Name: Lake Mendota Drive Wooden Trestle Bridge
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Lake Mendota Drive Wooden Trestle Bridge

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United States

Wisconsin

Dane County

Shorewood Hills

Lake Mendota Drive Wooden Trestle Bridge

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Location: Shorewood Hills, Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

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Best Hikes to Lake Mendota Drive Wooden Trestle Bridge

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1. Bamforth Bluff Restoration – John C. McKenna Park loop from Madison Yards at Hill Farms

5.69km

01:29

40m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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2. Bamforth Bluff Restoration – John C. McKenna Park loop from Madison Yards at Hill Farms

7.38km

01:56

60m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

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3. John C. McKenna Park – Bamforth Bluff Restoration loop from Madison Yards at Hill Farms

5.20km

01:23

60m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Rav4HikerUrbanExolorer

June 19, 2025

The original wooden trestle bridges on Lake Mendota Drive were conceived and built by the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association, under the visionary leadership of its president, John M. Olin.

The construction took place between 1892 and 1899. The original rustic bridge over this ravine became a destination for horses, bicycles, and early automobiles. It was at this rustic bridge that the young John C. McKenna conceived of a real estate plat for the Shorewood area. He considered the ravine and Lake Mendota overlook to be one of the "beauty spots" of the area.

Rav4HikerUrbanExolorer

June 19, 2025

The Historical Context:

The Visionary: John M. Olin, a lawyer and professor, was the driving force behind the creation of a system of parks and scenic drives in Madison. He believed in connecting the city's residents with the natural beauty of the surrounding lakes and landscapes.

The Organization: He founded the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association (MPPDA) in 1892. This was a private, non-profit organization funded by donations from prominent citizens. Its primary goal was to build and maintain scenic roads for recreational use—initially for horse-drawn carriages and cyclists, and later for early automobiles.

The Project: The construction of Lake Mendota Drive was the association's flagship project. They acquired the land (often through donations) and engineered the road to hug the shoreline, creating a winding, picturesque route. The ravines were a major obstacle, and the timber trestle bridges were an elegant, rustic, and cost-effective solution that blended perfectly with the natural environment.

Rav4HikerUrbanExolorer

June 19, 2025

While the original design and location date back to the 1890s, the bridges you see and drive over today are not the original structures. A wooden bridge exposed to Wisconsin weather has a limited lifespan.

The bridges have been rebuilt and restored several times over the past century to maintain their safety and historical character. The most significant and complete reconstruction of these trestles occurred in 1992-1994. The Village of Shorewood Hills, which now maintains the road, undertook a major project to faithfully replicate the original 1890s design using modern, more durable materials (like pressure-treated timber) and construction standards.

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Elevation 280 m

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Sunday 5 October

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Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

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Location: Shorewood Hills, Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

Lake Mendota Drive Wooden Trestle Bridge

1. Bamforth Bluff Restoration – John C. McKenna Park loop from Madison Yards at Hill Farms

2. Bamforth Bluff Restoration – John C. McKenna Park loop from Madison Yards at Hill Farms

3. John C. McKenna Park – Bamforth Bluff Restoration loop from Madison Yards at Hill Farms

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