Hiking

New Glarus Woods State Park offers eight miles of hiking trails ranging from the 0.1-mile loop of the Chattermark Trail to the 4.2-mile Havenridge nature trail. 

Hiking Trails

New Glarus Woods' hiking trails wind through mature forests and restored prairies. Visitors can enjoy hiking up and down the rolling terrain while observing wildlife such as deer, squirrels, turkeys, a variety of songbirds and woodpeckers. Not all trails are surfaced. Trail surfaces can become slippery when wet or leaf-covered and occasionally have loose sand, gravel, or exposed rock.

Basswood Nature Trail

The Basswood Trail is a 0.4-mile interpretive trail with interpretive signs describing the park's history, flora and fauna. This trail starts and ends next to the picnic area playground.

Bison nature Trail

The Bison Nature Trail is a 0.8-mile interpretive trail offering interpretive signs with information about prairie life, history and management. The Bison Nature Trail meanders through the northern park prairie and includes some unusual features, such as a swinging bench and a life-size Bison replica.

Chattermark trail

This trail is a 0.1-mile trail loop connecting the Basswood Nature Trail to the short road that leads to the Fox trail. 

Great Oak Trail

The Great Oak Trail is a 0.2-mile wooded trail that connects the Bison Nature Trail and the Sugar River Spur trail near the walk-to campsites.

Havenridge Nature Trail

This 4.2-mile trail travels throughout the park. Hikers will go through a variety of woodlands, prairies and meadows.

Sugar River Trail Spur

This paved spur connects to the Sugar River State Trail, a 24-mile-long recreation trail that connects New Glarus Woods to the communities of Monticello, Albany and Brodhead.

Vista Trail

The trail connects the Havenridge Trail and the Bison Nature Trail on the north end of the property. This trail travels through a forest restoration that provides a view of New Glarus. The trail also connects to the Bison Trail and prairie.

Walnut Trail

The Walnut Trail is a 0.5-mile trail that intersects the southern Havenridge Trail loop and provides a relatively flat woodland hiking experience.