Elroy-Sparta State Trail: Difference between revisions
Tunnels, links, closing |
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[[Image:djhelroysparta.jpg|thumb|right|Just outside one of three railroad tunnels along the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail]] |
[[Image:djhelroysparta.jpg|thumb|right|Just outside one of three railroad tunnels along the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail]] |
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[[Image:Trail 2013-05-19 Train bike trip-5705.jpg|thumb|left|A bicyclist enters one of the tunnels.]] |
[[Image:Trail 2013-05-19 Train bike trip-5705.jpg|thumb|left|A bicyclist enters one of the tunnels.]] |
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'''The Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail''' or ''' |
'''The Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail''' or '''Elroy-Sparta State Trail''' is a {{convert|32|mi|adj=on|sp=us}} Wisconsin State [[rail trail]] between [[Elroy, Wisconsin|Elroy]] and [[Sparta, Wisconsin|Sparta]], [[Wisconsin]]. Considered to be the first rail trail when it opened in 1967, it was designed for foot, bicycle, equestrian and light motorized traffic. Designated a multi-use trail, it offers recreational access to the routes and is open to the public.<ref>[http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2008/september/01/wisconsins-elroy-sparta-state-trail/ "TrailBlog: Wisconsin's Elroy-Sparta State Trail"], Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 01 Sept. 2008.</ref> The trail is part of the larger [[Wisconsin Mountain Bike Trails|Wisconsin bike trail system]] operated by the state of Wisconsin.<ref>[http://www.travelwisconsin.com/linear-bike-trails/traffic-free-paved/elroy-sparta-state-trail-203652 "Elroy-Sparta State Trail | Travel Wisconsin"], Wisconsin Department of Tourism, [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], 2014.</ref> It passes through rural scenery and three tunnels. It is one of six connecting bike trails in west-central Wisconsin. It was added to the [[Rails-to-Trails Conservancy]] hall of Fame in September 2008.<ref> [https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2008/september/01/wisconsins-elroy-sparta-state-trail/ Wisconsin's Elroy-Sparta State Trail] Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall Of Fame Trail Blog. September 1, 2008</ref> |
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==Trail== |
==Trail== |
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Revision as of 00:11, 19 January 2020
The Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail or Elroy-Sparta State Trail is a 32-mile (51 km) Wisconsin State rail trail between Elroy and Sparta, Wisconsin. Considered to be the first rail trail when it opened in 1967, it was designed for foot, bicycle, equestrian and light motorized traffic. Designated a multi-use trail, it offers recreational access to the routes and is open to the public.[1] The trail is part of the larger Wisconsin bike trail system operated by the state of Wisconsin.[2] It passes through rural scenery and three tunnels. It is one of six connecting bike trails in west-central Wisconsin. It was added to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy hall of Fame in September 2008.[3]
Trail
The trail, constructed upon the abandoned Chicago and North Western Railway railroad bed, is covered with crushed limestone for a smooth ride for bicyclists. The three tunnels along the trail are impressive feats of nineteenth-century railroad engineering. Tunnel #1, a short distance from Kendall, is surrounded by natural tunnels formed by the surrounding canopy of trees. Tunnel #2, stationed halfway between Wilton and Norwalk, features 20-foot-tall wooden doors on both ends of the tunnel. Both Tunnel Number 1 and Tunnel Number 2 are a 0.25 miles (400 m) each. Tunnel number 3, nine miles from Sparta and three miles from Norwalk, is longer than the span of 10 football fields at 0.75 miles (1.21 km). It took $1 million and three years of digging by hand, through stone, to complete in 1873.[4]
Seasonal closing
The tunnels are closed for the season by the beginning of November, using the doors that the railroad added to prevent storm damage. The debate on when to close the tunnel caused a conflict between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the organizers of the Rails to Trails Marathon.[5] The northern long-eared bat hibernates in Tunnel Number three. It was listed as threatened species in 2015. The Rails to Trails Marathon, a Boston Marathon qualifier, moved their event date to earlier in October from November in 2017 to accommodate an earlier tunnel closing than the original November 15 date.[6]
Location
The eastern end of the trail is on 
WIS 80 just north of 
WIS 71 in downtown Elroy (43°44′34″N 90°16′23″W / 43.74278°N 90.27306°W), while the western end is at the intersection with the La Crosse River Trail on John St. in Sparta (43°55′55″N 90°47′50″W / 43.93194°N 90.79722°W). The trail headquarters, located in Kendall on Wisconsin Highway 71, is open from May 1 through October 31. There is a fee for use of the trail if one does not have an annual Wisconsin bike trail pass.[7] Camping, lodging, food, parking, bike rentals and information are available at many points along the trail.[8]
West Central Wisconsin Bike Trails
The six connecting west central Wisconsin trails, going from southeast to northwest[9] are:
- 400 Trail (22 mi or 35 km)
- Hillsboro State Trail [10]
- Omaha Trail (13 mi or 21 km), a Juneau County, Wisconsin trail[11]
- Elroy-Sparta State Trail (32 mi or 51 km)
- La Crosse River Trail (22 mi or 35 km)
- Great River Trail (24 mi or 39 km)
The Elroy-Sparta bike trail connects to the 400 Trail in Elroy. It connects to the La Crosse River Trail in Sparta. There also is a connection in Elroy to the 13-mile Omaha County Trail. The Omaha trail travels between Elroy and Camp Douglas, near Mill Bluff State Park. The Omaha trail features a shorter rock tunnel that is about two blocks long. The Hillsboro State trail is further south from Elroy along the 400 trail at Union Center, Wisconsin.
See also
References
- ^ "TrailBlog: Wisconsin's Elroy-Sparta State Trail", Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 01 Sept. 2008.
- ^ "Elroy-Sparta State Trail | Travel Wisconsin", Wisconsin Department of Tourism, Madison, 2014.
- ^ Wisconsin's Elroy-Sparta State Trail Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall Of Fame Trail Blog. September 1, 2008
- ^ "Elroy-Sparta State Trail | Wisconsin Trails | TrailLink.com", Rights-to-Trails Conservancy, 2014.
- ^ Hubbich, Chris - bikes and regulation: Conflict brewing on Elroy Sparta trail. La Crosse Tribune, September 12, 2016
- ^ Rails to Trails Marathon in Norwalk on Oct. 8 La Crosse Tribune, October 1, 2017
- ^ "Elroy-Sparta State Trail", Trails from Rails, 2009.
- ^ "Elroy-Sparta State Trail - Wisconsin DNR", Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, 17 Oct. 2014.
- ^ Wisconsin State Trails Network Plan West Central Region Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Parks and Recreation Trails Section. January 2001
- ^ Hillsboro State Trail Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource
- ^ Juneau County Wisconsin Trails
External links
- Official website including history and campground information and maps
- Elroy Sparta Trail Guidebook
- Wisconsin Elroy to Sparta State Trail (map)
