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 8.8 mile route passes through the rural lowlands of Capital Springs State Recreation Area and into Madison’s urban areas.
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. It passes the Lewis Nine Springs E-way, which has a parking lot, restrooms, information kiosk, and boardwalk trail leading to a viewing station in the marsh.
A rest area is located where the trail crosses South Towne Drive. It has a bicycle self-service station, information kiosk, and water fountain. After South Towne Drive, the trail moves 0.6 miles through light forests and meadows to Nob Hill Road. Another rest area here has an information kiosk, self-service pay station, and picnic table.
After crossing Nob Hill Road, the path passes under the Beltline 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 often by trails.
The trailhead parking lot is on Olin Turville Court. No facilities are at that location, but Olin Park has restrooms, a beach, playground, restored historic pavilion, a boat launch, historical markers and athletic fields. 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 and 18). Take exit 263 north on John Nolen Drive for 0.7 mile. Turn right on Olin Turville Court at the second traffic light. The parking lot for the trail is immediately to the right (east).
The 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 the bridge of 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 Olin Park’s parking lot.
Departing Olin Park, the Capital City State Trail follows next 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, Brittingham Park Path heads left (north) across John Nolen Drive. It leads to the park and connects to the Southwest Commuter Path.
The Capital City State Trail continues along Lake Monona, passing through Law Park where benches and picnic tables offer picturesque views of the lake. The trail then passes Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, which is worth a rest stop.
Monona Terrace was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in1938 and constructed in1997. In addition to a convention center, the impressive structure has a gift shop, rooftop gardens with spectacular 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 9 bicycle racks spread throughout the structure.
Next, the trail returns to Law Park. In this area, the Mad-City Ski Team performs free water skiing shows most Sundays in the summer. Near the parking lot is another B-Cycle station. Before crossing Williamson Street, bicyclists may want to visit neighboring Machinery Row Bicycles, a substantial, well-known bike shop housed in an old Madison factory.
Great caution should be used when crossing Williamson Street, including use of 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 industries including Madison Gas & Electric’s powerplant. In this section, it crosses four streets.
McPike Park then comes into view to the left. This 10-acre park has restrooms and a skatepark, and is home to festivals and a summer farmers market. The route then 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. Next to the bridge is a historical marker conveying the story of the Yahara River Parkway. After Winnebago Street, the trail enters the Schenk-Atwood Neighborhood, and follows Eastwood Drive for a half mile. There is a B-Cycle station found in this section. The path crosses Atwood Avenue diagonally, at another busy intersection that offers crossing lights.
After Jackson Street, trail-goers may want to visit the seasonal Atwood Scoop which serves delicious Cedar Crest Ice Cream. A little further down the trail is Madison’s own Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company; known for its creamy textures and inventive flavors. Either place offers a refreshing ice cream treat.
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 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 and 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 3 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.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the 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 neighborhoods.
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 Trail in Cottage Grove over 6 miles away. There is no trailhead or parking lot at this junction; the nearest trailhead is in Olbrich Park.
Trail last ridden and documented in November, 2022.