Trails to Taprooms Tour

Head to Hop Haus Brewing Company in the heart of downtown Verona for cold craft beer, fried pickles, and a warm pretzel. The Beat Drop, a refreshing hoppy wheat ale, and Yardwork, a lightly bitter and crushable IPA, won't disappoint.

Grab breakfast at Alice Good Specialty Coffee, a beloved café serving Columbian roast coffees and a variety of homemade pastries. Don't miss the interactive mural out back painted by Columbian artist and social justice activist, Tavo Garavato. Using paper 3D glasses you can borrow from the register, the mural is meant to be viewed using one eye at a time. Multiple images pop from the white brick wall, offering a different commentary and design depending on which color lens you look through.

Bike, hike, walk, or jog along Military Ridge State Trail, a 40-mile paved and gravel pathway connecting Dodgeville and Madison. Start your journey at Quarry Ridge Recreation Area on the Northeast edge of Verona. Continue south along the trail to The Hop Garden in Paoli for beers, music, and more.

Cold pints of beer with a plate of homemade food comes standard at Stone Porch Alehouse, a neighborhood favorite for southern inspired comfort food to warm the soul. Decadent fried chicken and chef-prepared seafood are favorite hometown eats at this stylish, family-friendly taproom.

Popular Lake Louie Brewing (formerly Wisconsin Brewing Company) makes for the perfect spot to grab a beer before or after your bike ride. You can bring your own food and take your pick of a room full of board games, snag a seat on their big front patio, and even cozy up around the outdoor fire pits with a pint in hand.

BONUS Stop! If you have a designated driver and you are up for one more stop, head to the Hop Haus sister location in Fitchburg for another great outdoor beer garden and a full menu of delicious eats to enjoy!

Refuel mid-bike ride at Hop Garden Brewing & Tap Room in Paoli, 5 miles south of Verona. Here you'll find beers, BBQ, and live music spilling the wooden stage at Historic Mill Park on site. You can also swap stories and buy homegrown produce from local vendors at The Hop Garden’s weekly Farmer’s Market, which runs from June to October (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.).

Get there via bike along a direct route following Range Trail Rd. from Verona or opt for the Badger State Trail which runs east of town. The 40-mile scenic trail runs between Madison and the Wisconsin-Illinois border while traversing farmlands, woods, rolling hills, scenic meadows along the route.

Make Bailey's Run Vineyard & Winery your next taproom stop. Grab wine by the glass or try a tasting, and enjoy a stunning view of the vineyard from a rocking chair on the front porch.

To get there by bike from the Hop Garden, continue along the Badger State Trail (a former railroad line) another 14.5 miles before linking up with the Sugar River State Trail. You'll only ride one mile before reaching downtown New Glarus, but the Sugar River State Trail follows an abandoned railroad line for 24 miles from New Glarus to Brodhead. A short access trail connects the Sugar River State Trail to New Glarus Woods State Park too if you're up for a hike.

Pit-stop at Whiskey Run Distilling Co., connected to the back of Bailey's Run Vineyard. The tasting room offers whiskey tastings and handcrafted cocktails to order.

Try one of the local favorite original cocktail or opt for a classic, and even zero-proof options too. Plus, the distillery has a full menu of food – from starters like bang bang shrimp, cheese curds, wings, burgers to their popular (and quintessential) Wisconsin Friday night fish fry.

Craft coffee lovers can also get their fix at Grace Coffee Co. – a regional coffee chain that sources their coffee responsibly from Central America, South America, and Africa. You can also take your pick of seemingly endless fresh pastries, made-to-order sandwiches, and breakfast plates. 10/10 recommend this local spot for brunch before a bike and hike.

The quiet and stunning Olson Oak Woods State Natural Area is a true hidden gem. Explore hiking trails that wind through pristine forest – right in Verona's backyard.

The 35-acre hilly forest area overflows with black cherry, oak, hickory, and elm trees that popped with a kaleidoscope of color during our October wander. We recommend following the 2.4-mile main loop around the property.

No trip to the Sugar River Valley is complete without a trip to Cave of the Mounds. Here your visit takes place underground on a hike through a winding cave system.

The natural wonder shows off geologic formations, like towering stalagmites rising from the cave floor, sheets of flowstone spilling down the walls, and stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The hour-long guided tour taught us about the 400 million-year-old history that can be found within the limestone walls deep within the cave.

Bikers can connect downtown Verona and downtown Mt. Horeb via the Military Ridge State Trail all the way to Cave of the Mounds.