Wisconsin has received national attention for our vast bike trails, especially our "rails to trails" program of converting former train railways into bike trails. A great way to see Wisconsin and take the road less traveled, biking Wisconsin's trails is a wonderful opportunity. Take a ride this weekend and see parts of the state you did not know existed. Right in our own backyards there are great biking trails that will take you to communities off the interstate for an interesting piece of Wisconsin.
There are great resources online with details about Wisconsin's biking trails, including a downloadable state bike trail map and biking trail maps for all of Wisconsin's 72 counties. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation works with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin to distribute these maps. Visit the WisDOT Web site www.dot.wisconsin.gov and search for biking trails to see biking resources.
South central Wisconsin's own bike trail gem is the Badger State Trail. Once a railway in the region, in 1997 the Department of Natural Resources began to look at the possibility of converting the corridor to a recreational trail under the federal Rails to Trail Act. In 2006, the DNR master plan for the rail bed was approved by the Natural Resources Board, making it the Badger State Trail. Some historical points of interest along the Badger trail include the depot in Belleville, built in 1888, the Woolen Mill in Monticello, and the curved tunnel south of Belleville.
The City of Fitchburg has submitted a request to complete the Badger State Trail to the Transportation Enhancement Grant Committee. The committee meets this month to consider the application. This addition to the trail will make it a safe pathway for downtown commuters who currently follow busy streets downtown. The completion of this trail also will be a big advantage for bikers in our area and to the communities along the Badger State Trail. It will be a goal achieved for all of us who have worked on the Badger State Trail project when it is completed.
Another great trail that runs through south central Wisconsin is the Military Ridge Trail.
The Military Ridge Trail runs for 40 miles from Dodgeville to Fitchburg. Between Dodgeville and Mount Horeb, the trail follows along the top of Military Ridge. The high point on the trail is at Blue Mounds, at about 1,300 feet, and the lowest point is between Riley and Verona at around 930 feet. Most of the trailway goes through farmland, but there are some woods and wetlands. There are a total of 48 bridges along the trail. The most recent addition to the trail is the asphalt section from County Road PB on the east side of Verona, to County Road PD in Fitchburg.
With the price of gas being felt in all of our homes, consider biking as a commuting alternative, as well as a weekend adventure for you and your family. For more information on biking in Wisconsin, contact my office at (608) 266-6670 or (888) 549-0027.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, represents the 27th Senate District, which includes Green County and portions of Dane, Rock and Lafayette counties.
There are great resources online with details about Wisconsin's biking trails, including a downloadable state bike trail map and biking trail maps for all of Wisconsin's 72 counties. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation works with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin to distribute these maps. Visit the WisDOT Web site www.dot.wisconsin.gov and search for biking trails to see biking resources.
South central Wisconsin's own bike trail gem is the Badger State Trail. Once a railway in the region, in 1997 the Department of Natural Resources began to look at the possibility of converting the corridor to a recreational trail under the federal Rails to Trail Act. In 2006, the DNR master plan for the rail bed was approved by the Natural Resources Board, making it the Badger State Trail. Some historical points of interest along the Badger trail include the depot in Belleville, built in 1888, the Woolen Mill in Monticello, and the curved tunnel south of Belleville.
The City of Fitchburg has submitted a request to complete the Badger State Trail to the Transportation Enhancement Grant Committee. The committee meets this month to consider the application. This addition to the trail will make it a safe pathway for downtown commuters who currently follow busy streets downtown. The completion of this trail also will be a big advantage for bikers in our area and to the communities along the Badger State Trail. It will be a goal achieved for all of us who have worked on the Badger State Trail project when it is completed.
Another great trail that runs through south central Wisconsin is the Military Ridge Trail.
The Military Ridge Trail runs for 40 miles from Dodgeville to Fitchburg. Between Dodgeville and Mount Horeb, the trail follows along the top of Military Ridge. The high point on the trail is at Blue Mounds, at about 1,300 feet, and the lowest point is between Riley and Verona at around 930 feet. Most of the trailway goes through farmland, but there are some woods and wetlands. There are a total of 48 bridges along the trail. The most recent addition to the trail is the asphalt section from County Road PB on the east side of Verona, to County Road PD in Fitchburg.
With the price of gas being felt in all of our homes, consider biking as a commuting alternative, as well as a weekend adventure for you and your family. For more information on biking in Wisconsin, contact my office at (608) 266-6670 or (888) 549-0027.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, represents the 27th Senate District, which includes Green County and portions of Dane, Rock and Lafayette counties.
