Calling all Scouts, Explorers and adventurers! We are excited to announce we have revived the Friends’ Explorer Award Program, which recognizes people who document their exploration of the recreational trails in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois within a given year. The trails can be explored on foot, skis, bicycle or a combination of any of these silent sports. The program includes the Badger and Sugar River state trails.

We offer three different awards: the Badger Explorer, the Sugar River Explorer, and the Trail Explorer. People completing either the Badger Explorer or the Sugar River Explorer requirements will receive a Friends’ decal. People completing both trails and meeting the requirements of the Trail Explorer will receive an embroidered Friends badge, a place on our soon-to-come Explorer Program Leaderboard, and recognition at our Annual Picnic in August!

The Badger Explorer 

• Cycle the entire Badger Trail from Madison to the Illinois border, a total of 40 miles.
• Find answers to five trivia-type questions while on the trail
• Submit at least two photos (we encourage you to post them on our Instagram account @friendsbadgersugartrails!)
• Submit a short journal of your experiences while riding the trail

The Sugar River Explorer

• Cycle the entire Sugar RiverTrail from New Glarus to Brodhead, a total of 23 miles.
• Find answers to five trivia-type questions while on the trail
• Submit at least two photos (we encourage you to post them on our Instagram account @friendsbadgersugartrails!)
• Submit a short journal of your experiences while riding the trail.

The Trail Explorer