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
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Please use our sponsors and thank them for making this site possible. Food & Cheese Edelweiss Creamery - Monticello Tubing and Canoeing S & B Tubing, Canoeing, and Kayaking - Albany Bicycle Sales and Service Earth Rider Cycling - Brodhead Basic Bike Repair - New Glarus Camping Sweet Minnihaha Campground - Albany Golf Chalet Landhaus - Miniature Golf -New Glarus ARGUE-ment Golf Course - Belleville Lodging Gasthaus / Swiss-Aire Bike Flyer Earth Rider Cycling Boutique & Hotel - Brodhead Cameo Rose Victorian Country Inn B&B - Belleville Albany House Bed and Breakfast -Albany Oak Hill Manor Bed and Breakfast - Albany
Chamber of Commences A Visitor's Guide that includes map of Badger Trail and Sugar River Trail can be obtained from Green County Tourism using the link above or downloaded. Please mention this web site when requesting it. |
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 bicycle riders 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 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. 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 where it crosses the Sugar River State Trail. From Monticello the trail continues to 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. Communities along the trail all welcome trail users. May we suggest you go to the links for the communities at the top of this page to better plan your visit. If you are part of a group, may we suggest you reserve shelters in the community you are starting and/or ending. Green County is famous for its many cheese factories and two breweries, so plan on bringing part of Green County home with you. OLD News: Governor Jim Doyle announced on September 30, 2008 Transportation Enhancement and Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities projects. The funds have been approved to complete construction of the Badger Trail, providing an asphalt paved 10-ft. wide path for 6.1 miles from Purcell Road to Lovell Lane. When completed, the Badger Trail will connect to the Capitol City Trail allowing complete access from Madison. Construction is planned for the spring of 2010. CURRENT News Update: The DNR is looking for stimulus money and has delayed completion of the trail for a least a year. The legislature thought the trail would be complete so watch for more news to come.
July Tip of the Month: The New Glarus Brewery "Hilltop Brewery" is finally open for tours. Beautiful location to take pictures of your group.
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ATV Map for Village of Monticello
Belleville boys check out to tunnel.
Natural ice sculpture
Cross Country skiers using the trail next to the tunnel where snowmobiles are not allowed.
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In Green County, snowmobiling is allowed whenever there are 4 inches of snow, or the trail has a groomed base. Snowmobile use is not be permitted in the Stewart Tunnel, but a snowmobile trail is clearly marked to bypass the tunnel. From the Green-Dane county line north to Sun Valley Parkway, snowmobiling will be allowed whenever there are 6 inches of snow, or the trail has a groomed base. The Badger Trail does connect to Dane County trails. 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.
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. |
Bikers - DNR Trail Passes are required. Outlets to purchase pass | |||||||||||||||||||||
Web sites with links to this web site.
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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2009 Local Events We Hope You Consider: July 10 -12 Monticello Homecoming Montesian Park - Ball games, concessions, beer tent, fish boil, entertainment, fireworks, chicken BBQ, water fights, tug-of-war, sand and mud volleyball, carnival. Parade on Sunday. Bikers welcome!! July 11 Pedal for Paws July 10 – 11 BAM Fest (Belleville American Musical Fest) August 8 – 9 Brodhead Covered Bridge Days September 4-7 Wilhelm Tell Festival Wilhelm Tell Grounds September 26 - 7th Annual Sugar River Bike Tour Sponsored by the Brodhead Optimist October 3 - Fall Festival - Downtown Albany October 17 - Lioness Craft Show and Pecan Sale Monticello Schools October 18 - Native American Artifact Show Monticello School October 31 - UFO Day http://www.belleville-wi.comTo 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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Happy 1st Birthday Badger Trail - July 8, 2008 After years of anticipation, the Badger Trail was opened to the public July 8, 2007. Thousands of individuals have enjoyed the trail hiking and riding their snowmobile, ATV, or bike. The historic tunnel has been the draw for tourists both young and old alike. In the first year of operation, the number one problem of the trail has been the rain. During the fall of 2007 severe storms washed out the trail in numerous spots and blew over many trees. The DNR worked hard and got the trail operational in a very short timeline to the pleasure of users. The past winter of 2007-2008 was exceptional with over 100 inches of snow that allowed about four months of snowmobiling instead of the usual two good weeks of snowmobiling in Green County. Because of quality snow for snowmobiling, ATV's were allowed only four days this past winter on the trail. Then spring came with soaring hopes of bikers ready to ride the trail. Again Mother Nature closed the trail with damage caused from flooding and tornadoes. To the credit of the DNR, they have repaired the trail as fast as Mother Nature would allow. At present, there are a few soft/rough spots and water at the edges of the tunnel, but nothing that will prevent a really enjoyable ride on your bike or hike down the Badger. The best advice is to slow down when you see the trail change colors (new repairs) and you will have no problems. Because of standing water, be prepared for substantial numbers of mosquitoes around the tunnel. There are no mosquitoes inside the tunnel which provides a cool retreat with temperatures in the 50 - 60 degree range. The future of the trail is bright as it gets discovered. Future goals include finishing the trail to Madison, putting up signs to help you find the trail, developing trail heads in the communities and maintaining the trail for the pleasure of Wisconsin residents and our visitors. Happy first birthday Badger! Enjoy the trail and thanks for visiting www.badger-trail.com "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. |
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Media reports related to Badger State Trail: Wisconsin State Journal When will trail paving be completed? Midwest Weekends A slice of cheese country Wisconsin State Journal Badger State Trail set for final segment to Madison Wisconsin State Journal State's secret: Badger State Trail is one of Wisconsin's hidden gems, right in our back yard 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 |
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