Sugar River State Trail: Albany to Brodhead
Sugar River State Trail from Albany to Broadhead is a short ride through farmlands, prairies, and meadows of Green County. Much of the path is shaded due to a corridor of trees and bushes that surround it. A highlight of a ride on this trail section is crossing Norwegian Creek through the quaint Clarence Covered Bridge.
The trailhead in Albany is located on 4th Street. A large sign on Wisconsin State Highway 59 indicates the trail’s intersection. To reach the trailhead, turn south onto N. Cincinnati Street from the highway, and drive a half mile. Then turn left (east) on 4th Street. The trailhead has a parking lot, flush toilets, picnic table, and an information kiosk.
Before Albany was settled by white Americans and other imigrants, the land was inhabited by the Ho Chunk nation. They called the river “Tonasookarah” because of the sugar maples growing along its banks. In 1839, James Campbell and Thomas Stewart arrived in the area and re-named it “Campbell’s Ford.” In the 1840s and 1850s, other settlers made Albany their home. Attracted by the river’s water power and potential farmland, families came from New York and New England, as well as Norway, Germany, Ireland, Wales, and Switzerland.
The Sugar River State Trail heads south along the edge of Albany before venturing into rural farmland. For the first 0.3 miles, from the trailhead to Bump Road, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail shares the path. Bicyclists should keep an eye out and yield to hikers in this short section. At Bump Road, the two trails diverge.
By heading south on the trail, bicyclists enjoy a slight downhill ride. After paralleling County Highway E for several miles, the trail makes a series of sharp corners as it skirts a subdivision near Brodhead. These two bends have sharp angles, so reduced speed is advised. After a short distance, a highlight of the trail comes into view. It is a delight to bike through the 1984 replicated Clarence Covered Bridge as it passes over Norwegian Creek.
The Sugar River State Trail ends after 6.3 miles at Decatur Road in Brodhead. A picnic table and information kiosk are found at this intersection, but no parking area. American Legion Park is 0.3 miles away, and serves well as a trailhead. It has a parking lot, playground, covered picnic shelter, and flush toilets. To reach the park from the trail terminus, head left on Decatur Road, and turn right on E. 2nd Avenue. By car, the park is accessed by turning north on County Highway E from Wisconsin State Highway 11, and driving 350 yards. Turn right (east) on Green Street, and right again (south) on 2nd Avenue.
There are three other trailhead options in Brodhead. It is only a 0.3 mile west from the end of the trail on Decatur Road to Decatur Park. A parking lot there aside Sugar River works well as a trailhead. By car, the lot is reached by turning north on County Highway E from Wisconsin State Highway 11, and driving 0.3 mile. Turn left (west) onto Decatur Road, and go 0.4 mile to the parking lot on the right (north) side of the road.
From the parking lot at Decatur Park, bicyclists may continue their ride south on a separate trail that runs along the Sugar River into Brodhead. After 0.6 mile, a bridge crosses the river and branches off from the trail to the east. It leads to Putnam Park, another trailhead option. The park has restrooms, covered picnic shelter, swimming pool, athletic courts, and playground. Street parking is available on 3rd Avenue. By car, turn west on 5th Street from Wisconsin State Highway 11 and drive to 3rd Avenue.
The main trail running alongside Sugar River continues south for another 0.4 mile to downtown Brodhead. It crosses the river and ends at Pearl Island Recreational Corridor, off 11th Street. A parking lot, bathroom, and picnic tables are located there. To reach this trailhead by car from Putnam Park, drive south on 3rd Avenue, and turn right (west) on 11th Street. It is on the right (north) side of the road.
The city of Brodhead was named for Edward Brodhead, chief engineer of the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad. This company was the predecessor of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, better known as the “Milwaukee Road.”
Brodhead is home to a variety of colorful murals throughout the city. It also contains attractive vintage homes and a Depot Museum. The nearby Half-Way Tree was used by Native Americans to mark the halfway point between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Brodhead is notable for being one of the first communities in Wisconsin to provide electrical service to residents through a hydroelectric generator on the Sugar River.
Several local businesses cater to the needs of visitors in Brodhead. The downtown area on Wisconsin State Highway 11 (1st Center Avenue) and Exchange Street hosts a variety of dining options. The Tastee Cream, on Wisconsin State Highway 11 (1st Center Avenue) north of downtown and near the trailhead, is worth a stop for soft serve ice cream and sundaes.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
Two other places to visit in Brodhead are Decatur Dairy and Ten Eyck Orchard. Located on County Highway F west of Brodhead, Decatur Dairy is a small company that has been making cheese since the 1940’s. They produce a variety of cheese including Havarti and Muenster. It’s a perfect place to stop for lunch and enjoy one of their specialty grilled cheese sandwiches. Ten Eyck Orchard is also west of Brodhead, on Wisconsin State Highway 11. The orchard has been in the family since 1839, and features over 50 varieties of apples.
Trail last ridden and documented in August, 2020.