The route of the hiawatha scenic bike trail official website. The elroy sparta trail is best known for its three tunnels. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. That first rail trail is known at the elroysparta state trail. Touring cyclists can ride the entire wisconsin segment or choose smaller segments that are better suited to their experience level. Wisconsin s top mountain biking trails mountain biking. Short video taken inside the 34 mile tunnel along the spartaelroy bike trail. Elroysparta state trail to celebrate 50th anniversary wisconsin. Explore the best bike trails in wisconsin on traillink. Beginning in sparta at the trailhead tourist center, you might first want to check on ben bikin, a large statue of a mustachioed 19thcentury sportsman atop a victorianstyle pennyfarthing highwheel bicycle, about a half mile north on south water street.
Heres the photo tour of the badger state trail from whalen road north of belleville to the northern end of the trail at the bike roundabout in madison. If you only own a road bike i suggest purchasing any hybrid or trail type bike even a cheap one for trail riding. This ride was from june 2018 badger state trail photos 5 to northern. Wisconsin department of transportation bicycle maps. Elroy sparta trail 1 white, kendall, wisconsin 54638 rated 4. Considered to be the first rail trail when it opened in 1967, it was designed for foot, bicycle, equestrian and light motorized traffic.
Find the top rated bike trails in wisconsin, whether youre looking for an easy short bike trail or a long bike trail, youll find what youre looking for. On the way youll visit the quaint village of hustler and pass through a tunnel, the only other trail tunnel in the state besides those on the elroysparta trail. Bicycle tour on the 4 trails in wisconsin including the sparta elroy trail. Buy need trail tickets, shuttle passes, or a bike rental. Pedaling for a pint thanks to mutual attraction, breweries are popping up along bike trails.
The trail leads from the wisconsin illinois state line to madison passing through, from south to north, monroe, monticello, belleville and fitchburg. The badger state trail, which heads south from madison to the illinois state line where it connects. Centrally located in the heart of the bike 4 trails. Stewart tunnel on the badger state trail in belleville. Although there are now more than 22,000 miles of trails, the book focuses on the best. Utter darkness is as much a part of the scenery along the elroysparta state trail as the views of the rolling hills and farmland. The tunnels near kendall and wilton are each about 0. Shuttle service available 7 days a week during the biking season to provide transportation for individuals and their bicycles.
Other stories in bicycling 10 great places to ride n glide traveling by both bike and boat, a river trip is twice the fun. Bike or hike through railroad tunnels in sparta wi, the. The badger state trail is a 40 mile linear bike path paved with crushed limestone in south central wisconsin. The elroy sparta trail guidebook is the definitive source for the information.
Welcome to the elroy sparta trail sparta area chamber of. The trail has a 875 foot tunnel that was built in 1876. Wisconsin is blessed with a vast network of bike trails, both rural and urban and not all on former railroad corridors. Wisconsin consistently ranks as one of americas best places to bike. The definitive guide to the regions top multiuse trails railsto trails conservancy on. Bicycle elroysparta state bike trail united states. Overall a great investment if you are looking to check out this great bike trail. You might like the new boutique hotel in lacrosse charmant, or if you book a year in. Wisconsin has been a leader in railsto trails conversions learn more about the firstever railsto trails conversion, the elroy sparta trail, here, but theres a super interesting trail and tunnel about 20 miles southwest of madison that many wisconsinites know nothing about. Tunnel trail campgrounds campground in wilton, wi on the elroysparta bike trail.
Once a section of the chicago and north western railway, steam locomotives hauled grain, livestock and passengers along this route from 1873 to 1964. The badger state trail is 40 miles and stretches between madison and the wisconsinillinois border. The elroysparta trail wisconsin 32m is one of four connecting bike trails in westcentral wisconsin for a total of 101 miles. The elroysparta trail offers the perfect pairing for those who like to bike and take in natural views. The trails pass through small towns at the edge of wisconsin s driftless region, and are great for everything from a full day of pedaling to a multiday bike packing trip. This trail intersects with the badger state trail which goes from madison to the state line about 7 miles from new glarus. Wisconsins bike trails are back open, with one of its most popular and. 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. Welcome to tunnel trail campground 26983 state hwy.
The novelty of biking and hiking deep beneath ground in the pitch black stewart tunnel is what draws bikers and hikers to this sparsely populated area of southern wisconsin. This amazing trail in wisconsin takes you through abandoned train tunnels the elroy sparta trail is primarily known as a bike trail, but its open for walkers and runners as well. Thats because visitors pass through three handdug railroad tunnels on their 33mile journey from sparta to elroy on what is widely acknowledged to be the oldest rail trail conversion in the united states. 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. Now, there are nearly 2,000 railsto trails projects around the country, covering more than 22,000 miles. Towns of the fox river an hour west of chicago, a scenic bicycle trail makes sightseeing easy. Youll pass through three tunnels on the spartatoelroy trail, so if youre riing just one of the trails, thats the one to do. The omaha trail is paved and runs south for miles from camp douglas to elroy wisconsin. You may be familiar with the katy trail, the longest 240 miles developed rail trail in the country. The definitive guide to the regions top multiuse trails. The historic elroysparta state bike trail cuts through beautiful southwestern wisconsin and a few rocky hillsides.
