Capital City State Trail: Lake Farm Road to Cottage Grove Road

A ride on the Capital City State Trail from William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park to the path’s end at the junction of Cottage Grove Road and Stoughton Road (U.S. Highway 51) takes cyclists through a variety of landscapes. This 8.9 mile route passes through the rural lowlands of Capital Springs State Recreation Area and into Madison’s urban areas. The entire route travels on a paved trail, in excellent condition. In downtown Madison, the path is often filled with trail-goers. Because of the high volume of traffic, cyclists need to us caution and appropriate speed on this section of the Capital City State Trail.

The trailhead at William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park is on Lake Farm Road. It has a portable toilet, information kiosk, self-registration station, bike rack, and park benches. By car, drive south from Madison’s Beltline (U.S. Highways 12-18) at exit 264 onto South Towne Drive. The road becomes Raywood Drive. After 0.7 mile, turn left (east) onto Moorland Road, which becomes Lake Farm Road. The trailhead is located on the right (west) after 0.7 mile.

From that trailhead, the path crosses Lake Farm Road and connects to the Lower Yahara River Trail. An information kiosk is at the junction of these two trails. The Lower Yahara River Trail heads east to the nearby Lussier Family Heritage Center and Lunney Lake Farm County Park campground. Camping is available there, and convenient for cyclists.

The Capital City State Trail turns left (north) at the trail junction, continuing for a mile through the 2,500 acre Capital Springs State Recreation Area. This large wetland area is managed by Dane County Parks. The trail runs next to city streets in this section. After a half mile, it passes the Lewis Nine Springs E-way. This potential trailhead has a parking lot, restrooms, information kiosk, and boardwalk trail leading to a viewing station in the marsh.

Continuing north from Lewis Nine Springs E-way, the trail follows Moorland and Raywood Roads for 0.7 mile. Where Raywood Road becomes South Towne Drive, the Capital City State Trail turns left (east) and crosses the road. A crosswalk is found at this intersection, but there are no flashing lights to employ. A small rest area there has an information kiosk, water fountain, and self-service bicycle repair station.

The trail proceeds 0.6 mile through forest and meadow to Nob Hill Road. At this intersection is another trail rest area. It has an information kiosk and self-service pay station. After crossing Nob Hill Road, the path passes under the Beltline ( U.S. Highways 12-18) and turns left (west). A spur trail leads off to the right to Waunona Way. A third rest area is found a short distance down the trail. It has park benches and a bicycle self-service station.

From the rest area, it is 0.6 miles northwest to a trailhead parking lot on the edge of Olin Park. In this section, the trail runs aside John Nolen Drive, past businesses and hotels. There is a B-Cycle station found in this section. Stations for B-Cycles, Madison’s public bike rental program, have been placed throughout the city and especially by trails.

The trailhead parking lot is located on Olin Turville Court. No facilities are there, but nearby Olin Park has restrooms, a beach, playground, restored historic pavilion, a boat launch, historical markers, and athletic fields. It is also home to a pavilion that dates back to 1884. Adjacent is Turville Point Conservation Park, a quiet, wooded preserve with nature trails.

By car, Olin Park is reached from Madison’s Beltline (U.S. Highways 12-18). Take exit 263 north on John Nolen Drive and drive for 0.7 mile. Turn right (east) on Olin Turville Court at the second traffic light. The parking lot for the trail is immediately to the right (east).

From Olin Park, the Capital City State Trail continues north on Olin Turville Court for 0.4 mile, crossing Wingra Creek. The Wingra Creek Trail leads off to the left (west) under a bridge on John Nolen Drive and alongside the creek. That trail travels 2.2 miles to Henry Vilas Zoo and the UW Arboretum. To the right (east) of the trail is an Olin Park parking lot.

The Capital City State Trail continues north adjacent to John Nolen Drive on a causeway dividing Lake Monona and Monona Bay. Along the 0.7 mile causeway, the trail crosses three bridges. Excellent views of downtown Madison and Lake Monona are found in this section. At the end of the causeway, a spur trail to Brittingham Park Path leads off to the left (north) across John Nolen Drive. This trail also connects to Madison’s Southwest Commuter Path.

The trail continues along the shoreline of Lake Monona, passing through Law Park. Benches and picnic tables there offer scenic views of the lake. The trail next travels by Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. It’s worth taking a break here to enjoy the vista.

Monona Terrace was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1938 and constructed in 1997. In addition to a convention center, the impressive structure has a gift shop, rooftop gardens with lake views, and public tours on specific days of the week. A bicycle and pedestrian elevator is found at the building’s east end next to the stair tower. It’s accessible from all levels between the bicycle/pedestrian path at Lake Monona level, and the Wilson Street/Olin Terrace. The large building has nine bicycle racks spread throughout the structure.

