The objective of this site is to promote the Badger State State Trail and the Sugar River State Trail. If you are interested in linking to this site, want to advertise on the site, or have related information to share for this site, send e-mail to: webmaster@badger-trail.com
Local Links Food & Cheese Edelweiss Creamery - Monticello Bicycle Sales and Service Earth Rider Cycling - Brodhead Camping Sweet Minnihaha Campground - Albany Golf Chalet Landhaus - Miniature Golf -New Glarus ARGUE-ment Golf Course - Belleville Lodging Earth Rider Cycling Boutique & Hotel - Brodhead Cameo Rose Victorian Country Inn B&B - Belleville Albany House Bed and Breakfast -Albany Tubing and Canoeing S & B Tubing, Canoeing, and Kayaking - Albany ATV and Snowmobile Repair and Service
Chamber of Commences A Visitor's Guide that includes map of Badger Trail can be obtained from Green County Tourism using the link above or downloaded. Please mention this web site when requesting it.
Sorry, funds have been cut and the trail will not continue north to Madison at this time. Write to your legislator requesting funding to complete the trail.
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Badger State Trail is a "Rails to Trails" trail extending from Belleville, WI to the Illinois state line and includes the historic Stewart Tunnel. The trail is the Illinois Central Railroad corridor and is intended for hikers and bicycle riders during warm months and snowmobiles and limited ATV use during the winter. Badger State Trail is becoming the most popular trail in the state because it is only a 30 minute ride from Madison and about a 2 hour ride from Milwaukee, Wisconsin's two largest cities. The original plans for the trail included connecting to Madison, WI, but this will not happen until more funding is available. Paving is complete from Purcell Road (North of Belleville) to the Illinois state line with limestone screenings providing a hard smooth surface. The highlight of the trail is the restored 1200-foot long Stewart Railroad Tunnel that was finished in 1887 and is located south of Belleville. Due to a slight bend in the tunnel, you gaze into total darkness. We recommend that you bring a light. From the tunnel, the trail continues south to Monticello, Monroe and then on into Illinois. At the Wisconsin state line it connects to the Jane Addams Trail which brings you to Orangeville and Freeport, IL. The Jane Addams Trail is part of the Grand Illinois Trail System. April 13, 2008 - The Badger Trail has been hit with bad weather, high winds, and a late spring. Be prepared for tree branches and major ruts from flooding. Last year the DNR was able to get the trail repaired within two weeks during summer flooding. May 3, 2008 - Repairs not complete with more bad weather past two weeks. If you go on trail, watch carefully for dangerous conditions.
In Green County, snowmobiling is allowed whenever there is 4 inches of snow, or the trail has a groomed base. Snowmobile use is not be permitted in the Stewart Tunnel. From the Green-Dane county line north to Sun Valley Parkway, snowmobiling will be allowed whenever there is 6 inches of snow, or the trail has a groomed base. ATV's allowed from December 1 to March 15 when the trail is not open for snowmobiling (4 inches of snow depth, or trail has been groomed and has a snow base) All-terrain vehicle (ATV) use is only allowed from 21st Street in Monroe to Lake Avenue in Monticello if trail surface is frozen and air temperature approximately 28° F or lower on trail tread only. All-terrain vehicle conditions, openings and closures are announced at the Tri-County Trails web site and the DNR has a dedicated phone line to check trail conditions by calling 608-527-2910. This marks the second year of a three-year trial period that ATVs will be allowed to operate on that section of trail running between 21st Street in Monroe to Lake Avenue in Monticello. Respect the trail so ATV use will continue. "Grand Opening of the Badger Trail" was in Belleville on July 8, 2007. Check out the photographs to see how grand it really was. A Grand Opening at the stateline was also held to make the official connection to the Jane Addams Trail. The number of bikers on the trail has been increasing weekly. The Badger State Trail is quickly becoming the most popular trail in Wisconsin because of its short distance from Madison, WI and the Stewart Tunnel. Media reports related to Badger State Trail: Wisconsin State Journal Cyclists win round in fight over use of Badger State Trail Silent Sports Bicyclists mobilize for the the Badger State Trail Silent Sports Now open: Wisconsin's Badger State Trail Channel 3 WISC Madison Group Calls For Construction Of More Bike Trails
The winter of 2007 - 2008 will be looked back at as one of the best ever for snowmobiles with more than 100 inches of snow and three months of wonderful snowmobiling. Looking south into the tunnel clearly explains why snowmobiles are required to loop around the tunnel. The trail was open to ATV's 4 days during the winter of 2007 - 2008. |
ATV Map for Village of Monticello
Web sites with links to this web site.
Chicago LakeShore Ski & Sports Club members gather in Monticello before heading north on the Badger Trail to Belleville.
Belleville boys check out to tunnel.
Natural ice sculpture
Cross Country skiers using the trail next to the tunnel where snowmobiles are not allowed.
The author of this site is a biker who has been riding the Sugar River Trail since its first year and is now riding the Badger State Trail. Both trails are on the east edge of the author's hometown of Monticello. Any site recommended by the author is within 5 miles of the Badger State Trail or the Sugar River State Trail. This site is not affiliated with the Wisconsin DNR. |
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Local Events We Hope You Consider: June 12-15 Monroe Balloon Rally - Monroe June 14 - 15 Monroe Arts and Crafts Fair June 27-29 Heidi Festival in New Glarus July 11 - 13 Monticello Homecoming July 11 - 12 Belleville American Music Festival July 24 Concert on the Square, Historic Courthouse Square, Monroe August 9-10 Covered Bridge Days August 29-31 Wilhelm Tell Festival in New Glarus September 19-21 Green County Cheese Days September 27 6th Annual Sugar River Bike Tour October 4 Albany Fall Festival October 19 Native American Artifact Show at Monticello Elementary October 25 Belleville UFO Days To have your event included, e-mail webmaster@badger-trail.com. All events must be within 5 miles or less of Badger Trail or Sugar River Trail. |
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