This 52-mile rail-trail cuts through Wisconsin's glacial drumlin landscape, offering a flat, multi-surface path for cyclists and walkers. The route alternates between woods, wetlands, open farmland, and marsh views, with 16 campsites and multiple trailheads equipped with restrooms and showers. The trail sits at 860 feet elevation and welcomes pets.
The Glacial Drumlin State Trail is a linear recreational corridor rather than a traditional developed campground. Camping-specific information is limited; sources note camping just outside Sullivan and a tent-only Sandhill Station State Campground about 3/4 mile south in Lake Mills.
Weather and SeasonsFall offers the most striking scenery. Peak foliage across the drumlin hills and woodlands creates spectacular color contrasts with wetlands and open farmland. Expect crisp, cool days. Highs generally 50–65°F, nights 30–45°F. That are perfect for long bike rides, photography, and wildlife viewing. Deer and migrating birds are active. Weekends in October can be busy with leaf-peepers, so plan weekday rides or start early to avoid the largest crowds. In warmer months, watch for snakes on sunny sections. Wet weather leaves some areas slippery or uneven, particularly where gravel packing is less compact.
Natural Features and SceneryDrumlins. Those oval hills left by retreating glaciers. Define the horizon as the trail passes through a patchwork of ecosystems. You'll ride or walk from open farm fields into shaded woodland corridors, then emerge at marshes where herons hunt and turtles sun themselves. Creeks cross under small bridges. Wetlands hum with seasonal bird activity. The landscape shifts constantly: sunlit clearings give way to cool forest, then open again to reveal distant drumlin ridges. Fall transforms the wooded sections into color tunnels of gold and crimson against the marsh greens.
Geological RegionGlacial topography (drumlin landscape, wetlands, marshes, creeks, woods and open farmland)
Scenic ViewsWetlands, marshes, lake and creek views, wooded shaded stretches and open farmland; noted for fall color and quiet, scenic stretches.