Capital City State Trail: Verona Road to Lake Farm Road

The Capital City State Trail journeys 8.1 miles through rural landscape from near Verona Road to a trailhead by William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park. The scenic route in this section includes several hills, some which may challenge beginning cyclists. It also has beautiful vistas of the rolling countryside and low marshes.

No trailhead or parking lot is located at the trail’s official start, which is found at Verona Frontage Road in Madison alongside busy Verona Road (U.S. Highways 18 and 151). From Verona Frontage Road, the paved path descends 70 feet over 0.4 mile. It passes Arrowhead Park and arrives at the Velo UnderRound, also called Dunn’s Marsh Roundabout. This hub connects four Madison-area trails: the Military Ridge State Trail, Badger State Trail, and Southwest Commuter Path. An information kiosk, self-registration station, and park benches are found there.

The path then enters Fitchburg, continuing southeast through Dawley’s Conservancy. This natural area of woodlands, prairies, and meadows surrounds Dunn’s Marsh. In summer, beautiful wildflowers grow along the path. A half mile from the Velo UnderRound, a spur trail leads to the right (south) uphill to the Dawley Bike Hub. A tremendous view of Dunn’s Marsh and conservancy lands is seen from this trailhead.

Dawley Bike Hub serves as the western trailhead of the Capital City State Trail. It has a parking lot, restrooms, drinking water, bicycle self-service station, shelter, park benches, and interpretive markers. To reach the trailhead by car from Verona Road (U.S. Highways 18 and 151), exit on McKee Road (County Road PD) and go east 0.9 mile to Seminole Highway. Turn left, and go 0.4 mile to Dawley Conservancy and Bike Hub.

From the Dawley Bike Hub, the spur trail descends a ridge to the Capital City State Trail. Heading right (east), the trail passes through the prairie of the conservancy to Seminole Road. East of the intersection, another spur trail crosses the path. Turning to the left (north) leads to the Cannonball Path. The main trail continues east, up a 50-foot climb over a half mile to Chicory Meadows Park. The trail passes through a wooded residential area before arriving at the open space of the park.

The Capital City State Trail winds through Chicory Meadows Park and its athletic fields, ball diamonds, basketball and tennis courts. After crossing Edenbery Street, the path moves back into the forest. It descends quickly before meeting a spur trail by Ashbourne Pond. It also leads north to the Cannonball Path.

Soon after, the trail passes under Longford Terrace through a tunnel. Spur trails lead up to the road on both sides. For the next half mile, the Capital City State Trail meanders through a wooded ravine. Nearby houses and apartments on the high banks are barely visible through the trees. In the midst of the metro area, it’s a delightful ride through this little dale and its series of bridges. Then the path climbs 30 feet up and out of the ravine, arriving at a rest stop with a bicycle self-service station and park benches.

Now at the intersection with Fish Hatchery Road, the trail crosses this busy street over a bridge. A spur trail leads to the street level, and joins other Fitchburg trails. Circling down to street level, the trail heads north for a short distance. It then turns right (southeast) into a bike lane on Glacier Valley Road and continues from 0.3 mile.

The path resumes on the left (east) side of the road. It descends a sloping ridge for a mile and a half, passing Gun Flint Pond and Eagle Elementary School, and traversing Cinque Terre Conservancy. The path then enters the wetlands of Nevin Springs Fish and Wildlife Area. This is the oldest of all Wisconsin DNR-managed properties, acquired by the state in 1876 for use as a fish hatchery. Today, this area is still managed for fish and wildlife habitat. Nine Springs Creek flows through the property.

From Glacier Valley Road, the Capital City State Trail runs nearly two miles to the next trailhead at Syene Road. This trailhead has a parking lot, self-registration station, information kiosk, and picnic table. It is accessed by car from U.S. Highway 14 in Fitchburg. Take exit 133 and drive west on McCoy Road for 0.7 mile. Turn right (north) on Syene Road. The trailhead is immediately to the left (west).

Heading east from the trailhead, the path follows McCoy Road to an intersection with U.S. Highway 14. Before passing under the four-lane highway, the path crosses McCoy Road from the north to the south side of the road. After going under the highway, the trail crosses County Road MM and continues east alongside Clayton Road.

There’s a gentle rise and fall in elevation over 0.9 miles between County Road MM and Larsen Road. The trail travels along the north side of a ridge, and offers an impressive view of the wetlands surrounding Nine Springs Creek. The highpoint of the ridge has a well-sited rest area with park benches and a bicycle self-service station.

After crossing Larsen Road, the trail runs a short distance through Blooming Grove Township before re-entering Madison. It also enters the lands of Capital Springs State Recreation Area. This 2,500-acre expanse is managed by Dane County Parks and the Wisconsin DNR. Summer recreation opportunities include camping, wildlife viewing, canoeing, kayaking, hunting, and fishing.

It’s just over a mile from Larsen Road to the trailhead at Lake Farm Road. In this section, the fairly-level path wanders through wetlands and forests.

Adjacent to the Capital Springs Disc Golf Course is a wooded rest area on the trail. It has information kiosks, bike racks, picnic tables, and park benches. The information kiosk provides details about Gilman Mounds. Before 1200 A.D., a linear mound and another mound resembling a mink were constructed by Native Americans. The mounds are located on the neighboring drumlin, a high ridge formed by ancient glaciers. The kiosk also relates how many of this area’s prehistoric mounds were destroyed by farming or urbanization.

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

After passing by the disc golf course, the Capital City State Trail arrives at a trailhead near William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park. Located on Lake Farm Road, it has a portable toilet, information kiosk, self-registration station, bike rack, and park benches. It is reached by car from the Madison beltline (U.S. Highways 12-18). Take exit 264 south on South Towne Drive. The road turns into Raywood Drive. After 0.7 mile, turn left onto Moorland Road which  becomes Lake Farm Road. The trailhead is on the right after 0.7 mile, across the road from the Lussier Family Heritage Center and county campground.

Trail last ridden and documented in November, 2022.