Madison, WI, Region Is an Outdoor Wonderland
The state’s incredible array of outdoor recreation opportunities draws visitors from near and far. Annual events held by some of the nation’s top outdoor retailers, as well as new trail systems and thriving state parks, draw millions of visitors each year. For residents, the thrill of having access to these plentiful outdoor activities is part of what keeps them in the Madison, WI, Region.
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Madison, WI, Region’s Outdoor Activities Provide Economic Boost
With tens of thousands of lakes and miles of outdoor trails across Wisconsin, and 13 state parks in the Madison Region alone, there’s no shortage of outdoor space to experience in the area.
“There’s a lot of outdoor playground to be explored,” says Cassie Mordini, community development and communications specialist for the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation.
The office makes it a priority to support the outdoor industry across the state, along with the health of its residents. With so many outdoor activities to choose from, including cycling, boating, hunting and hiking, the region’s diverse makeup has become a factor in drawing people to the area.
“We’re finding that more people are looking to outdoor recreation as one of those key factors in the decision-making for where they’re going to live,” Mordini says.
The economic impact of the state’s outdoor industry is significant, with the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation reporting a contribution of $9.8 billion in gross domestic product in 2022 alone. With 94,000 jobs statewide supported by the industry, its impact continues to be widespread.
“In addition to (outdoor recreation) being a fun thing to do, it’s actually providing economic vitality for communities and providing livelihoods for people who need a job and want to contribute,” says Mordini.
Cycling Culture in the Madison, WI, Region
One of Madison’s most notable employers in the outdoor industry is Trek Bikes, known worldwide for its high-quality bikes used by professionals and amateurs alike. Trek has been based in Waterloo since 1976, with a core employee base in Madison.
From sponsoring the creation of trails in local state parks to holding annual cycling events, Trek’s impact on the local outdoor industry is impressive. Most notable is the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Waterloo, the largest cyclocross event in the country with viewership across the world. Part of the course literally runs through Trek’s backyard, and the race draws thousands of visitors annually.
Madison’s bike-friendly nature has made it a platinum-level bike community, one of only five in the country. Trek also provided the bikes for Madison’s all-electric bike share system, BCycle.
“There is an incredible bike network that connects so many different parts of the city,” says Eric Bjorling, Trek spokesperson.
Trek also holds the annual Trek 100 in partnership with Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, a family-friendly bike ride with routes varying according to skill level and preference. In addition to raising millions of funds for the MACC across the years, the event also opens up cycling to a wider audience across the region.
“It’s just it’s very easy to be active here and to find your thing,” Bjorling says. “There is something for every single person.”
Where to Bike in the Madison, WI, Region
Bicycling is a big-time outdoor activity in the Madison, WI, Region. In fact, the Washington, D.C.-based League of American Bicyclists ranks Madison among the Best Cities in America for Biking.
Tim Tautges is secretary of Bombay Bicycle Club, Madison’s largest cycling club that now has over 450 members.
“Madison has an excellent road-biking situation because of our dairy industry history,” Tautges says. “Most of the secondary roads are paved because milk trucks had to deliver their dairy products, so bike riders today can ride on just about every farm road in the area.”
There are several bicycling clubs in the region, and Tautges says he enjoys the camaraderie and social aspect of group rides because he doesn’t like to exercise on his own.
“I especially like riding in the southwest direction out of Madison, and one of the prettiest rides is to the unincorporated community of Paoli and back,” he says. “It’s about 15 miles southwest of Madison and has pretty roads and the Sugar River, and there is even a brewery there to enjoy a beer.”
Tautges adds that besides road biking, the Madison Region has several good spots for mountain biking. One of the most popular is a 3.3-mile cross-country loop called Quarry Ridge in Fitchburg, though it doesn’t stop there.
Here are some other bicycling suggestions in each of the eight counties that make up the Madison Region:
- Columbia County
Several popular loops are in play for road bikers, including the 10-mile Riverside Park Tour along the countryside just outside of Portage. For those who like a real challenge, ride the 20-mile Chandler Park loop that tackles tough hills.
- Dane County
The county has 100+ miles of shared-use bike trails, including paved, crushed limestone and mountain bike options. Popular spots include Brigham County Park Trail, Ice Age Junction National Scenic Trail and the 17-mile Capital City State Trail.
- Dodge County
A 34-mile compacted limestone trail called Wild Goose State Trail is a must for any biking enthusiast. Highlights along Wild Goose include countryside sections that pass by farmland, prairie remnants and streams.
- Green County
Roads for avid bicyclists include the Sugar River State Trail, which features several stops so that riders can pedal anywhere from 10 to 50 miles. One of the many highlights is riding on the covered bridge that crosses Norwegian Creek.
- Iowa County
The county is graced with many miles of scenic country roads and marked bike paths and trails. Top destinations include the difficult Morrey Creek and Taliesin loops as well as moderate Badger Camp and Mill Creek loops.
- Jefferson County
Excellent biking opportunities are available along the Glacial River Trail, which has 15.9 miles of paved off-road trail along with 17 miles of on-road marked sections. Jefferson County is also home to Glacial River Trail Mountain Bike Park.
- Rock County
Stretching from Janesville to Afton is the Peace Trail, which spans 6.6 miles. The surface is paved for 4.7 miles, and the southern section is crushed limestone. The trail also includes a 1.25-mile spur through the beautiful scenery of Rockport Park.
- Sauk County
Sauk County has a 400 State Trail that features 22 miles of biking routes along wetlands, sandstone bluffs and rolling pastures. The county also features a 10.5-mile Great Sauk State Trail and a 3-mile Baraboo Riverwalk loop.
New to the Region
To build upon the numerous outdoor activity options in the Madison, WI, Region, Sauk County has been hard at work developing the Great Sauk State Trail. The trail system, established in 2017, connects the communities of Prairie du Sac and Sauk City, and runs through the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area. With 10.5 miles of paved trail parallel to the Wisconsin River, the trail provides an experience of some of the area’s most underrated scenery.
“We’ve got this beautiful scenery here to start with, this magnificent prairie in the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area that leads you to the Baraboo bluffs and Devils Lake,” says Marty Krueger, Sauk County Board supervisor.
The trail is still growing, and new developments will take it from Baraboo to Greenburg, where it will connect with the 400 State Trail. This means it will create even more outdoor activities for the Madison, WI, Region.
“We’re blessed in Sauk County,” Krueger says. “We’re finally understanding that we need to not only take advantage of it as citizens and residents, but we need to market it to the rest of the state and the rest of the nation to come enjoy it with us.”
Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.
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