Stewart tunnel, a former railroad tunnel thats now part of a bike trail, has great ice formations that form from water dripping from its roof. Trail is part of 101 miles of interconnecting state bike trails and is the original rails to trails bike trail. Welcome to tunnel trail campground 26983 state hwy. Explore on two wheels in wisconsin s bike friendly cities biking. Wisconsin department of transportation bicycle maps.
With over 108,000 miles of roads, wisconsin has abundant on and offroad. The four linked trails follow old railroad lines through rolling countryside. Considered to be the first rail trail when it opened in 1967, it was designed for foot, bicycle, equestrian and light motorized traffic. The definitive guide to the regions top multiuse trails. Bicycle trail maps state cartographers office uwmadison. Biking wisconsin explores 50 fun rides that will really spin your wheels. Now, there are nearly 2,000 railsto trails projects around the country, covering more than 22,000 miles. The book also includes letters and accounts of wisconsins famed 32nd division. Big thank you to rick and cindy clark and the lugo brothers.
Explore the best bike trails in wisconsin on traillink. Tunnels, bikes and history on the elroysparta state. Stewart tunnel on the badger state trail in belleville. The elroy sparta trail is primarily known as a bike trail, but its open for walkers and runners as well. With three rock tunnels and five small towns along its 32. The badger state trail, which heads south from madison to the illinois state line where it connects. Tunnel 4 mountain biking trail san diego, california. Winter bicycling including fat biking is allowed on all wisconsin dnr trails otherwise open to bicycling unless the trail is a. Since no mobile or internet service is required after initial setup, you can even use them on remote trail segments. In 1965, the elroysparta state trail became the first of its kind. Terrific trail to bike, run or walk and because its in onalaska, wi, youre more likely to encounter nice and friendly people than not. Elroysparta state trail wisconsin trails traillink.
The kendall and wilton tunnels are 14 mile long and the norwalk tunnel is just over 34 mile long. Madison bike trails maps of bike routes in madison, wi. Elroy sparta state bicycle trail, wisconsin youtube. Other stories in bicycling 10 great places to ride n glide traveling by both bike and boat, a river trip is twice the fun. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. Americas first railsto trails project multiuse bike trails. It is world famous as the first railsto trails trail established in 1967, and for its long cavernous tunnels. The badger state trail is 40 miles and stretches between madison and the wisconsinillinois border. Some examples are the 32mile elroysparta trail which winds through three centuryold railroad tunnels, wooded valleys, and small towns and the paved 83. Laid out along the former chicago and north western railroad, it passes through wisconsin s driftless and hidden valleys region. The longest between sparta and norwalk is over threequarters of a mile long. Elroysparta state trail 2020 all you need to know before you. The northern trailhead is in sparta, just west of the i90 exit to wisconsin 71.
Bicycle tour on the 4 trails in wisconsin including the sparta elroy trail. The elroysparta trail in wisconsin takes you through. Pedaling for a pint thanks to mutual attraction, breweries are popping up along bike trails. Tunnel trail campground camping in wilton, wi near sparta. Wisconsin is blessed with a vast network of bike trails, both rural and urban and not all on former railroad corridors. Bikes, birds and bogs between trempealeau and onalaska, cyclists encounter a happy mix of wildlife and civilization. The elroysparta state bike trail is the oldest railsto trails conversion in the u.
A local favorite built atop a nowdefunct railway, the ahnapee trail is a mostly level, hardpack gravel trail suitable for biking, hiking, walking, and other trail. Biking the elroysparta state trail in wisconsin getting there. Once a section of the chicago and north western railway, steam locomotives hauled grain, livestock and passengers along this route from 1873 to 1964. Centrally located in the heart of the bike 4 trails. Guthook guides for ios and android feature gpsenabled trail maps of the ice age trail, hundreds of waypoints along or near the trail, including all of our coldcaches, satellite imagery and more. The department of tourism offers the wisconsin biking guide, a detailed guide showing bike touring trails, onroad routes and mountain bike trail systems. Elroy sparta trail 1 white, kendall, wisconsin 54638 rated 4. There is also a connection at elroy commons to the mile omaha county trail. The railroad company employed a tunnel watchman from 1910 to 1947 to open tunnel doors when needed. You will need your bike light even on the brightest summer days when you go from the bright, hot sunshine into the cool, wet, dark tunnels. Welcome to the elroy sparta trail sparta area chamber of.
Exploring the rolling hills, forests and lakes throughout the. Touring cyclists can ride the entire wisconsin segment or choose smaller segments that are better suited to their experience level. The elroysparta state trail is directly linked to two other state trails. Great tourism attraction for the novice and expert bicyclist. How to fix an ugly lawn with results step by step for beginners. The video covers the entire trail from the railroad depot in elroy, northwest to the depot in sparta. Youll pass through three tunnels on the spartatoelroy trail, so if youre riing just one of the trails, thats the one to do. Honestl they took away the tunnels because were destroying nature then guess what they did next. The elroysparta trail offers the perfect pairing for those who like to bike and take in natural views. The elroy sparta state bike trail is a 32 mile linear bike path on crushed gravel.
The four connecting westcentral wisconsin rails to trails, known as the bike 4 trails has over 100 miles of connecting trails. The tunnels are dark and cool, even on the brightest days, and water from springs above the tunnels can trickle onto the trail. The elroy sparta trails tunnels are a major draw to the. Cycling on wisconsin trails requires a trail pass that you can pick up at posts on the trail or purchase ahead of time from a number of bike shops. Wisconsin has possibly the most extensive atv trail system in the united states, with an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 miles of trails. Bike or hike this 3mile looped trail that goes through forest and woods, alongside a sandy beach, and across hills and rocky terrain. Considered to be the first rail trail when it opened in 1967, it was designed for foot, bicycle, equestrian and. The elroysparta bike trail is officially open from tunnel trail campground to kendall. This amazing trail in wisconsin takes you through abandoned train tunnels.
Along this path is the stewart tunnel, between belleville and monticello, and its one of the most unique tunnels youll ever get the chance to use. Guide to wisconsin bicycle tours, bike trails, bike trail maps, and bicycling in wisconsin. This site uses cookies to provide you with the best onsite experience. With more than 80 trails, biking is a great way to exercise while enjoying the beauty wisconsin has to offer. Purchase the vvmapping map bookprinted map book with over 150 pages of color maps from around wisconsin. Here you can find a railroad history museum with authentic photos, artifacts, and pieces of history from what. The three centuryold railroad tunnels hightlight the trail. Wisconsin s top mountain biking trails mountain biking. The elroysparta bike trail, wisconsin descriptions and.
The three tunnels along the trail are impressive feats of nineteenthcentury railroad engineering. Also a very popular family and youth group destination. Railtrail fans know that wisconsin s elroysparta state trail is famous for its three tunnels. Tunnel trail campground 26983 state hwy 71 wilton, wi 54670 phone. Information about the elroysparta state trail in western wisconsin. The trail has a 875 foot tunnel that was built in 1876.
Time lapse of a bicycle ride on the elroysparta trail in wisconsin. Stewart tunnel ice formations belleville, wisconsin. Bicycle elroysparta state bike trail united states. In 1964, the department of natural resources restored the depot and it now houses the official headquarters for the 32 mile elroysparta state bike trail, the renowned first railto trail in the world.
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