Glacial Drumlin State Trail — Lake Mills to Jefferson
- Distance: ~9 miles one-way (scalable from 2 to 18 miles out-and-back)
- Surface: Crushed limestone (rail-to-trail)
- Difficulty: Easy (flat)
- Trailhead: Lake Mills Trail Depot (historic depot, southern edge of Lake Mills, WI)
About this route
The Glacial Drumlin State Trail is a 52-mile rail-to-trail from Waukesha (near Milwaukee) to Cottage Grove (near Madison). The middle section — from the Lake Mills Trail Depot east through Helenville, Sullivan, and Dousman — is the most accessible from Whitewater. The Lake Mills depot is in the historic 1880s railroad station, which houses a tiny museum of local fauna and railroad memorabilia.
For Whitewater runners, the most usable single-day stretch is Lake Mills to Jefferson (~9 miles one-way), with shorter pieces available from either trailhead.
Variations
| Distance | Out-and-back from Lake Mills |
|---|---|
| 4 miles | Lake Mills → 2 mi east → return |
| 8 miles | Lake Mills → 4 mi → return |
| 14 miles | Lake Mills → 7 mi → return |
| 18 miles | Lake Mills → 9 mi (Jefferson) → return |
What to know before you go
- No state trail pass required for running. Bicyclists 16+ need a pass ($25 annual / $5 daily).
- Crushed limestone surface — slightly softer underfoot than pavement, friendlier to higher-mileage weeks.
- Flat throughout — the trail follows the original rail bed.
- More tree cover than the Glacial River Trail, so cooler on summer mornings.
- Parking at the Lake Mills depot and at multiple smaller access points.
- Tiny museum at the depot worth a 10-minute post-run visit.
Why we run here
Quieter than the Glacial River Trail. Slightly softer surface (limestone vs. pavement). More tree cover. Closer than Geneva Lake Shore Path. Good “second long run of the marathon block” option to vary surface and reduce repetitive impact loading.
Source: Wisconsin DNR Glacial Drumlin State Trail page, TrailLink, Glacial Drumlin Trail Visitors Guide (Lake Mills section). Length and trailhead confirmed via DNR.