Badger State Trail ending/Begin Southwest Commuter Path
All it takes is a short ride on Madison’s 5.6-mile South west Commuter Path to understand the critical role it plays in getting people around town. Not only does it pass within a mile of the State Capitol complex and through the southern part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, but it also connects with a handful of trails that loop the city or head across the countryside.
The paved path follows the route of the Illinois Central Railroad branch built in 1887 between Freeport, Illinois, and Madison. The crushed-stone Badger State Trail uses that route as it heads 40 miles south to the Illinois border, where it meets the Jane Addams Trail. Financial difficulties in 1980 forced the railroad (by now the Illinois Central Gulf) to stop using the line. A succession of railroads—the Chicago, Madison and Northern, the Central Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin and Calumet—all failed to return the line to profitability. The tracks were pulled in 1999, and the trail opened two years later.
Unlike other trails in the region, the Southwest Commuter Path requires no State Trail Pass.
Parking and Trail Access:
To reach the eastern trailhead from US 12/US 18, take Exit 263 toward downtown Madison on John Nolen Dr. Go 1.9 miles and turn left onto N. Shore Dr. Go 0.4 mile, and turn left onto W. Brittingham Place. Take an immediate left into Brittingham Park (3-hour parking at all times). The trail is 0.1 mile east.
Parking near the western endpoint is available near the Capital City State Trail at Dawley Conservancy in Fitchburg. To reach the western trailhead from the intersection of US 18/US 151/Verona Road and County Road PD/McKee Road, take McKee Road east. Go 0.9 mile to S. Seminole Hwy., turn left, and then go 0.4 mile and turn left into the parking lot for Dawley Conservancy. To find the trail, take the short path in back of the parking lot north for 0.1 mile, turn left onto the Capital City State Trail, and then go 0.5 mile to the junction with the Southwest Commuter Path. Turn right (north) toward Madison.
Kiwanis Drive Roundabout Construction 9-22-2013 Freeport Illinois
Video Taken from the air of the current Construction of the Kiwanis Drive Roundabout, September 22nd 2013
Music The Simple Life
Mark Russo
Published By Electronic Arts Recording Studios
1999
New Glarus Brewery | Sugar River Trail
This video is about bicycling the Trail of Beers Sugar River Trail Brodhead, WI to New Glarus, WI
Horner Park, Lebanon Illinois
55 acre Horner park, Lebanon Illinois
Video of Fenton - LBL Lake Access, KY from Staci R.
from inland area with cypress to west, north side of ramp area
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Staci R.'s Review on The Dyrt:
▶︎ Lake Access Only, not the Campground
Fenton Campground and Lake access are in the same general location, but are actually separate. The ramp, floating dock and dike that allows access to Kentucky Lake is a favorite among locals, as it puts you about mid lake (N-S), and Kentucky Lake has some of the cleanest waters and the largest fish of any place. This area is always busy, 24/7, pretty much year round. There is a vault toilet, the campground is just east a bit, there is plenty of parking for trucks and trailers. The new Fenton bridge is a four lane bridge, with a walking/bike path that is a start/end point for the Hardwoods Trail, which goes east-west across Land Between the Lakes.
Fenton - LBL Lake Access:
Camping in Kentucky:
The Dyrt: A better way to search for campgrounds:
Louisville Loop bike path, Farnsley-Moreman to Lees Ln.
These were two separate rides on the Louisville Loop bike path in SW Louisville, KY, totaling approximately 15 miles round trip. Timeline: 0:00-4:00 is from the LG&E generating station on Cane Run Rd. to Lees Lane. This section of the path is the most scenic, in my opinion, but it's not flat or an easy ride for the physically challenged. Expect some effort and a few hills as the path splits into two sections crossing Mill Creek bridge and traveling through a woods to the river overlook. The off road path currently ends at Lees Ln./Riverside Gardens. A sidewalk picks up at the Cane Run/Lees Ln intersection, but unlike some cities, riding on the sidewalk in Louisville is illegal. Since the off road section runs near Rubbertown's chemical plants and directly through the EPA toxic waste Superfund site, expect an occasional warning alarm. It was sounding the day I was here, but everybody was ignoring it. Keep this in mind if you might need to escape in a hurry. Many flora and fauna can be seen here, as well as an interesting junk yard. Timeline: 4:00-6:44 is from Farnsley-Morman Landing Park a few miles South to the Greenwood Boat Ramp at Riverview Park. This section is about 9 miles roundtrip, flat and entirely atop the floodwall, with the exception of a small break in the floodwall at the garbage truck depot, making it an easy ride, but without much shade. It has a direct access path to Mike Linnig's Restaurant and a couple of off path walking trails to the Ohio River. It is also the site of a future planned memorial park as an Indian burial ground was found near where the old Bethany Church was placed. My suggestion, take a buddy for personal safety. Although it is claimed security guards sometimes patrol the floodwall in this area, I have never seen them. Restrooms are limited in this area, but seasonal facilities are available at Riverview Park near the Greenwood boat ramp.
Although it is not shown here, a new section of path atop the floodwall opened recently that runs South from Farnsley-Moreman to the LG&E generating station at Valley Village. There is a nice parking lot and trail head located on Lower River Rd. with informational signs about the history and geography of the area. It also passes a pay fishing lake. This section of path is flat like the Greenwood section, which should make it an easy but sunny ride. The Greenwood to LG&E section is also not shown, trail head at Riverview Park, it rides North at surface level alongside Cane Run Rd and passes through the Riverport and by the cemetery.
The Louisville Loop is a planned 100 mile circular off road bike path which is in ongoing construction as funds are available. It is planned to encircle the entire county, but currently does not offer many sections that would enable access to city services and businesses, to use as an alternate transportation route for anything but recreation. It might be possible for local residents and employees of the Riverport Industrial Park to reach their jobs from the SW sections of the path, but they would have to cross an unsafe Cane Run Rd. which has no sidewalks or shoulders to get to them.