The Badger Trail

The Badger State Trail will become the most popular trail in Wisconsin because of its connection to Madison, WI and the Stewart Tunnel. Officially the contractor has until May 2007 to complete work, but work is being completed much faster. All bridges and the tunnel are complete with the following statement being made as parts of the trail to the south are complete.

Use of the trail will not be closed to public use, but will not be officially open. In Green County, snowmobiling will be allowed whenever there is 4 inches of snow, or the trail has a groomed base. Snowmobile use will not be permitted in the Stewart Tunnel. From the Green-Dane county line north to Sun Valley Parkway, snowmobiling will be allowed whenever there is 6 inches of snow, or the trail has a groomed base.

From December 1 to March 15 when the trail is not open for snowmobiling (4 inches of snow depth, or trail has been groomed and has a snow base) All-terrain vehicle (ATV) use is only allowed from 21st Street in Monroe to Lake Avenue in Monticello if trail surface is frozen and air temperature approximately 28° F or lower on trail tread only.

All-terrain vehicle conditions, openings and closures are announced at the Tri-County Trails web site
Badger State Trail is a "Rails to Trails" trail extending from Madison, WI to the Illinois state line. At the state line it connects to the Jane Addams Trail which brings you into Freeport, Il. , Located between Belleville and Monticello, the bike trail goes through Stewart tunnel, which will be a highlight for bicycle riders. Due to a slight bend in the tunnel, you look into total darkness when looking forward in the tunnel. A total of over $300,000 was spent to make the tunnel safe for bikers.

For more information, please visit:
Badger State Trail running through Belleville, Monticello, Monroe

December 1, 2006
NEW GLARUS - Parts of the new Badger State Recreational Trail will be open to some all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile recreation under certain conditions, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

All-terrain vehicles

ATV use will be permitted in Green County from Dec. 1 to March 15 on the section of trail running from 21st Street in Monroe to Lake Avenue in Monticello under the following conditions:

• Trail surface must be frozen;
  
• Air temperature about 28 degrees Fahrenheit or lower;
  
• Vehicles not allowed off trail tread;
  
• ATVs not allowed when the trail is open to snowmobiling.

The Badger State Trail follows the 40-mile long former Illinois Central Railroad corridor in Dane and Green counties from Madison to the Illinois state line. It also intersects with the Capitol City Trail in Fitchburg and the Sugar River State Trail near Monticello.

Snowmobiling

The trail in Green County will be open for snowmobiling when the snow depth is four inches or the trail has a groomed base. Snowmobiling is not permitted in the Stewart Tunnel, also know as the Exeter Tunnel, in the Town of Exeter. Snowmobiling will be allowed from the Dane County line north to Sun Valley Parkway just east of Paoli whenever there is six inches of snow or the trail has a groomed base. Snowmobile signposts have been installed along the trail.

The trail will be closed to ATV use when it is open for snowmobiling.

ATV and snowmobile use guidelines are the result of a Master Plan adopted by the state Natural Resources Board, the DNR's seven-citizen member policy-making body and written after a two-year process of gathering public opinion and input from other government agencies, municipalities and organizations.

Trail conditions, openings and closures to snowmobile and ATV use will be posted on the Tri-County Trails Web site at www.tricountytrails.org and available via telephone message at 527-2910.


Trail Construction and Surfacing Update

Trail construction continues and now all 40 bridges have been decked, along with railings and wing approaches installed.

The trail surface has been graded and fill placed and ditching where needed from the state line to Basco in Dane County. Pre-emergent herbicide was applied prior to laying the trail surface. Trail surfacing with 3/8 inch limestone screenings has been completed from the state line to Fahey Road near Belleville.

The entire trail is open to hiking, but bicycling is not recommended until trail surfacing is completed and regulatory and directional signs are installed.

Friends Group

A Friends Group has been formed for the Badger State Recreational Trail. It is comprised of volunteers who act as an advisory and auxiliary organization to help in fund-raising and operations that the state is not able to provide.

Persons interested in joining the Friends Group or looking for more information may contact Steve Johnston, DNR Green County work unit manager, at 527-2335.

Article Reference: The Times Plus, Monroe Times, Monroe, Wisconsin, USA

Published Monday, July 9, 2007 11:23:32 AM Central Time
By Marian Viney, Times Correspondent

BELLEVILLE -- With temperatures well into the 90s and the humidity hovering at 45 percent, state Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said Sunday, "It was a great day for those of us who want to enjoy the great outdoors."

Maybe in Stewart Tunnel, four miles south of Belleville, where it was an estimated 65 degrees.

Black, a bicycle enthusiast, also encouraged the more than 250 in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Badger State Trail in Belleville's Library Park to "burn calories instead of hydrocarbons."

When completed, the 40-mile Badger State Trail will connect Madison to the Jane Addams Trail in Illinois and the Grand Illinois Trail System.

About seven miles of the Badger State Trail from Paoli through Fitchburg and into Madison is not yet complete. It will cost about $1.2 million to complete.

With the trail officially open, bikers, hikers and snowmobilers will have access to more than 100 miles of off-road recreational trails with trail connections to the Sugar River, Military Ridge, Capital City and Glacial Drumlin state trails.

ATV users will have access to the trail between Monroe and Monticello during the winter months.

Excited about the turnout, Green County Tourism Director Noreen Rueckert read from Gov. Jim Doyle's Certificate of Commendation that recognized "July 8, 2007, as a day to celebrate the grand opening of the Badger State Trail.

"I encourage all Wisconsinites to take advantage of this outstanding recreational opportunity," the governor's proclamation read.

Rueckert also read a statement from Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk that declared July 8 Badger State Trail Day.

State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, challenged the residents of the communities along the trail to "build upon the opportunities for economic development and to be creative in doing so to enhance the quality of life."

After the ribbon was cut, about 80 people trekked to Stewart Tunnel where Steven Johnston, manager of the Green County Work Unit of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, greeted them. He said that he was "astounded and gratified by the turnout" and added that it is "an indication of the impact that the trail will have on the communities along the trail and throughout the state of Wisconsin."

Article Reference: The Times Plus, Monroe Times, Monroe, Wisconsin, USA