Glacial River Trail — Fort Atkinson Section
- Distance: Out-and-back options, 4 to 24 miles (paved trail spans Janesville to Fort Atkinson)
- Surface: Paved
- Difficulty: Easy (flat); scales by distance
- Trailhead: Multiple trailheads through Fort Atkinson; Bicentennial Park is a common start
About this route
The Glacial River Trail is a 24.1-mile paved trail in the Rock River valley, running from Janesville through Milton, Koshkonong, and into Fort Atkinson. Unusual among Wisconsin state trails: it’s entirely paved (not rail-to-trail north of Fort Atkinson, though south of Fort Atkinson it follows an old railroad bed along Highway 26).
For Whitewater runners, this is the best regional option for long, flat, predictable mileage. Marathon training plans tend to need one or two “20+ miler” weekends and the Glacial River Trail is the flattest local option for that.
Variations
| Distance | Suggested out-and-back |
|---|---|
| 4 miles | Bicentennial Park → 2 mi south → return |
| 8 miles | Fort Atkinson → 4 mi toward Milton → return |
| 12 miles | Fort Atkinson → 6 mi south → return |
| 16 miles | Fort Atkinson → 8 mi → return |
| 20 miles | Fort Atkinson → 10 mi → return (peak long-run training) |
Most adults will want the support of a car-drop with water/gels somewhere along the route for runs over 12 miles. The trail has limited water sources between trailheads.
What to know before you go
- No state trail pass required for running — bicyclists need one, runners do not.
- Paved throughout — runnable in any weather conditions.
- Few road crossings between Fort Atkinson and Milton; the trail is consistently safe to focus on pace.
- Limited shade on long stretches — sun-aware planning recommended May–September.
- Cell signal is generally reliable along Hwy 26.
Why we run here
Flat. Paved. Predictable. There’s no Whitewater-area trail option that delivers all three at this length. For Lake Geneva Marathon, Madison Mini, or Whistlestop training, this is where the long Saturday miles get done.
Source: Wisconsin DNR Glacial River Trail page, TrailLink, Explore Fort Atkinson. Trail length per WI DNR official documentation; confirm specific trailhead parking on the Jefferson County Parks Department site before publishing.