Explore the best rated trails in Platteville, WI. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Bellevue Rivervue Trail and Badger State Trail. With more than 28 trails covering 324 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This was a fantastic trail, very compact crushed limestone rail trail through a variety of environments. From cliff walls to farmland and following a nice stream and all mostly shaded! I can’t recommend this trail enough. We rode from Sageville (we found no parking at the Dubuque end of the trail so recommend going to the trailhead in Sageville) to Dyersville and back. Heading to Dyersville is a slight incline which made the ride back to Dubuque a little easier. Bathrooms and shelters at several stops along the trail. If I’m not mistaken you cross over 32 railroad bridges- all well maintained! Will definitely ride this one again.
Rode the Pine River Trail from Lone Rock to Richland Center and back yesterday. It was an enjoyable ride with a couple caveats. The trail is set up more for snowmobilers than bicyclists. In general, this is not an issue. Going out of Lone Rock the trail is crush rocked with grass in the middle. Not a problem to pedal. You will ride through various types of scenery. There is a prairie with cacti between Lone Rock and Gotham, a unique sight in WI. The trail is along the Pine River, and its inlets and oxbow ponds, for much of the way. There are quite a few wooden bridges.
But at around the 9-10 mile mark we encountered equipment working on the trail. Basically, first they tilled it, which resulted in loose sand and dirt that was impossible for me to pedal through. So, we walked for a half mile or so. We then encountered a machine compacting the ground, which made it rideable again. Near Richland Center the trail is paved as it goes through parkland along the river. Had a great lunch at RC Tacos on the west end of town. We were able to pedal all the way back on the return trip, although it was a bit slow going in some stretches.
Overall, I recommend the trail, but be aware it is a bit rougher than some. Best ridden on a hybrid or mountain bike. You will likely have it much to yourself.
This is well worth riding off the trail with true home made baked goods. I had the best sugar donut in years. Monticello and New Glarus make this trail one to visit.
I've contacted the Wisconsin DNR and received this update on the Monroe closure:
"Tracy – Thank you for your interest in the Badger State Trail. The Badger State Trail is fully open from north of Monroe, with only one detour around the tunnel near Belleville.
Last year a bridge was damaged and we were forced to close a section of the Badger State Trail due to this. This bridge has been removed and an at grade crossing installed. This was likely the area they were mentioning in the trail review."
If you ride on skinny high pressure tires and wear a lot of lycra, this trail may not be for you as other reviews indicate. However if you ride a mountain bike with good suspension and are reasonably fit, (I'm 63) it's a nice ride. There are always one or two jerks on ATVs but the vast majority slow down and give a friendly wave as they go past. I recommend weekday travel.
Beautiful trail. However the surface was a pain. The “gravel” was soft and bumpy for several miles. We would have given it 5 stars otherwise.
Took advantage of the mild weather forecasted and did the ride I had put off all summer. The fall leaves were just beyond their peak but still quite colorful. The trail surface was good except for some sections between Ridgeway and Dodgeville that were rutty and sandy. Restrooms were still open in Mt Horeb, Barneveld, and Ridgeway.
Stopped at the Brix cidery in Mt Horeb for cider and an apple cider doughnut. Stayed overnight at the Pine Ridge motel in Dodgeville - clean, quiet and only a couple hundred yards from the trail.
It's a pretty trail and nice and quiet, but not trike friendly. With two lanes separated by a grassy strip, I was always dragging one or two wheels through the grass so it was a bit of a rough ride and slow. The lanes are pretty smooth, so two-wheelers will not have a problem, but it's not a great ride for a recumbent trike
I rode from Richland Center to Lone Rock today. The trail has segments of asphalt in Richland Center, then basically dirt with some fine gravel, and lastly packed limestone. You need a hybrid bike. I thoroughly enjoyed the trail with its mix of environments. Richland Center has restaurants and a good coffee shop downtown. Lone Rock has a tavern. Good trail to take if you are staying in this area. I’d definitely recommend it.
On their site they said had a message from Aug.9 that the trail got beat up from a storm.So today I took a shot and gave it a try.Bad choice.I (silly me) would have thought they would have done some repairs,nope.Hang on to your handlebars.I went home after 7 miles one way,maybe next year after repairs.Other than that flat and straight,nice rural feel and quite.
Just rode this today and all the negative reviews are spot on.
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