Explore the best rated trails in Madison, WI, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Levee Trail (WI) and Wild Goose State Trail . With more than 55 trails covering 531 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Rode the trail the last couple days, loved it. It’s in great shape and is pretty flat. Happened to be there when the Wheelmen were riding with the high wheels!
Rode out 6+ miles from the south end. Apparently they are going to build a bridge across the river sometime soon..Noticed a sign along the trail, that stated you need a permit to ride the trail?! Nice along the river, then out into open fields.
Super nice trail! I think I counted 2 cracks. Well marked. Feel free to ride your road bike. Parked on the north end. There are about five parking spots there. Only downside is that it’s quite open which can expose you to wind
I rode today from twining park to the town of Shultz. About 7 miles. The trail was in good shape. It was soft which made the ride a little more work. They just had a lot of rain though. I will come back and ride a different section soon. 3/25/25
Almost spring, mild 60 deg. F sunny day, good day for a bike ride. I started at Bill Fuchs Park, plenty of parking, and rode 12.5 miles to the end of the Great Sauk State Trail via the riverfront for the first third of the trail and then joined up with the Great Sauk trail for the last two thirds of the ride out. The trail is paved and very smooth, with hardly any expansion joints or cracks.
The first part of my ride was a mix of great views of the Wisconsin River and river bottom woods. The trail wound through farm fields and grasslands after leaving the river onto the plains.
I've cycled and jogged this trail since 1986. It eventually links up to the Badger/Jane Adams trails and continues onto Madison to the Capital City Trail or cut off to the Military Ridge Trail.
I've met people that use this trail for hundreds of miles. People from throughout the country. Always safe and people occasionally camp along the trail while hiking. Amazing flora until late October.
I use it as a perfect half marathon training trail. Soft on the knees and legs.
Monticello to New Glarus and back is approx. a perfect 13.1 miles. With
a couple service stations in New Glarus along the trail to refurbish your fluids. Unfortunately, the Stewart is closed and projected to open in 2027.
A short detour on the road needs a little caution on a curved hill. But safe as the road is rarely used.
Nice trail head near Rt. 20.
This was used by myself and my son to train for a marathon and halves.
The shade is great and the same trees and shrubs cut the wind down.
So if you carry your fluids or have someone to cycle along side you, this is the trail you want to train on.
From Rt. 20 to Orangeville and back is approx. 20 miles. With trail on each end if you want to train a greater distance.
The crushed limestone is easy on the feet and legs.
I cycle it dozens of times a month. But training for any event is perfect here.
Rode late September right before official hunting season. Not a lot of people on it. But to be safe, we carried blaze orange. parked at Wes Block trailhead as the long road out from Freeport is just bad trail riding next to an interstate. Trail is dirt, with some repairs and gravel. Rode up to the state line and the Badger Trail out and back. There were some beautiful spots, but also some lone wolves walking the trail looking sketchy and a hunter on an ATV at twilight. If you wanted to do an overnighter up to Madison and back the next day, you could park at the hotel right near the WB trailhead. Not sure I would do this trail again though as it was a long drive for a day ride from the suburbs.
It’s pretty scenic, especially with the leaf colors. Also pretty busy! There’s parking on both ends. A lot of the trail is grass, not even gravel. The spot where it’s asphalt is very minimal. It’s awesome you can stop and ride through Horicon Marsh! Lots of kitties on this trail ¿
Coming from Chicago, we have only ridden this trail as a day trip and ridden from Orangeville, IL (Jane Addams Trail) to Monroe (Twining Park) and back. This stretch is on a slight incline most of the way from Orangeville to Monroe, so the ride back is a lot easier. Trail is well maintained, and mostly shaded by trees. Trail in Monroe proper was a little dicey due to no protection from the elements, a bit of a steep hill, and a lot of runoff from rain by 8th street. Crossing at 8th street is "interesting". Pit toilet in Orangeville, with a BP gas station right across the road, flush toilet in Twining Park. Went riding on 10/26, and saw a grand total of 5 other people the entire ride (2 bikers, 2 walkers, 1 jogger). Only trail I've been on where there were complete moments of silence, combined with some of the scenery, just absolutely breathtaking.
Have ridden this trail multiple times over the past couple of years. Generally ride from the trailhead by Hwy 20 to Orangeville. Trail is well maintained and generally flat, and fairly empty of people, a few joggers on the South end. As with all the limestone trails, there's a few holes here and there from the local furry creatures. Pit toilets at Hwy 20 & Orangeville, a portolet at Red Oak. There's a BP gas station right across from the pavilion in Orangeville. Specific highlights are the old buildings from the railroad in Scioto Mills, and saw sand cranes inhabiting the wetlands south of Orangeville.
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