail. This route brings together a bike and walking path, river scenery, and art.

The Beloit Riverwalk is part of Riverside Park, which is located along the banks of the Rock River. You can rent pedal boats, kayaks, and tandem bicycles on the lagoon at Riverside Park. The park setting and rental options make Riverside Park a different kind of attraction from the paved loop: here, the lagoon and the recreational activities available there take center stage.

The John Rose Canoe and Kayak Launch in downtown Beloit provides access to the Rock River. Pedal boats, kayaks, and tandem bicycles are listed for rent on the lagoon at Riverside Park; the John Rose Launch is described as providing access to the river. When planning, you can distinguish between the specific offerings listed for each place without treating them as a single location.

Big Hill Park is situated on the bluffs of the Rock River in Beloit and has a cross-country ski trail. This offers a different outdoor experience from the paved Riverside Corridor Bike/Walking Trail, which runs along both riverbanks: Big Hill Park is defined by its bluffs and cross-country skiing, while the loop is distinguished by its length, surface, and route. These differences can help you plan activities based on the season and what you’d like to focus on.

Museums and historic sites

The Logan Museum of Anthropology is Beloit College’s center for exploring cultures around the world through more than 300,000 collection items. It continues to display the “History of Mankind” series: twelve large-scale paintings unveiled in June 1925. The paintings give a visit to the museum a specific historical context; at the same time, the museum’s subject matter extends beyond these works to encompass cultures around the world.

Two well-preserved animal-shaped earthworks are a highlight of Totem Mound Park. Rather than paintings or a collection, the focus here is on the shapes of these two earthworks. Alongside the museums, the park offers a different cultural point of interest to consider when planning your trip.

The Wright Museum of Art displays art from around the world and spanning several centuries. New exhibitions open each year in early September, December, April, and June. Specific exhibition plans may change; if a particular exhibition is important to your trip, check the dates for your travel period in advance. This broad focus on art distinguishes the museum from the Logan Museum’s collection of cultures from around the world and the earthworks at Totem Mound Park.

Explore more destinations: Janesville, Edgerton.

For the main travel overview: Rock.