Explore the Badger Route

While the current Route of the Badger project sections are still under planning—the following summarize the potential north-south, east-west and loop corridors and segments—many of which are already completed—that could connect the seven-county region.

Milwaukee County to Waukesha County (East-West Corridor)

The well-used 13-mile Hank Aaron State Trail running through the heart of Milwaukee could unite in Waukesha to the 51.6-mile Glacial Drumlin State Trail (via the New Berlin Recreation Trail), which extends to Greater Madison. This would create a long-distance connection of 70-miles-plus that supports bike tourism and creates economic development opportunities between Wisconsin’s capital and largest city.

This route connects to the 116.7-mile Oak Leaf Trail, which will form two connected loops throughout Milwaukee County.

Milwaukee: 30th Street Corridor

Central to the Badger route is the 30th Street Greenway Corridor trail project, which—traveling through some of the poorest neighborhoods in Milwaukee—would help address many disparities by providing increased opportunities for public transit, active transportation and recreation, and help support economic development along the route.

In the planning phases for many years, the trail would be developed along an active segment of north-south rail line beginning near the Hank Aaron State Trail and heading north past the MillerCoors Brewing Company for 3.5 miles to Havenwoods State Forest. 

RTC is committed to helping explore and create these connections—as well as generating crucial support from the surrounding communities to ensure the project is a success.

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Racine County to Milwaukee County (Southeast Corridor)

RTC is working to create a 75-mile destination trail in Milwaukee and Racine County. Initially, RTC is helping to facilitate the acquisition of a disused 12-mile section of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which connects to the White River State Trail. With the successful addition of this important corridor, there will be gap filling between Racine, Union Grove and Burlington—to Milwaukee in the north and back to Racine—creating the 75-mile loop.

Milwaukee County to Ozaukee County (North-South Corridor)

Via the Sheboygan Interurban and Ozaukee Interurban rail-trails, the project route connects Sheboygan to Mequon just north of Milwaukee.

Completing gaps in the trails running south along Lake Michigan in areas such as Kenosha and Racine could expand the Badger’s reach as far south as Chicago—a north-south distance of almost a hundred miles. This would create an interstate trail tourism route between Milwaukee and Chicago, one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S.

RELATED: Meet the Badger: 500-Mile Trail Network Takes Hold in Southeast Wisconsin