I have read about a number of trails with tunnels in Wisconsin, but between the fee and the logistics, we always decided to ride closer to home. However, we found a good hotel deal in Madison over labor day weekend, and so we loaded up the kids and the bikes and set out for the Badger State Trail.

We drove to Monticello, approaching the town crossing both the Badger State Trail and the Sugar River Trail where they are mere feet apart. We went to the grocery in town to enquire about getting trail passes. The friendly folks in the store said that, though they once had them, they no longer had any for sale and they had no idea where we might find them. They also kindly directed us to the nearest trailhead. We elected to bike without the passes, deciding that it would be better to seek the mercy of the authorities than to continue to drive around seeking passes. The trail wound pleasantly through farm fields, although some of the road crossings looked as if a car could come up suddenly when we were trying to cross the kids.

Finally, the trail began to rise above the fields and trees below, indicating that the tunnel was close. There was a crowd milling around the tunnel, with some teenagers perched precariously about the entrance to the tunnel, giving my kids some unwanted inspiration. We made it through the crowd into the tunnel and confirmed everything we read about how dark this tunnel is. It was disorienting, even with a flashlight, but the kids loved it.

We went about a mile past the tunnel when it appeared that a storm might blow up, and so we turned around. Our second pass through the tunnel went more smoothly, without the crowd and with my kids feeling more confident from having made it through before. Fortunately, we made it back to the car before it began to rain.

Our drive to Madison paralleled the path. We stopped in Belleview to allow the kids to enjoy the nice playground, but it looked like much of the rest of the trail was on a raised roadbed next to the highway. While we enjoyed the tunnel (and previous experience with the Jane Addams Trail), I don't expect I'll be doing much more of this trail anytime soon.

For a fun ride with the family, start in Monticello. Go north through the tunnel to Belleville, and then return.
BUT!!! Take a detour on your return trip south and take a right onto Tunnel road instead of going through the tunnel. It will take you up and over the hill and provide beautiful views of the area. Then it will sweep you back down to the south of the tunnel and cross the trail again, where you re-join it.
(Do not do this in reverse. The uphill on Tunnel road is brutal from the south.)

The curved tunnel is great! More fun then the Elroy-Sparta ones because when you get in the middle you can't see the light at the end in either direction.

Neil

I had trouble getting a pass in Monroe, the Garden Deli was out and there was no pen at the station at the trail head. From Monroe to Monticello was not worth the price of the pass, there is little shade and no benches to take a break at. There was construction in downtown Monticello so there was no where to get a sandwich or ice cream even though there was a sign on the trail saying there was. I prefer the Jane Addams trail over this part of the Badger trail by far - it is wider, shadier, well maintained, full of benches and free. 8-29-10.

I rode this trail from Monroe south connecting to the Jane Addams trail in Illinois. Not much to recommend here. The Jane Addams is in much better shape, wider, AND NO FEES. Basic trail maint could be alot better. Like trimming up overhanging trees and mowing the shoulders of the trail. The mowing would help reduce the bugs (very buggy) also weeds jut out into the trail alot. Also there was a big washout about 20 feet of the trail was effected clean across the trail. It was fixed sort of, well at least they didn't use duct tape. With all the trails in the area I would go elsewhere. Maybe it is better riding north it is better?

"You can take the Southwest Trail southwest from the university area through the west side and across the beltline and behind Home Depot and Cub Foods. Where it intersects with the Capital City Trail, don't go down the hill but keep left to cross the railroad bridge over the Capital City Trail. It will eventually merge into Seminole about a half mile before it intersects with Whalen Road. I thought it had stopped there, but the Milwaukee Map Company map shows it crossing Seminole at a sharp angle. Otherwise, catch up with it again on Whalen, as described in the previous post."

"This fall, work has continued on the trail. I have traveled on about 10 miles of the trail, even in its current unfinished state, and enjoyed it greatly. From Madison, the easiest way to find the trail is to head south on Seminole Highway in Fitchburg until it dead ends at Whalen Road and take a left (East). The trail starts on Whalen Road heading south about 100 yards from the intersection. The only parking is along the side of the road. The first mile is overgrown but bridges are completed over the small streams. After you cross Adams Road, the trail is cleared with light gravel for footing. The trail heads south towards Belleville. There are beautiful bridges, outlooks, and gentle rolling hills that makes for a most enjoyable travel. I am looking forward to the trail being officially openned. "

I have been on the IL section of the trail from Orangeville IL South. This section has been competed for about 3 years. The trail north to Madison has been slow in developing. It will interconnect with the existing Sugar River Trail that runs from New Glarus to Brodhead.

"After reading about this proposed new trail, I set out to see the tunnel from the Sugar River Trail. After a little exploring I found it. It is very dark and requires a flashlight to explore. In the center the inner brick lining has partially collapsed from water damage. Other than that it is an easy walk through with a light. There is alot of graffiti from local kids on the walls. And it is a very bumpy ride into the tunnel area from the nearest road."