Capital City State Trail Conditions

Conditions as of Wednesday, July 2, 2008:

The Capital City State Trail is open and in good condition.

E-way Segment

Restrooms are available in the Capital Springs / Lake Farm Campground and, during business hours, Lussier Family Heritage Center.

All pets must be leashed when using the Capital City State Trail corridor.

A state trail pass is required for anybody 16 years of age or older biking, skating, or roller-skiing on the E-way segment. Passes are available at kiosks at Verona Road and Industrial Drive Road or at the Lake Farm campground or Lussier Family Heritage Center. Dane County [exit DNR] subsidizes trail passes for commuters.

City of Madison Segment

The City of Madison segment of the trail is complete from the E-way segment around the north side of Lake Monona to Cottage Grove Road on the east side.

The City has been trying, unsuccessfully, since early 2007 to acquire the needed property from Union Pacific Railroad to extend the Capital City Trail from Cottage Grove Road to Buckeye Road.

City Engineering is looking at an alternate route for bicycles and pedestrians that will achieve some of the goals of the original project, until such time as the city can acquire the railroad > easements. The interim route would be on-street from Cottage Grove Road to Acewood Park, using Vernon Avenue and Leo Drive. From there it would become a paved path extending south through the park to an existing pedestrian easement connecting to the end of Deerwood Drive. From Deerwood it would continue back to the rail corridor and then south to Buckeye Road via two other existing pedestrian easements.

The city will hold a public neighborhood meeting Thursday, July 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Pinney Branch Library, 204 Cottage Grove Road, to present the plan, answer questions about the proposed design, obtain neighborhood input, and discuss concerns. It will follow an open-house format, with staff present to answer questions. There will be a brief presentation at about 6:45 p.m. followed by questions or individual discussions.

More Information

If you would like to adopt a section of the Capital City State Trail, please see the Adopt-A-Trail web page for more information.

Other volunteer opportunities near the trail are available at Capital Springs State Park.

Road Conditions [exit DNR]
Weather [exit DNR]
Dane County Bicycle Map [exit DNR]
Madison Bikeways [exit DNR]

For more information or to report trail hazards or vandalism, contact Kevin Swenson, manager, (608) 224-3606; Dane County Parks, (608) 242-4576; or Arthur Ross, Madison pedestrian-bicycle coordinator, (608) 266-6225.