Photo: Wisconsin DNR
The Badger State Trail travels 40 miles between Madison and the Wisconsin-Illinois border while traversing farmlands, woods, rolling hills, scenic meadows, remnant prairies, ravines, glacial topography and several small communities. The Badger State Trail also connects to many local parks and the Capital City and Sugar River state trails.
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Badger State Trail?
It depends on what you came for. Fall color is best in October; biking in May–June and September–October; ATV / UTV / off-road in January–February; and snowmobiling in January–February.
What can you do at Badger State Trail in each season?
Winter (December–February): hiking, ATV / UTV / off-road, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Spring (March–May): hiking and biking. Summer (June–August): hiking and biking. Fall (September–November): hiking, fall color and biking.
Do you need a state park sticker at Badger State Trail?
Not for the trail itself: walking and hiking Badger State Trail are free. Riders 16 and older need a state trail pass for biking and in-line skating: $5 a day or $25 a year. If you park in a lot inside a state park, forest or recreation area, that lot still needs a vehicle sticker.
What state parks and trails are near Badger State Trail?
The closest state properties, as the crow flies: New Glarus Woods State Park (3 mi), Sugar River State Trail (4 mi) and Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area (16 mi).
Good for
- Biking
- Hiking
- ATV / UTV / off-road
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Cross-country skiing
Best months
January · February · May · June · September · October
Visiting
- Admission: A state trail pass is required for bicycling and in-line skating.
- Hours: The trail is open year-round.
- Phone: 608-437-5711
Nearby
- New Glarus Woods State Park (3 mi)
- Sugar River State Trail (4 mi)
- Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area (16 mi)
- Yellowstone Lake State Park (21 mi)
- Capital City State Trail (21 mi)
Closures and alerts for Badger State Trail: updates · RSS · JSON Feed
Text and park details on this page come from the property's DNR pages, checked every Monday; last change October 24, 2026. Closures and notices load live. Check current conditions before you go.