Chasing the last hour of summer on the Badger Trail and the Sugar River Trail to start Trail Tuesday.

Detouring around the closed tunnel meant climbing a steep hill but the hilltop view was classic Wisconsin.

Beyond the tunnel I switched to the Sugar River Trail for shadier scenery.

Montello has great trailside rest facilities. Nextdoor are these two buildings that look similar except one is built of stone and one is brick.

The last time I came to this fork, in 2014 with Cameron Mooney, we went right, all the way to Freeport IL. Today’s goal is more humble, go left to Albany WI.

The Sugar River Trail goes through marshy bottomland along the Sugar River, where this occupant was doing some fishing this morning.

Made it to Albany.

Before heading back, time for a snack break on the trail at a conveniently placed rest stop.

Along the trail, the signage is usually very specific and helpful, although sometimes the sign has a note of mystery.

On the first day of fall, the fall colors begin a subtle conversion.

Took the Sugar River Trail all the way back to the northern trail head in New Glarus.

Had to jump off the trail onto a county highway for the final segment back to Belleville. A couple of steep hills on the road: tough navigating to the top, but fun nearing terminal velocity on the way back down.