New Glarus: Hiking Trails and Swiss History

New Glarus combines hiking trails in New Glarus Woods State Park with the history of immigrants from the Swiss canton of Glarus and cultural offerings. Trail lengths, museum tours, and event dates offer different focal points for your stay. You can include nature trails, a look at the history of immigration, and a cultural event in your travel plans as separate or combined interests.

Hiking Trails in New Glarus Woods State Park

New Glarus Woods State Park is located within the Town of New Glarus and offers a total of eight miles of hiking trails. Examples include the 0.1-mile Chattermark Trail loop and the 4.2-mile Havenridge nature trail. The two individual routes differ considerably in length: a short loop is matched by a much longer nature trail. The eight miles refer to the park’s trail network, not to a single trail.

The New Glarus Spur runs through the Walk-to-Campground and connects to the 24-mile Sugar River State Trail. Two distance figures should be distinguished here: the eight miles cover the park’s hiking trails, while the 24 miles refer to the Sugar River State Trail. This helps you keep the respective trail in mind when comparing the park trails with the connected trail.

Swiss Immigrant History at the Museum

The Swiss Historical Village Museum recreates the lives of immigrants from the Swiss canton of Glarus who founded New Glarus, Wisconsin, in 1845. The museum comprises 14 buildings, including some original structures from the New Glarus community. This brings together a recreated view of the immigrants’ lives and buildings that actually come from the community. The founding story and the original buildings offer two distinct ways to explore the historical subject.

The museum offers self-guided tours at any time; docent-led tours are also available on some weekdays. You can consider whether you would rather set your own pace or choose a tour with commentary. If you prefer a docent-led tour, check in advance which weekdays it is offered. This lets you take the type of visit into account when planning without treating the two options as the same.

Cultural Traditions and Historic Buildings

New Glarus residents have performed the Wilhelm Tell pageant on Labor Day weekend since 1938. If you would like to combine your stay with the performance, check the specific event date. Its date distinguishes the pageant from the museum topics described as available year-round and may be relevant when choosing when to travel.

The Chalet of the Golden Fleece is located in the associated municipality, the Village of New Glarus. It is listed in both the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places as an outstanding authentic Swiss chalet, and is one of only three such chalets in Wisconsin. Personal tours of the chalet are available at any time by prior arrangement via email or telephone. Confirm the timing when you make contact.

Tastings at New Glarus Brewing Company

New Glarus Brewing Company offers tastings of craft-brewed beers; these beers are available only in Wisconsin. If you would like to include a tasting in your travel plans, check in advance whether one is being offered on your date. This lets you consider the tasting as a distinct focus alongside the hiking trails and the town’s historical attractions.

Discover more destinations: Brodhead, Browntown.

Go to the broader travel overview: Green County.