Badger State Trail
The Badger Trail connects to the Capital City , Military Ridge, and Sugar River state trails; Madison bikeway system; Capital Springs and New Glarus Woods state parks; Albany State Wildlife Area; Ice Age National Scenic Trail; 13 communities in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois; and numerous local parks.
The Badger State Trail is part of the Wisconsin State Trail System officially known as the Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System. It is one of Wisconsin's newer trails (celebrated it's first birthday in July of 2008), traversing about 40 miles of southern Wisconsin's most picturesque countryside (much of it in Green County) on its way from the Illinois border up to Madison (note that not all of the Madison end of the trail is complete yet) with a connection to the Capital City Trail.
Badger State Trail is a "Rails to Trails" trail extending from Belleville, WI to the Illinois state line and includes the historic Stewart Train Tunnel. The trail is the Illinois Central Railroad corridor and is intended for bicycles and hikers during warm months and snowmobiles and limited ATV use during the winter. The Badger State Trail is becoming the most popular trail in the state because it is only a 30 minute ride south from Madison, about a 2 hour ride from Milwaukee, and just 2 and a half hours from Chicago. At present, the trail is complete from Purcell Road (North of Belleville) to the Illinois state line. Future plans call for connecting the Badger to the Capitol City Trail in Madison. Limestone screenings provide a hard smooth surface for your biking and hiking enjoyment.
The trail is divided into three segments which are the Southern Segment, the Fitchburg Segment, and the Madison Segment. The portion of the trail that runs through Green County is the Southern Segment. In Green County, the Badger State Trail passes through or near to the following communities (from north to south): along the way there are numerous opportunities for sight-seeing, plus lodging and dining options in the Green County communities of New Glarus, Belleville, Monticello, and Monroe.
The next stop north is Basco in Dane County and on the southern end; the trail meets up with the Jane Addams trail which continues on to Freeport, Illinois. Fitchburg Segment is 7.1 miles from Purcell Road to Lovell Lane, near the Madison-Fitchburg city limits, will be paved to allow for walking, bicycling and in-line skating.
Madison Segment is the part of the Badger Trail corridor within the City of Madison (known as the Southwest Path) was developed and is managed by the city. It has an asphalt surface and is open for walking, running, bicycling, and in-line skating. No trail passes are required here. The Cheese Country Trail provides a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and equestrian link to Browntown-Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area.
Due to a slight bend in the tunnel, you look into total darkness when looking forward in the tunnel. For a more cultural and historical experience, trail users will be able to visit more than thirteen different communities in southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, all of which offer their own unique history and cultural activites. Vegetation has encroached on the trail corridor throughout the Badger State Trail.
The Southwest Commuter Bike Trail is begins at the intersection with the Capital City Trail near Arrowhead Park on the north edge of Fitchburg and continues north into Madison, providing access to Cub Foods and other stores including Home Depot before crossing the Beltline via an overpass. The planned Fitchburg portion of the Badger State Trail will connect with the Southwest Commuter Bike Trail.
From Carriage House, Belleville Walk or bike area trails including the Badger State Trail, Glacial Drumlin State Trail, Ice Age National and State Scenic Trail, or the Sugar River State Trail. Take in some entertainment at the Alliant Energy Center, the American Players Theatre, the Barrymore Theatre, The Kohl Center, or The Stoughton Opera House.
Much of this vegetation is invader species— cherry, aspen, and boxelder with an understory of sumac, willow, and berry bushes. Many areas also have invasive/exotic species such as garlic mustard, honeysuckle, etc.
North of Belleville, the Badger joins the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Someday, it will connect with the Capital City State Trail in Madison, but now it ends abruptly along a country road in Fitchburg.
Many bicyclists start instead in Paoli, a village of arts studios and galleries just a mile west of the trail. Of course, it has a cheese shop. And an organic-meat market. And a sophisticated cafe in an old creamery overlooking the Sugar River.
Map Of Badger State Trail
Friends of Badger State Trail
Camping and Campground reservation:
Camping on the shores of Sugar River near the famous Sugar River State Trail
Camping and Campground Reservation At New Glarus Woods State Park
Other nearby camping are amnicon falls state park, big bay state park.
Location, Directions and Contact:
When completed the Badger State Trail will extend from Madison, Wisconsin to Freeport, Illinois passing through Fitchburg, Belleville, Monticello, and Monroe
Southern Segment
Village of Belleville
P.O. Box 79, 24 West Main Street
Belleville, WI 53508
Phone: (608) 424-3341
Fax: (608) 424-3423
Email: villageofbelleville [at] charterinternet [dot] com
Fitchburg Segment
City Hall 5520 Lacy Road
Fitchburg, WI 53711
Phone: 608-270-4200
Fax: 608-270-4212
Email: scott [dot] endl [at] city [dot] fitchburg [dot] wi [dot] us
Madison Segment
City-County Building
210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Madison, WI 53703
Park reservations: (608) 266-4711
Green County Tourism
N3150 B, Hwy. 81
Monroe, WI 53566
Phone: 1-888-222-9111
Email: tourism [at] greencounty [dot] org
New Glarus
418 Railroad Street
New Glarus WI 53574
Phone: 800 527 6838, 608 527 2095
Email: info [at] swisstown [dot] com