Military Ridge State Trail
Traveling 40 miles through Iowa and Dane Counties, the Military Ridge State Trail follows a former Chicago and Northwestern Railway corridor. The train line was operational from 1881 to 1982. Work to create a recreational trail began the following year after the line’s closure.
Years before the advent of the railroad, the 100-mile-long ridge stretching west to the Mississippi River was used as a transportation route by Native Americans. In 1835, soldiers from Fort Crawford in Prairie de Chien constructed Wisconsin’s first official road atop the ridge. The military road traveled much of the same route on which the bike trail now exists, until it ventured northeast at Mount Horeb. Built between 1835 and 1837, the road snaked its way to Fort Winnebago at Portage, and terminated at Fort Howard in Green Bay. Troops from each fort were responsible for building sections of the 234-mile route.
The crushed limestone trail begins in the city of Dodgeville. Making its way east on the Military Ridge, the trail passes Governor Dodge and Blue Mounds State Parks, as well as Brigham County Park. Just east of Mount Horeb, it drops into the Upper Sugar River Watershed. The trail’s grade ranges from 2-5%. It passes over 47 decked and railed bridges. The route meanders through small towns, farmland, forests, prairies, and wetlands. There are several observation platforms and interpretive markers along the way that convey the area’s natural and historic features.
The trail officially terminates at County Highway PD in the city of Fitchburg. But the paved path continues a few more miles to the Velo UnderRound in Madison. Bicycle maps differ on whether this 0.7-mile trail section is part of the Military Ridge State Trail, Cannonball Path, or Capital City State Trail. No matter the trail’s name, this segment leads to Madison’s major bike trail intersection. At this junction, bicyclists may access the Cannonball Path, Badger State Trail, Southwest Commuter Path, or Capital City State Trail.
The access fee for the Military Ridge State Trail is $5 daily or $25 for an annual pass. Passes are obtained at a DNR office, or from self-registration stations along the trail. Horses and motorized vehicles are not permitted on the trail. Obey all posted signs. Because most the trail is made of crushed limestone, the surface may become soft or wet after rain, and erosion may occur. Overall, the Military Ridge State Trail offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty and history of southwest Wisconsin.
Route Descriptions