Badger State Trail

The main route of the trail follows a former rail line that was originally built by the Chicago, Madison and Northern Railroad and opened in 1887, with the first official train traveling the full route in February 1888.[2][3] The line eventually came under the control of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad.[4] In the latter 20th century, it was operated by Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad[5] then last saw regular Wisconsin and Southern Railroad freight service in the early 1980s.[6][7]

The portal of Stewart Tunnel shortly before the rails were removed.

Feasibility studies for the trail began in December 1976.[8] Approval for the trail came in 1997.[7] Some objections were raised in 1999 when both the Green County Board and the South Central Wisconsin Rail Transit Commission passed votes for the rail trail conversion.[9] In 2000, the state Natural Resources Board purchased the right-of-way to develop the trail.[10] Portions of the trail were opened for winter activities.[4] Republican state legislators raised objections to the DNR spending and stewardship in 2003 but were unable to block the $499,000 allocated for improvements to the trail.[11][12] In October 2003, the Wisconsin Building Commission approved spending $303,000 toward restoration of the Stewart Tunnel;[7][13] repairs to the tunnel began in 2005.[14] The Wisconsin DNR held a vote for final approvals of the trail in February 2006.[3] Fitchburg had requested $1 million in funding to pave the trail within the city in 2006 and again in 2008,[15] and was denied funding for a connection to the Cannonball Trail (an extension of the Military Ridge State Trail); the city was also denied funding for a service hub at the junction of the Badger State, Capitol City and Cannonball trails.[16]

The trail was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony in Belleville on July 8, 2007.[1][17] Although the 6-mile long (9.7 km) section through Fitchburg wouldn't be paved on the trail's opening,[18] in its first year of use as a recreational trail, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources estimated that, despite a temporary closure in August due to flooding,[19][20] it was used by 31,000 people between July 1 and December 31, 2007, with 6,000 snowmobilers in December.[21]

State and local representatives approved a spending measure to pave the northern section in September 2008.[22][23] Finally on November 18, 2009, the Building Commission unanimously approved funding to complete the section in Fitchburg, allowing $497,000 to be borrowed in stewardship.[24] In April 2010, the city of Fitchburg accepted bids to pave the trail and repair bridges and level crossings within the city.[25]

In 2014, the northern end of the trail, where it intersects with both the South West Bike Path and the Cannonball Trail, was rebuilt to make the first bicycle roundabout in the Madison area.[26] The roundabout has come to be known as the Velo UnderRound.[27]

Strong thunderstorms caused flooding and tree damage along the trail in 2017, forcing closures until the damage could be repaired.[28]

In summer 2020, a short section of the trail in Fitchburg, where it crosses McKee Road, was temporarily closed. The closure was to allow crews to rebuild the street and to install a bridge for the trail over the road.[29]

As of 2021, the DNR closed the Stewart Tunnel for safety reasons, due to "sections of loose and falling rocks from the ceiling and side walls." The tunnel is expected to be closed "through at least 2021."[30]