The southern segment of the Badger State Trail runs for 33 miles from the Illinois border to Purcell Road near the southwest corner of Fitchburg. This segment passes through the communities of Clarno, Monroe, Monticello, Exeter, Belleville, and Basco.
Between Monticello and Belleville, in the town of Exeter, the trail goes trough the 1,200-foot-long, nearly 120-year-old Stewart Tunnel. Flashlights are recommended for going through the tunnel and bikers must walk their bikes.
The surface of this section is crushed limestone suitable for walking, bicycling, and snowmobiling. Bicyclists age 16 and older must have a state trail pass.
Winter all-terrain vehicle use will be permitted between Monroe and Monticello on a trial basis. A two-mile segment, yet to be determined, will have a parallel horse trail. Development of this horse trail is contingent on development of 6 miles of horse trail elsewhere in the area. See the current conditions page for a list of all trail uses and to see what is open now.
The section of the trail from Purcell road, south to Monticello has been rendered nearly unrideable due to maintenance performed early this spring. It appears that a large tractor was used to cut brush along the trail while the gravel surface was still ...
In June, I finished the Wisconsin sections of the Badger State Trail. I have now biked the entire length from Freeport (Illinois) to Madison, Wisc. (Camp Randle Stadium) 56 miles. The Illinois section is called the Jane Adams Trail. The trail leads through ...
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 ...