Map of Military Ridge State Trail
Military Ridge State Trail
Military Ridge State Trail
LENGTH:
40 miles
SURFACE:
unpaved / paved
COMMUNITIES:
Dodgeville, Ridgeway, Barneveld, Blue Mounds, Mt. Horeb, Verona, Fitchburg
HIGHLIGHTS:
rail trail, Wisconsin countryside, farmland, woods, small communities
NEARBY TRAILS:
Reddan Soccer Park Path
Cannonball Path
Southwest Path
RELATED LINKS:
The Military Ridge State Trail is a 40-mile long unpaved and paved trail that extends from Dodgeville to Fitchburg, a suburb of Madison, in South Central Wisconsin. The route goes through Iowa County and Dane County. Much of the trail travels through rural Wisconsin, going past farmland, through thick wooded areas, across wetlands and open prairie.The trail passes through several local communities along the way.
Most of the trail was constructed along an abandoned railroad bed, but portions of the trail follow an old 1855 military route between Verona and Dodgeville. The trail goes along Military Ridge, which is the natural divide between the Wisconsin River Watershed and the Rock River Watershed. East of the community of Mt. Horeb, the trail goes through the Sugar River Valley.
Conditions
The Military Ridge State Trail is mostly unpaved with a surface of compacted crushed limestone. There is 2.5-miles of the trail that is paved. The trail is a multi-use trail open to hiking, dog walking, and bike riding. In winter, the trail is not plowed or groomed and is open for cross county skiing and snowshoeing. Snowmobiles are allowed on certain sections of the trail.
A Wisconsin State Trail Pass is required to use the trail for cyclists over the age of 16.
Communities
The Military Ridge State Trail goes through the following communities: Dodgeville, Ridgeway, Barneveld, Blue Mounds, Mt. Horeb, Verona and Fitchburg.
Points of Interest
Points of interest along the Military Ridge State Trail include:
| Pine Cliff State Natural Area |
| Governor Dodge State Park |
| Blue Mound State Park |
| Stewart County Park |
| Liberty Park |
| Waltz Park |
| City of Verona Civic Offices |
| Hometown USA Community Park |
| Badger Prairie County Park |
| Quarry Ridge Recreation Center |
| Sugar River Wetlands State Natural Area |
Nearby Trails
The Military Ridge State Trail connects to several other regional and local recreational trails within Verona and Madison.
Cannonball Path: The two trails meet at Cottonwood Drive to the south of McKee Road and Highway 151 in Fitchburg.
End Points
The western end of the Military Ridge State Trail is located at Highway 23 and County Highway Yz in the community of Dodgeville.
The eastern end of the Military Ridge State Trail is located near McKee Road and Highway 18 in the City of Fitchburg, just south of Madison. At this location, the Cannonball Path connects to the Military Ridge State Trail and heads into the southern part of the City of Madison.
Resources
Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the Military Ridge State Trail in Wisconsin.
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