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 Jane Addams Trail . With more than 28 trails covering 327 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.
The Galena River Trail is well packed crushed stone suited for road bike tires. It meanders through the woods along the river and to the Mississippi River. There is a section that shares the road with death machines that are supposed to yield. This section has larger looser rock. Overall I rate this trail 5 stars and I recommend checking it out. Traveling cyclist Facebook
I rode the Northwest Arterial Trail on a chilly day in early September. It’s a nice paved trail that runs beside the NW Arterial Road so it’s a bit noisy and there are a few death machine crossings. It’s nice that it connects to the Heritage Trail in the north. I also found some Iowa hills! I give this one four stars for highway noise. Traveling cyclist Facebook
I happened upon this trail as I was riding the Heritage Trail that it connects to. Very enjoyable and beautiful trail. Great spot for the locals. 5 stars from me.. Traveling Cyclist Facebook
The Paint Creek trail is short but very enjoyable. At some point a tracked vehicle was on the trail when it was soft and left some track stutter bumps that reduced my enjoyment. There was a short repaired section that had large loose rocks. I started on the west side but I could not completely finish the trail because it was flooded toward the east end. I give it 4 stars only for the manmade stutter bumps.
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I rode this trail in August 2024. I normally prefer to stick to paved trails but I’m glad I checked this one out. It meanders through woods and along the Turkey River. It’s pretty smooth riding other than a short section of larger loose rock soon after heading south out of Elkader and at the underpass of Hwy 13 but it smooths out again for the remainder. I was able to maintain 18 mph with 700X38 tires. 5 stars for this guy. Traveling cyclist Facebook
Tried biking from Monticello to New Glarus to get some lunch. Didn’t last long due to horrible trail conditions. Ended up riding back to Exeter Road and rode country roads to get to Badger State Trail. Very disappointing. I had great memories of riding the Sugar River Trail as a kid, now I’m worried about breaking a spike or bending a rim. Stay off unless you’re up to a rough ride, have lots of patience, a bike repair kit as well as a First Aid kit!
Rode the trail from New Glarus to Albany yesterday for 30 mile round trip. The trail needs some heavy duty repair like grading and a fresh layer of traffic bond. Not very suitable for a road bike ! The state really needs to fix it soon.
Like another user said, there are ruts and lots of loose gravel from Ridgeway to mount Horeb. Unfortunately I found one coming off a bridge and fell off my bike. I landed on right side l, got some bruises and road rash but no brokens or sprains. I had avoided some bigger, deeper ones closer to Mount Horeb but did not see this one between Ridgeway and Barneveld.
I ride the Jane Adams (Il. path) to the Badger (Wi. state line) several times a week as they connect to the Sugar River Trail.
All have amazing views. One bridge missing on the Badger and the tunnel will be reopened in summer 2025 on the Badger.
It's been a horrible year with flooding, tornadoes, trees down and clearing. Trail work has been tedious. But I give the DNR an 'A' for effort.
Plenty of trail heads, places to eat and nature to enjoy.
Unfortunately the picnic tables and benches never seemed to be mowed around much this entire 2024 on all three paths.
Beauty, peace and tranquility is what I get out of it. Often week days I can put in 25 miles and maybe see one other rider.
Good but not great this year.
Biked from New Glarus to Albany round trip. Very disappointed in quality of the trail. Doesn’t appear to be well maintained. Originally planned to bike to Brodhead, but turned around early.
We e-biked a Brodhead to New Glarus round trip with a short jaunt from Crazy Horse Campground (Great Place near the trail in Brodhead). Perfect day: 80 degrees, sunny, low humidity, a few mosquitos when we stopped. We have done this route two other times and this time was still a great experience even after recent weather events. Wisconsin DNR teams were clearing, mowing and as always extremely kind. There was one tricky, soft and slightly washed area just north of Monticello.
An incredible lesson learned while on the trail today. If you ever come across something of value to someone else....like a government ID or a wallet...pick it up and turn it in to the local police/sheriff. The owner of such item will be forever grateful to your kindness.
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