Glacial Drumlin State Trail
The Glacial Drumlin State Trail was created in 1986 and rates as one of Wisconsin’s best bicycle trails. The 52-mile trail runs east from Cottage Grove and Waukesha. The route traverses Dane, Jefferson, and Waukesha Counties. Along the way, it passes through the communities of Cottage Grove, Deerfield, London, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Helenville, Sullivan, Dousman, Wales, and Waukesha. Trailheads and parks are located in or near these communities. Many of the small towns offer places to grab a bite to eat and relax.
The surface of Glacial Drumlin State Trail is crushed limestone, in good condition. From Dousman to Waukesha, a distance of 14 miles, the surface is paved with asphalt. The trail crosses 16 wooden bridges along the way. West of Jefferson, the trail follows country roads for 1.6 miles. Future plans call for the Glacial Drumlin State Trail to connect east with the Capital City in Madison and west to join Hank Aaron State Trail in Milwaukee.
The Glacial Drumlin State Trail follows a former section of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway’s line called the Madison–Milwaukee mainline. It was established in 1882, and connected the state’s capital city to its largest city. The Capitol 400 was the name of the passenger service that began operating in 1942. The Capitol 400 ended in 1971, with freight service terminating in 1984. Two years later, the corridor opened as a recreational trail.
Much of the landscape along Glacial Drumlin State Trail is low and marshy. The wetlands posed challenges during railway construction. Bridges over wetlands often warped or sagged when pilings sank in the muck. Today, the trail passes through the same terrain. The area surrounding Mud Creek and in Zeloski Marsh is some of the lowest wetlands on the trail.
While biking on the Glacial Drumlin State Trail, evidence of the impact of ancient glaciers on the land is apparent. Massive sheets of ice that crept southwest created wetlands, ponds, and rivers. Another distinguishing glacial feature is the many oval-shaped hills called drumlins. They are composed of glacial drift, which includes clay, silt, sand, gravel, and boulders. The hills are aligned in the direction that the ice sheets flowed.
Running through farmland, forests, and wetlands, a variety of wildlife may be spotted from the trail. Sandhill cranes have bright red caps on their heads, and a distinctive call. Ducks and geese frequent ponds and marshes, while spring peeper frogs and songbirds are heard. White-tailed deer, wild turkeys, red foxes, and other wildlife are commonly seen.
Because it is situated between Madison and Milwaukee, the trail is well-known and well-used. The path sees a lot of weekend traffic on its west near larger municipalities or the west and east ends. Trailhead parking areas in Cottage Grove, Wales, and Waukesha may be congested on weekends, especially mid-day. In Waukesha, cyclists may continue their ride by connecting with Waukesha’s Fox River Trail or the New Berlin Trail.
Trailheads with parking lots are found in most towns along the trail. State campgrounds are located near the trail in Lake Mills, Dousman, and Delafield. These include campgrounds in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Lake Kegonsa State Park, Capital Springs State Recreation Area, and at the Sandhill Station State Campground.
A state trail pass is required for use on the Glacial Drumlin State Trail by bicyclists and in-line skaters aged 16 and older. The cost is $5 for daily use, or a $25 annual pass may be purchased. Exercise caution while biking on the trail, and obey all posted rules.