Military Ridge State Park Trail:
Wisconsin
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Description:
The humble beginning of the Military Ridge Trail, at an unadorned highway intersection in Fitchburg, doesn't hint at the beauty of this trail's 40 miles through idyllic farmland and scattered small towns in southwest Wisconsin. Though its first miles parallel the busy road, you will be cheered by summer wildflowers-yellow and white moss rose, chicory, purple clover, thistles, and yarrow.
Moving southwest, within 2 miles the traffic clamor is overtaken by birdcalls and rustling branches. You will cross the first of 47 bridges, this one spanning a wetland lush and colorful with irises and cattails.
The first town on the trail is Verona. With a population of more than 8,000, Verona has a number of amenities available, though you will have to venture north on Main Street a block or two to reach the heart of the town. Leaving Verona, the asphalt surface changes to stone dust, and nature in these lowlands takes over. As the trail gently stretches through the Sugar River Valley, it is sprinkled with open cornfields, wetlands with cattails, weeping willows, birches, and gnarly old oak trees. Just past the 10-mile mark a boardwalk takes you out to a marsh teeming with wildlife. Look for sandhill cranes and listen for the leopard toad, which sounds like a finger rubbing across a balloon.
Bring your appetite to Mount Horeb, which has retained elements of its early settlers' Norwegian heritage and possesses a unique and charming trail station. The main street is only one block south of the trail, and has convenient and delicious eateries.
From here the trail traverses the top of Military Ridge (a name derived from the Blackhawk Battle between the Sauk and Fox Indians and the U.S. Army and militia over the land in 1832). Later the well-used route became a road connecting Green Bay with Fort Crawford. The trailises gradually to skirt the southern slope of Blue Mound, its highest point at 1,300 feet above sea level. After the village of Blue Mounds you will see a spur trail on the right to Blue Mound State Park, where the view of the ridge and countryside are exceptional. Also near here is the Cave of the Mounds, with delightful subterranean geology (follow a spur to the left just after the tunnel under Hwy ID for about a half mile south.)
Shortly after Barneveld (around 25 miles) and for most of the last 15 miles, tidy dairy farms and Holstein cows pattern the sloping fields in the distance. The trail feels tranquil here, and is often sheltered by a dense tree canopy that is cool and refreshing in the high summer.
After curving through miles of lush farmland, you will enter the pleasant town of Ridgeway, home to the single remaining active railroad depot on this converted corridor. A nearby community park has restrooms, parking, and a drinking fountain.
The trail ends in Dodgeville (settled in 1827 by the first governor of the Wisconsin Territory), but if you're not ready to wrap up this trail trip, head for Governor Dodge State Park, a couple of miles to the east of Dodgeville (mile 38). A paved access trail to the right paralleling County Highway Z leads to the park's miles of trails for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing.
Trail passes, required for ages 16 and up, can be purchased at self-registration stations on the trail or at select parks and private businesses.
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Parking & Trail Access:
The Fitchburg endpoint can be reached from Madison by taking ROUTE 18/151 south to County Highway PD/ McKee Road. The trail starts on the southeast corner of the intersection. Parking and trail access are available at Quarry Ridge Recreation Area. Follow County Highway PD/ west from Route 18/151, turn left on Nesbitt Road and then turn left on Fitchrona Road. The park is about .3 mile on the left. There is a paved path to the Military Ridge Trail.
For the Verona Trailhead take Highway l8/151 south to Exit 92 for County Highway PB. Go north on Old Highway PB for one mile. The trailhead with parking is on the left.
The Dodgeville trailhead is on County Highway YZ, 1.5 miles east of Highway 23 at the Department of Natural Resources Dodgeville Service Center.
There are also numerous access points and trailheads in the towns along the 40-mile route.
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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Great Ride
By dutchcyclist in September, 2011
This is a favorite of many who live around Madison. My favorite ride is the 6+ miles from Riley to Mt. Horeb. The final three miles are up a 3-degree grade which is a 300-foot increase in elevation. It's a workout, but with a number of rewards that make the effort worthwhile. There's the micro-brewed beer and great burgers at the Grumpy Troll in Mt. Horeb, and the 3-miles 'coast' at a comfortable 8 to 10 miles an hour back toward Riley. The Riley Tavern (at the trailhead in Riley) sports an amazing pancake breakfast on Sunday mornings and a relaxing veranda porch that overlooks the Trail and surrounding farm land.
Scenic and lovely.
By Barbara in October, 2006
"We cycled west from Verona to Dodgeville on a perfect autumn Saturday; motelled it in D'ville; then returned the next day. Round trip: about 80 miles.
Good trail conditions and amble restrooms at park shelter houses along the way. One short stretch west of Ridgeway was somewhat hilly with enough loose gravel to skid on--careful of that.
Otherwise, the ride has some of the most enjoyable features: lovely, postcard-like views of farm country, splendid vistas, especially near Blue Mound; camping opportunity there, as well.
Restaurants, taverns and pubs at regular intervals, too. And not very crowded, surprisingly."
wonderful ride
By T om Pelz in September, 2006
We rode this trail from Dodgewille to Madison the first week of September 2006.

We stayed the first night in Blue Mounds state park.

The ride was a beautiful and pleasant way to spend a vacation.

We stopped in Blue Mounds and bought a print at an artists studio.

We spend three hours in the interesting community of Mt. Horeb.

The trail head in Verona is great.

The trail then connects to the Capitol City Trail in Madison which is another nice way to spend a day (riding around the city on trails).

Not a lot of people riding this trail (compared to the Elroy Sparta trail or the volume of bike traffic on the Capitol City trail).

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