After passing Monona Terrace, the trail returns to Law Park. The Mad-City Ski Team performs free water skiing shows there most Sundays in the summer. Near the parking lot is another B-Cycle station. Before crossing busy Williamson Street at a controlled intersection, bicyclists may want to visit neighboring Machinery Row Bicycles. It’s a substantial, well-known bike shop housed in an old Madison factory.

Great caution should be used when crossing Williamson Street. Trail-goers should be sure to employ the crossing signals. Wearing bright colored clothing and using bicycle lights is also recommended. In Madison, trail crosswalks are painted or paved in green to designate the route. After the intersection, the trail runs northeast 0.6 mile past several industries, including Madison Gas & Electric’s powerplant. In this section, it crosses four streets.

McPike Park next appears to the left (north). The small park has restrooms and skatepark. It is home to festivals and a summer farmers market. From the park, the bike route follows Wilson Street for 0.4 miles, crossing three streets. The path resumes at Dickinson Street.

The Capital City State Trail’s path departs the Marquette Neighborhood at Thornton Avenue. A rest area there has park benches, a bicycle self-service station, and map kiosk. When biking the trail in November 2022, this self-service station showed evidence of vandalism. Throughout the trail, some of the map kiosks have been sprayed with graffiti.

The trail then crosses the Yahara River. This small river connects the area’s four lakes. Next to the bridge is a historical marker conveying the story of the Yahara River Parkway. At Winnebago Street, the trail enters the Schenk-Atwood Neighborhood, and follows Eastwood Drive for a half mile. Another B-Cycle station is found in this section. The path crosses Atwood Avenue diagonally. It is another busy intersection with a crosswalk and lights.

After Jackson Street, trail-goers may want to stop and visit Madison’s own Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company. The creamery is known for producing creamy textures and inventive flavors. This store offers a variety of tasty flavors for all ice cream connisseurs.

Over the next 0.3 mile, the trail passes several community gardens. An information kiosk provides details about this urban initiative. After crossing Waubesa Street, the path runs by the buildings of the Goodman Community Center, where another B-Cycle station is found. As the trail turns southeast, the Starkweather Creek Path veers off to the left (north).

For its final 1.7 miles, the Capital City State Trail runs straight southeast. After crossing Fair Oaks Avenue, it goes by Garver Feed Mill. This renovated mill is now home to various artists, food producers, studios, and retailers. Opposite the trail is Olbrich Botanical Gardens, a non-profit organization with 16 acres of outdoor gardens and the Bolz Conservatory. Olbrich has a gift shop, horticultural library, restrooms, and offers events and classes. Both Garver Feed Mill and Olbrich are accessible from the trail via Sugar Avenue.

As the trail crosses Starkweather Creek, it departs the Schenk-Atwood Neighborhood and enters the Starkweather Community. Olbrich Park, to the right (south), has many amenities. It also serves as the path’s eastern trailhead. It has restrooms, playgrounds, picnic tables and shelters, a beach and boat launch, athletic fields and courts, and ball diamonds.

By car, Olbrich Park is accessed from Madison’s Beltline (U.S. Highways 12 and 18). Take exit 265 north onto Monona Drive. Drive three miles through Monona and into Madison, where the street becomes Atwood Avenue. Turn right (north) onto Walter Street. The parking lot is 500 feet south of the Capital City State Trail.

After Olbrich Park, the trail continues southeast along an active railway line that joined the trail near the Goodman Center. At Dennet Drive, the trail moves from the south side of the tracks to the north side. It continues for nearly a mile to its terminus at Cottage Grove Road. Along the way, spur trails veer off to local neighborhoods.

^{Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.}

At the junction with Cottage Grove Road and Stoughton Road (U.S. Highway 51), the trail abruptly ends. Future plans call for the path’s extension eastward, where ideally it will join the Glacial Drumlin State Trail in Cottage Grove over six miles away. There is no trailhead or parking lot at this junction; the nearest trailhead is in Olbrich Park.

The setting of the Capital City State Trail in this section changes drastically as it advances nearly nine miles to its terminus. The first few miles are rural, as the trail meanders through Capital Springs State Recreation Area. North of Madison’s busy Beltline, the scenery changes to an urban environment. The city scene continues to the path’s end at Cottage Grove Road. But the intriguing vistas of the appealing landscape remain unchanged.

Trail last ridden and documented in November, 2022.