All Attractions

A Unique Recreational Experience in Scenic Green County Wisconsin https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/badger/ The Badger State Trail is part of the Wisconsin State Trail System officially known as the Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System. It is one of Wisconsin’s newer trails (celebrating it’s first birthday in July of 2008), traversing about 40 miles of southern Wisconsin’s most picturesque countryside (much of it in Green County) on its way from the Illinois border up to Madison (note that not all of the Madison end of the trail is complete yet). The Wisconsin trail system (covering some 1700 miles) is part of the Wisconsin State Park System and is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. A small, paved portion of the Badger State Trail in Madison is also maintained by the City of Madison. Since its official opening in 2007, the trail surface has suffered a few setbacks due to heavy rain and flooding and also high winds (i.e. tornado’s) which knocked down trees and closed the trail for a time 2007 but the DNR has been fairly responsive to trail maintenance and conditions on the trail have generally been good when open. Connecting Communities The trail is divided into three segments which are the Southern Segment, the Fitchburg Segment, and the Madison Segment. The portion of the trail that runs through Green County is the Southern Segment. In Green County, the Badger State Trail passes through or near to the following communities (from north to south): Belleville, Exeter, Monticello, Monroe, and Clarno. The next stop north is Basco in Dane County and on the southern end; the trail meets up with the Jane Addams trail which continues on to Freeport, Illinois. The Southern Segment of the trail is surfaced with crushed limestone screenings suitable for hiking, biking, and snowmobiling. It should be noted that, except for parts of the trail within the City of Madison, a trail pass is required for all bicyclists and snowmobilers age 16 and older. Along the Southern Segment of the Trail, between Belleville and Monticello you’ll encounter Stewart Tunnel. The trail is built on the old grade of the Illinois Central Railroad so it was literally cut into the countryside at certain points to maintain a level surface. The locomotives don’t run here anymore but this scenic gorge and tunnel are far from forgotten. Cyclists and hikers now regularly pass through the cool darkness of the tunnel when traveling along the Belleville to Monticello segment of the trail. Stewart tunnel (recently renovated) is long enough that it helps to have a flashlight to get through it. It also has a curve in it which prevents light from going through it from one end to the other. This is a really spectacular area of the trail and is not to be missed. Badger State Trail — Mailing Address W5446 County Highway NN PO Box 805 New Glarus, WI 53574 Phone: (608) 527-2335 Trailheads and Parking Info: In Belleville  If you are looking for parking and access to the trail in Belleville, go to Library Park. Located in the North end of Main Street where Hwy 69 and Main Street meet. There are a few spaces at the park itself and more just across the way by the Post Office. Library Park offers a great place to stage your outing and/or relax for a picnic. You’ll find picnic tables, plenty of shade and a water fountain all within easy walking distance of downtown restaurants and businesses. In Monticello  You’ll find parking just off County Highway C near County Highway EE by the Sugar River Trail Rest Area in Monticello. The Sugar River Trail and Badger State Trail actually come together just south of Monticello which opens up another whole world of recreation closely related to the Badger State Trail. For example: just follow the Sugar River Trail a short ways north towards New Glarus and you can spend an afternoon at New Glarus Woods State Park or even skip into New Glarus for some shopping or local cuisine. In Monroe  You’ll find parking for the trail in Monroe around the area of Twining Park and elsewhere along the trail. Again, the park offers a great staging area for your adventure or a picnic. Twining park offers ball fields, restrooms, and a variety of shelters and picnicking facilities. You can also catch concerts, plays and other events in the park during summer months.

A Tribute to Green County Men Who Died in Vietnam Between 1959-1975 Next time you’re traveling through Green County, Wisconsin on Highway69, why not take a few moments to stop in Monticello and visit the Green County Vietnam War Memorial .The memorial is located near the banks of the Little Sugar River just off highway 69 near downtown Monticello (look for the American and POW/MIA flags flying together on the east side of the highway). At the foot of the flag pole, you’ll find a modest stone monument. You’re now at the edge of Monticello’s scenic Community Park which offers a pleasant environment for reflection or just a good old-fashioned stretch. Officially dedicated July 12, 1987, the monument honors the ultimate sacrifice of Green County men in Vietnam and serves as a testament to the price paid by communities, large and small, across America during that era. You can follow the path from the monument a short way to nearby Montesian Gardens which you really should try to visit at least once in each of the four seasons. Across the street from the Vietnam Memorial, you’ll find Lake Montesian and an artesian spring where you can fill up your water bottle with the good stuff for free. The Nicholas Gerber memorial is also across the street and provides a glimpse into local cheese-making history.   The full text on the Green County Vietnam War Memorial reads… GREEN COUNTY VIET NAM WAR MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THESE GREEN COUNTY MEN WHO DIED IN VIET NAM 1959-1975 RONALD SCHMIDT DAVID W. TIMM MARVIN C. PEDERSON KRIS BLUMER KENNETH L. KELLER JOHN C. KREBS JR. ROGER L. RITSCHARD DEDICATED JULY 12, 1987 SPONSORED BY WISCONSIN VIETNAM VETERANS CHAPTER III Editor’s note: The use of the name Viet Nam (with a space) on the monument is related to the country’s actual name in the Vietnamese language i.e. Viet Nam. Vietnam is an English translation.

