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July 25, 2023

Madison’s Best Bike Trips 🚲

City Cast Madison

Madison’s Best Bike Trips 🚲

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Madison is said to have more bikes than cars. And with 200 miles of bike trails in the area, there’s a lot to explore. So we turned to biking aficionado Grant Foster of Madison Bikes for his favorite trips. He’s got tips for everyone from newbies to those ready to make a weekend out of it. Plus, basic bike maintenance. 


Grant’s recommendations: 

  • If you’ve got 30 minutes or less:
  • Downtown Loop along State Street and Capitol (2 miles)
  • Lake Mendota shorefront to Picnic Point (3 miles)
  • Wingra Lake Loop through the UW Arboretum (6 miles)
  • Lower Yahara River Trail (6 miles) 
  • If you’ve got an hour or two:
  • Lake Monona Loop (12 miles)
  • Cap City Loop: Lake Farm Park to Seminole Hwy, through the Arboretum and back to Lake Farm via Wingra and Cap City paths (16 miles)
  • Day Trippin’
  • Badger State trail south to Paoli and back (17 miles round-trip) 
  • Bike Camping
  • Military Ridge trail west to Blue Mounds State Park and back (46 miles round-trip)
  • Lake Farm Park south to Lake Kegonsa State Park and back (20 miles round-trip)
  • Lake Farm Park east to Sandhill Station State Campground and back (60 miles round-trip)


Also mentioned on today's show:

🦋 Blooming Butterflies at Olbrich Botanical Gardens


Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram


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