Military Ridge State Trail
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(608) 437-5711
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 2
Partial closure Military Ridge ST 0.75-mile Verona Section Closed (2026-2027)A 0.75-mile segment of the Military Ridge State Trail near Epic Lane in Verona will be closed through September 2027 (except for snowmobile season)… (more)
A 0.75-mile segment of the Military Ridge State Trail near Epic Lane in Verona will be closed through September 2027 (except for snowmobile season) due to construction of Hyper Drive. A marked detour is available. For more information, please see: Impact: High.
Posted by the park 2026-06-18. Official alert
Partial closure Military Ridge ST Verona Bridge Closed (Sept.-Nov. 2026)A bridge in Verona, between Franklin and Lincoln Streets will be replaced beginning mid-Sept. 2026. This trail section will be closed from approx.… (more)
A bridge in Verona, between Franklin and Lincoln Streets will be replaced beginning mid-Sept. 2026. This trail section will be closed from approx. Sept. 14 through Nov. 13, 2026. Temporary detours will be in place around the closure. For more info, see: Impact: Low.
Posted by the park 2026-10-12. Official alert
Overview
In Iowa County, about 2 miles east of Barneveld, Military Ridge State Trail covers about 522 acres.
The park supports biking and hiking. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| The park’s wording doesn’t give clock times — see the official wording below. | |||
Official wording
The trail is open year-round.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets allowed on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet at all times and under control; loose pets may be seized. Property-specific pet areas/restrictions appear on park pages.
Statewide rule from Wisconsin's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, resident vs nonresident pricing: a vehicle admission pass is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas (daily $13 WI / $16 out-of-state; annual $28 / $50; rates effective Aug. 19, 2025). State trails use a per-person trail pass for certain uses. Heritage Hill SP charges a per-person admission instead.
Statewide fee rule from Wisconsin's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Wisconsin park passes
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (Wisconsin plates) — $28. All Wisconsin state parks, forests and recreation areas for 12 months Details
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (out-of-state plates) — $50. Same, nonresident vehicles Details
- 12-month pass, Wisconsin residents 65+ — $13. Resident senior vehicles Details
- 12-month reduced-rate pass (additional household vehicle) — $15.50 resident / $32.50 nonresident. Additional vehicles at the same household address; bought with a full-price pass Details
- Daily vehicle admission pass — $13 resident / $3 resident 65+ / $16 nonresident Details
From the Wisconsin state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
The Military Ridge State Trail runs along the southern borders of Governor Dodge and Blue Mound state parks. The access trail to Governor Dodge is about 2.3 miles east of Dodgeville. The access trail parallels County Highway Z and then leads walkers and bikers to the Cox Hollow beach and picnic area. The Blue Mound access trail is about 0.75 miles west of the village of Blue Mounds and enters the park near the campground. Both access trails have a steep grade and go uphill to the campgrounds.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingHikingBiking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Military Ridge State Trail | 40 mi | — | Rail trail: YesAsphalt - 2.5 miles; Crushed stone - 37.5 miles surface |
Trail descriptions from the park
- Rail trail: Yes
- Length: 40 miles
- Surface: Asphalt - 2.5 miles; Crushed stone - 37.5 miles
- Counties: Dane, Iowa
- Communities: Dodgeville, Ridgeway, Barneveld, Blue Mounds, Mount Horeb, Klevenville, Riley, Verona, Fitchburg
Ice Age National Scenic Trail: The Ice Age Trail crosses the Military Ridge State Trail corridor for a short distance near the Verona parking lot and continues north and south through Badger Prairie County Park.
Amenities
Camping
- Tent camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Nearest town
- Barneveld — about 2 mi east (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 43.0051, -89.8592 (from PAD-US)
- Phone
- (608) 437-5711
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Fitchburg: The eastern end of the trail starts at the southeast corner of County Highway PD and Highway 18/151. There is no parking available for trail users there. Parking and trail access is available at the Quarry Ridge Recreation Area on Fitchrona Road. Take County Highway PD west from 18/151, turn left on Nesbitt Road and then turn left on Fitchrona Road. Go about 0.3 miles; the park is on the left side of the road at 2740 Fitchrona Rd., Fitchburg, WI 53719. The blacktopped walkway next to the shelter and restrooms leads to the Military Ridge Trail. Verona: From Highway 18/151, take exit # 79 for County Highway PB. Go north on Old County Highway PB for one mile. Turn left into the trailhead parking lot (2565 Old Co. Rd. PB, Verona, WI 53593). Riley: From Highway 18/151, take County Highway PD east, 2.5 miles, and turn north (left) on County Highway J. Follow County Highway J, 2.5 miles to Riley. Parking and a portable toilet are available at the Riley parking lot (3087 Co. Rd. J, Verona, WI 53593). Mount Horeb: From County Highway ID, turn south on 2nd street. Go one block to the trail rest area and parking lot. Parking and restrooms are available at the trail depot (116 S. Second St., Mount Horeb, WI 53572). Blue Mounds: From Highway 18/151, turn north onto County Highway F. Turn left on County Highway ID. Travel west for 0.5 miles and turn right on Mounds Park Road. Travel north for 0.3 miles. Turn right at Blue Mounds Village Park. The trail is south of the parking lot. Barneveld: From Highway 18/151 travel north on County Highway K 1 mile to Garfield. Turn left on Garfield, and turn right on Main Street. Ridgeway: From Highway 18/151 travel north on County Highway HHH. Follow County Highway HHH through town. Parking and restrooms are available at the Ridgeway Depot (618 Main St., Ridgeway, WI 53582). Dodgeville: The west trailhead is on County Highway YZ, 1.5 miles east of Highway 23 at the DNR Dodgeville Service Center (322 N. Douglas St., Dodgeville, WI 53533). Parking and restrooms are available.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Wisconsin State Park System — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Wisconsin DNR 'Find a Park' directory (server-rendered Drupal view, ?page=0..5), filtered to /topic/parks/ property pages
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology