Explore the best rated trails in Sun Prairie, WI. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Levee Trail (Portage) and Lower Yahara River Trail. With more than 44 trails covering 481 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.
If you're going to Baraboo for Circus World, don't miss this short, beautiful trail along the river. There are parks on either end. You have to ride on sidewalks near the downtown area & past CW. I stretched it out to 13 miles by going on city streets & doubling back for a ways.
If you need a break from the waterparks at the Dells this is a short drive on 4 lane road. I read the book "Ringlingville" and this trip made it come alive. This is probably not a "destination" trail but worth it if you're in the area.
Thank you to all involved in the creation of this trail! A beautiful ride with open country/shaded paved paths with some road driving but it’s a very nice ride!
Pheasant Branch Conservancy is a wonderful place to bicycle, run, walk or go birding. The scenery is gorgeous. Part of the path runs along a creek and you bike over wooden footbridges. You may see cranes, geese, turkeys, deer or pheasants. Be sure to see the eagles’ nest! The bike path is great for all ages. Not a lot of elevation changes. It does get very busy on the weekends with families.
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."
Wisconsin Bike Trip Report - Cycle Seven Rails to Trails in Five Days: In August 2022, our group of 11 went on a self-guided partially supported bike ride covering seven Rails to Trails in Central Wisconsin near La Crosse, Sparta and Eau Claire. Turned out to be an amazing trip with great weather, except the last day during which it rained. Great variety of environments and trails, including some short bridges and long tunnels, shaded woodlands and bright prairie. Attached is a pdf detailing the logistics and planning we carried out to make the trip happen. TrailLink.com has great description of each individual trail. Over five days of riding we covered:
1. Elroy-Sparta State Trail
2. Great River State Trail
3. La Crosse River State Trail
4. 400 State Trail
5. Red Cedar State Trail
6. Chippewa River State Trail
7. Old Abe Trail
For a 5 page pdf summary document of our trip with maps and logistics, see: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mk5DYWU-LirXlXT9_B3R6ZbDn4Iautr_/view?usp=sharing
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.
The path is now paved from Big Hill Park, which is just North of Beloit WI off of Afton Road, and goes to Janesville WI. In Janesville there are several paved paths which directly connect. There is plenty of parking at Big Hill Park, along with water, and bathrooms. A good portion of the trail runs along the scenic Rock River. I’ve seen many native species as I road. Enjoy your ride!
This path runs from Big Hill Park, just North of Beloit WI., off of Afton Road, to several paved paths in Janesville WI. There is plenty of parking at Big Hills Park, along with bathrooms and water. The entire trail is on a paved path or on low volume paved roads. It’s a wonderful ride! The ride from Big Hill Par to Janesville is about 11 miles. Hope you enjoy your ride as much as I do ¿¿
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.
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