Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System
Badger State Trail

Southern Segment
Fitchburg Segment
Madison Segment
Friends Group
How to Get There

The Badger State Trail is a 40-mile trail from Madison to the Illinois State line. Go to the Badger trail current conditions page to see what is open now.

Southern entrance of the Stewart Tunnel on the Badger State Trail.
DNR Photo

Southern Segment

The southern segment 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.

The Badger trail passes by a rock outcrop near Tunnel Road.
DNR Photo by Joseph Warren

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.

Belleville Bridge
In Belleville the Badger trail goes over a historic bridge.
DNR Photo

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.

Fitchburg Segment

The 7.1 miles from Purcell Road to Lovell Lane, near the Madison-Fitchburg city limits, will be paved to allow for walking, bicycling and in-line skating. Until paving of this section is complete, it's not suitable for bicycling. Bicyclists and in-line skaters age 16 and older will have to have state trail passes.

Near the northern end of this segment, a high bridge goes over the Capital City State Trail.
DNR Photo

From the bridge, see the Capital City Trail and a pond with a variety of birds and animals.
DNR Photo

Madison Segment

The part of the Badger Trail corridor within the City of Madison (known as the Southwest Path) was developed and is managed by the city. It has an asphalt surface and is open for walking, running, bicycling, and in-line skating. No trail passes are required here.

The asphalt ends near the Madison-Fitchburg border. A short paved path goes to the Capital City Trail.
DNR Photo

Paved trail near University of Wisconsin-Madison Fieldhouse

The city path goes past the University of Wisconsin Field House.
DNR Photo

A Well-connected Trail

The Badger Trail connects to the Capital City , Military Ridge, and Sugar River state trails; Madison bikeway system [exit DNR]; Capital Springs and New Glarus Woods state parks; Albany State Wildlife Area; Ice Age National Scenic Trail; 13 communities in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois; and numerous local parks.

Badger Trail Map [PDF 557KB].

Two trails crossing
The Badger and Sugar River trails connect just south of the Monticello trailhead.
DNR Photo

The Cheese Country Trail provides a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and equestrian link to Browntown-Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area.

At the Illinois border, the Badger trail connects to the Jane Addams Trail [exit DNR] which continues to Freeport, Illinios. From Freeport, trail users will find connections to the 500 Grand Illinois Trail System.

Accommodations, Activities, Events, and More

Madison [exit DNR]
Monroe [exit DNR]
New Glarus [exit DNR]

Friends of the Badger Trail

A friends group has been formed for the Badger Trail. It is comprised of volunteers who act as an advisory and auxiliary organization to help in fundraising and operations the state is not able to provide. If you would be interested in joining, please contact Steve Johnston, trail manager.

How to Get There

In Madison, the Southwest Path has a number of bicycle/pedestrian access points, including Randall Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, Odana Road, Midvale Boulevard, and Hammersley Road.

In Fitchburg, there's a 12-car parking area at Dawley Park on Seminole Highway (1/4 mile east of the Badger State Trail on the Capital City State Trail).

The northern end of the limestone-surfaced trail is at Purcell Road, about 2.5 miles northeast of Paoli. Until the rest of the trail is surfaced, a bicyclist recommends this route to ride from Madison to the trail:

Go south on Seminole Highway until it ends at a T with Whalen Road
Turn right on Whalen Road and go 1/3 mile.
Turn Left on Fitchburg Road and go 2 miles.
Turn right on County Highway M and go 1/4 mile.
Turn left on Borchert Road and go 1 1/4 miles.
Turn left on Purcell Road and go 200 feet downhill to the Badger Trail.

Library Park in Belleville has a decorative fountain and historic library.
DNR Photo

Library Park [exit DNR] in the village of Belleville is next to the trail and offers five parking spaces, picnic tables, a gazebo and water fountain. Parking for the trail is also available near the Belleville Post Office.

The Badger trail connects with the Sugar River trail just south of the Sugar River trail rest area in Monticello. The rest area, near County Highways C and EE, has parking available.

Twinning Park in Monroe lis next to the trail and has parking, picnic tables, shelters, ball fields, a bandshell and restrooms available.