Community Gardens Located in Community Park in Monticello Wisconsin For travelers on Highway 69 in Green County, Montesian Gardens in Monticello offers a delightful opportunity to exit the vehicle and take a stroll through a tranquil garden setting. Located within easy walking distance of historic downtown Monticello, the gardens provide a delightful array of color for the senses throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Montesian Gardens is a community garden project located on the north side of the village. Accessible through the Village Park, past the Green County Viet-Nam Veterans Memorial, the gardens grace a meandering brick walkway. The flowers in the gardens are thoughtfully chosen by their caretakers to bloom from spring until frost. Picnic tables, benches and a memorial gazebo allow visitors to stop, rest and relax in this beautiful setting. Montesian Gardens is also the site of weddings. Montesian Gardens features a number of places to rest and enjoy the view including a gazebo and a variety of benches and tables with umbrellas. Thirty minutes in the gardens can be a rejuvenating experience when you are on a long drive and you can find just about anything related to your travel needs right in Monticello. Much care and attention is put into maintaining Montesian Gardens and this care is punctuated by the many plaques identifying plantings made in memory of people from the Monticello community. The Gardens are maintained by members of the Monticello Garden Club which meets regularly throughout the Spring and Summer months. Montesian Gardens provides colorful sites and plantings of interest throughout spring, summer, and fall. Be sure to visit Monticello in the early spring to see the 100 plus blooming crab-apple trees which line the entrance to Monticello, between Lake Montesian and Montesian Gardens A path meanders through the gardens from north to south. As you cross the footbridge and exit the park on the southern end, the path will lead you past the baseball field to Green County’s Viet Nam War Memorial. There is a parking lot by the memorial and Lake Montesian is just across the street from that.

Artesian Spring Fed Lake – Fishing & Picnic Area – Canoe & Kayaking When you enter Monticello from Wisconsin Highway 69, Lake Montesian welcomes visitors and residents to the village with its unique location on the west side of the town. A double row of over 100 flowering crab apple trees form Memory Lane, creating a pathway into the village. The lake hosts an island that is accessible by a curved footbridge. This idyllic setting is a place to relax, picnic or fish. But it has also been the scene of weddings and other events. An octagonal shelter house provides additional facilities. Lake Montesian,created by community volunteers, covers approximately seven acres and boasts a variety of sport fish. A special pier is available for those who need to fish from the shore. Lake Montesian and Monticello Community Park are the perfect combination for an afternoon in the sun., Lake Montesian is a seven acre, man-made lake, that is located adjacent to Monticello’s historic downtown and occupies the area where the Old Monticello Mill Pond once bustled with activity. The park offers a relaxing setting for family outings that includes a shelter house with all the facilities for a sizzling good time and a footbridge that leads to an island with benches and plenty of shade in the middle of the lake. Every January, the Green County Conservation League and the Monticello Lions Club hold the annual Fisharee/Chickaree for people of all ages. Homecoming, the second weekend in July, also features use of the lake with canoe races and, later, fireworks set off from the island. The lake is spring fed and an artisan well is accessible behind the village monument on Highway 69. Local Historical Information Who was Nickolaus Gerber? Well, he was the man who brought Limburger cheese making to Green County and he is a founding father to Monroe’s Cheese Days celebration. You can read all about him on the Historical Marker located just off Hwy.69– next to the tall Monticello sign. More Info Lake Montesian County Road F at Hwy 69 in Monticello, WI 53570 Hwy 69 and County Road F (Lake Avenue) State Historical Market located on Hwy 69 at the Tall Monticello Wisconsin sign. Park Amenities Include:  State Historical Marker Baseball diamond Volleyball court Strolling Paths Covered Footbridge Picnicking Benches Swimming Kayaking BBQ Pit Wheelchair accessible   Across from Lake Montesian: Vietnam War Memorial Montesian Gardens Public Swimming Pool

Wisconsin State Park New Glarus Wisconsin http://dnr.state.wi.us New Glarus Woods State Park covers approximately 431 acres and is set in the rolling hills of Green County between New Glarus, Wisconsin — American’s Little Switzerland — and Monticello, Wisconsin. The park is maintained by the Wisconsin DNR and is open year round for camping and other activities. The park offers 6 hiking trails covering just over 7 miles and ranging in length from .2 to 4.2 miles. The park also offers easy access to the Sugar River State Trail, a 23 mile bike trail connecting the cities of New Glarus, Monticello, Albany and Brodhead. Trail passes are required for the Sugar River Trail and are available at the Depot in New Glarus. Trails in New Glarus Woods State Park include: The Basswood Nature Trail = .4 mile The Chattermark Trail = .4 mile The Great Oak Trail = .2 mile The Havenridge Nature Trail = 4.2 miles The Walnut Trail = .5 mile The Sugar River Trail Spur = 1.6 miles. Park Amenities Include: 18 drive-in campsites 14 walk-in campsites 6 group campsites Parking Shelter Picnic Area Restrooms Water Fountain Recycling Station Children’s Play Area Nature Trails Sugar River Trail Spur Amphitheatre Seasonal Hunting Handicapped Accessible Want to help support the park? Friends of New Glarus Woods State Park, is a not for profit organization that works to help improve park offerings and all donations are tax deductible.