The wintery works of art look as though they could. Trail is part of 101 miles of interconnecting state bike trails and is the original rails to trails bike trail. Information about the elroysparta state trail in western wisconsin. The trail utilizes part of a former railroad rightofway transferred from union pacific to the wisconsin department of transportation. A trail pass is required for all bikers and roller bladers, 16 years of age and older. Wisconsin s most unique tunnel has a truly fascinating history. Bike trails in wisconsin archives midwest wanderer. Online reservation form please fill out this convenient form to make your reservation at our camping resort. We have all the route of the hiawatha details you need to know when planning your. Explore on two wheels in wisconsin s bike friendly cities biking. Exploring the driftless area wisconsin by bike, water, and. Welcome to the first rails to trails project in america, the grandaddy of them all, the elroy sparta trail. The trail remains one of the most popular trails in the country. Sugar river state trail new glarus 2020 all you need.
The department of tourism offers the wisconsin biking guide, a detailed guide showing bike touring trails, onroad routes and mountain bike trail systems. Tunnel trail campground camping in wilton, wi near sparta. Bicycle trail maps state cartographers office uwmadison. 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. The trailbed occupies the former illinois central railroads freeport to madison line. The trail is a middle leg of the bike 4 trails route that runs for 100 miles from the mississippi river through wisconsin s rugged driftless area. Stewart tunnel ice formations belleville, wisconsin.
The badger state trail is a 40mile 64 km rail trail in south central wisconsin. Things have improved since then, but it started my journey to find, map, record, and share the many trails in the area. Americas first railsto trails project multiuse bike trails. Links to bike trails throughout wisconsin, bike trail maps, other online bike trail maps, bike clubs, tours and more. The elroy sparta state bike trail is a 32 mile linear bike path on crushed gravel.
Below is a list of designated bicycle trails on wisconsin dnr properties. Biking wisconsin explores 50 fun rides that will really spin your wheels. The elroy sparta trail is primarily known as a bike trail, but its open for walkers and runners as well. Great sauk state trail sauk county wisconsin official. If you plan on riding the elroy sparta trail in wisconsin this is a must have book. Badger state trail photos 3 inside the tunnel badger state trail photos 4 tunnel to belleville and back. In 1965, the elroysparta state trail became the first of its kind. With three rock tunnels and five small towns along its 32. The ice age trail takes a turn to the dark side for 1260 feet on the monticello segment. Considered the first railto trail in the united states, the elroysparta state trail remains one of the most popular trails in the country. We will contact you to confirm your reservations once you submit the form. The original of the wisconsin rail trail system and actually the first in the nation, this 34mile ride is the best known of them all. These county maps come from the wisconsin state bike map.
Tunnel trail campground is a family owned private campground on the elroysparta bicycle trail. This amazing trail in wisconsin takes you through abandoned train tunnels. The elroysparta trail in wisconsin takes you through. Elroysparta state trail 2020 all you need to know before you. The elroysparta bike trail, wisconsin descriptions and. 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. Shop all american bike trails products wisconsin s recreational bicycle trails by ray hoven is an illustrated map book in color with over 50 recrational offroad trails through wisconsin. Railtrail fans know that wisconsin s elroysparta state trail is famous for its three tunnels. American bike trails bike trails of wisconsin book eriks. The badger state trail, sugar river trail to the tunnel. Theres a beautiful pocket of wisconsin that dairy farmers would have had all to themselves if it hadnt been for a few renegade bicyclists. Near monticello, the trail passes through the 1,200foot 370 m long, unlit stewart tunnel constructed in 1887. The department of tourism offers the wisconsin biking guide, a detailed guide showing bike touring trails, onroad routes and mountain bike trail.
But sparta, wisconsin was were the first rail to bike trail began. There are more than one thousand miles of great offroad bicycling opportunities on public lands throughout wisconsin. Here you can find a railroad history museum with authentic photos, artifacts, and pieces of history from what. 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. Need trail tickets, shuttle passes, or a bike rental.
Construction of the great sauk state trail began in 2017. Bikers pass through three tunnels, so bike lights are recommended. Now juneau county has connected the scenic town with a bike trail that will take you to elroy, the trailhead for two state trails. The trail is part of the larger wisconsin bike trail system operated by the state of wisconsin. Tunnels, bikes and history on the elroysparta state.