Glacial Drumlin + Capital City Trail Connector
Madison, Wisconsin
About the Glacial Drumlin and Capital City Trail Connector
Madison and Milwaukee are Wisconsin's two largest cities — it only makes sense to have a cohesive trail connecting the two metropolitan areas. Residents and visitors of Madison utilize the beautiful Capital City Trail that winds around the city’s lakes and downtown and reaches more suburban areas. Meanwhile, the 52-mile Glacial Drumlin Trail draws users from across the state with trailheads in Cottage Grove and Waukesha.
Many cyclists agree that the most challenging aspect of the trek from Milwaukee to Madison (and back again) is the short stint between Cottage Grove and the beginning of the Capital City Trail due to the unsafe busy roads. Linking these two trails will be an important piece of the puzzle in connecting Madison and Milwaukee by bike.
Project Background
The desire to connect these two trails exists at every level: everyday cyclists alongside local, county, and state government officials are all interested in making this project happen. The largest obstacle to overcome is land acquisition. Like many trails, the project will need to utilize land currently owned by railroads, who must be willing and motivated to sell in order to move forward. Wisconsin Bike Fed is working diligently with local agencies, the City of Madison, and Dane County officials to move these conversations forward.
Get Involved
As local, county, and state officials are working behind the scenes, letting those who represent you at every level know the importance of this project is always helpful. Keeping this project on the front burner will help local partners more quickly overcome the obstacles the project is facing.