Route: Sugar River State Trail (WI)

The Sugar River State Trail runs from the town of New Glarus, Wisconsin to Brodhead, Wisconsin on an abandoned railroad line. This route features many trestle bridges along the Sugar River, crossing through prairies, farmland, and woods and goes through the town of Monticello, Wisconsin and Albany, Wisconsin along the way. The north western terminus features a quick access trail to the New Glarus Woods State Park and in Monticello, you can access the Badger State Trail! Part of the Sugar River State Trail even shares some miles with the scenic national Ice Age Trail. These junctions provide a great network of trail systems.

This underappreciated trail could garner some fast times, being mostly crushed limestone, and offering good aid locations if needed along the way. This route can be done in either direction one-way, or done as an out and back. Have a stop in New Glarus for some of their famous spotted cow beer, and relax along the Sugar River after you are finished! The trail is open year-round for all sorts of activities including running, biking, and snowmobile in the winter.

This trail is further described on the Wisconsin DRN site: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/sugarriver