Pleasant Valley Conservancy is in the Town of Vermont in western Dane County, Wisconsin. The address of the Trailhead is 4554 Pleasant Valley Road, Black Earth, WI 53515. This address can be used to find the Preserve in either Google Maps.

See below for bicycling directions

Directions: The Conservancy is 5.5 miles southwest of the Village of Black Earth. Head south from the center of Black Earth on County Highway F/Wisconsin 78. Turn right at County F/County KP/Madison Street. Go about 1.1 miles on County F/KP and turn left on F. Go 3.7 miles to Pleasant Valley Road, which enters from the left. Turn left on Pleasant Valley Road. The preserve will be on both sides of Pleasant Valley Road. To reach the trail entrance, continue past the buildings and the steep hillside to Fire # 4554 on your left (about ¾ mile east on Pleasant Valley Road from the junction with County F). Cars should be parked off the road facing the entrance.

Driving time from the west side of Madison or from Middleton is about 45 minutes.

To reach the Village of Black Earth from the Madison Beltline Highway: Go north on the Beltline (U.S. 12 and 14) to Middleton, Wisconsin and take the U.S. 14 exit going west. Continue on U.S. 14 to the Village of Black Earth.

Alternate Route from the West Town Area of Madison: Take Mineral Point Road west past the Beltline. Continue west 6.1 miles to the junction of Mineral Point Rd and County Highway P (community of Pine Bluff). Continue straight at this junction on West Mineral Point Road 3.9 miles to Wisconsin 78. Turn right (north) on W78 and continue north for 4.5 miles to County Highway JJ. Left on JJ 0.5 miles to Blue Mounds Trail. Right on Blue Mounds Trail for 2 miles to the junction with Pleasant Valley Road. Right on Pleasant Valley Road for 1 mile to the entrance to the Conservancy on the right (Fire # 4554).

From the west on US Highways 18/151: Drive east to Blue Mounds, Wisconsin and turn left on County Highway F. Follow F through the village and north for about 8 miles to the junction with County FF. Continue on F (turn right) for about 0.3 mile to Pleasant Valley Road. Turn right on Pleasant Valley Road, go past the buildings to the Conservancy entrance on the left about 0.6 miles (Fire # 4554).

If the snow permits, Pleasant Valley Conservancy is an excellent site for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Although trails are not groomed, snow conditions are often suitable. It takes an hour or two to reach the Overlook where the view is superb.

Use your bicycle to visit Pleasant Valley Conservancy

It's best to drive with your bike to the Village of Black Earth and begin your bike tour there. There is a nice village park (Veteran's Memorial Park) where you can get set, and you can park your car in the shade on Park Street.

From Black Earth go west on County F/KP and take County F at the tee intersection about a mile west. Continue on County F about 4.5 miles until you reach Pleasant Valley Road, which starts at your left. You are now on Pleasant Valley Conservancy land on both sides of the road. Enjoy the great prairie remnant on your left, and the extensive wetland on your right. Travel about 3/4 mile until you reach the Conservancy entrance (Fire # 4554). Lock your bike to the substantial rack and walk on the marked trail through the prairie and up into the savanna.

NOTE: Bicycles are not permitted on Pleasant Valley Conservancy hiking trails!