The La Crosse River State Trail is a rail trail between

Sparta Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referre ...

and Onalaska,

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

. It is designed for foot, bicycle, equestrian or light motorized traffic. It is designated as a multiuse trail, offering recreational access to the routes, and is open to the public.La Crosse River State Trail - Wisconsin DNR
/ref> The trail runs parallel to the

La Crosse River The La Crosse River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed October 5, 2012 tributary of the Mississippi River in southwestern Wisconsin in the United States. Course The L ...

It is one of four connecting bike trails in west-central Wisconsin that spans approximately one-third of the state. The trail is known for the rural scenery and terrain of the

Coulee Region The Driftless Area, a topographical and cultural region in the American Midwest, comprises southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and the extreme northwestern corner of Illinois. Never covered by ice during the la ...

. It is part of the larger Wisconsin bike trail system, operated by the state of Wisconsin. The four connecting west central Wisconsin trails, known as the Bike 4 Trails, going from southeast to northwest are: *the

400 State Trail The 400 State Trail is a rail trail between Reedsburg and Elroy, Wisconsin. It is designed for foot, bicycle, equestrian, snowmobile traffic. It is designated as a multi-use trail, offering recreational access to the routes, and is open to th ...

() *the

Elroy-Sparta State Trail The Elroy-Sparta State Trail is a 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. Designat ...

() *the La Crosse River Trail () *the

Great River Trail The Great River State Trail is a rail trail between Onalaska, Wisconsin, Onalaska and Marshland, Wisconsin, Marshland, Wisconsin. It is designed for foot, bicycle, equestrian or light motorized traffic. It is designated as a multiuse trail, offeri ...

() The western end of the trail is at the intersection with the Great River Trail at a parking lot off of County Highway B east of in Onalaska (), while the eastern end is at the intersection with the Elroy-Sparta State Trail on John St. in Sparta (). The trail headquarters is located in a historic depot in Sparta and is open from May 1 through October 31. There is a $5.00 per day fee for use of the trail if one does not have the $25.00 yearly Wisconsin bike trail pass. Camping, lodging, food, parking, bike rentals and information are available at many points along the trail. The trail is constructed upon the abandoned

Chicago and North Western Railway The Chicago and North Western was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the "North Western". The railroad operated more than of track at the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states befor ...

railroad bed. It originally was built for the

Baraboo Air Line Railroad The Baraboo Air Line Railroad was a railroad chartered in Wisconsin to join Madison, Wisconsin to Winona, Minnesota in 1870.Stennett, William H.. Yesterday and Today: A History of the Chicago and North Western Railway System. United States: Winsh ...

and the La Crosse, Trempealeau & Presscott Railroad routes from Sparta to Winona, Minnesota. The trail is not paved, but is smooth, and covered with packed crushed limestone.

References

External links

Official website
including history and campground information and maps
Discover Onalaska

DNR page
{{Wisconsin hiking trails Rail trails in Wisconsin Chicago and North Western Railway

See also

References

External links