Elroy-Sparta State Trail Description
Note: The three tunnels on the trail close from Nov. 1 to April 30 each year.
Overview
Three hand-dug tunnels along the Elroy-Sparta State Trail make utter darkness as much a part of the scenery as rolling hills and farmland along what’s widely acknowledged to be the oldest rail-trail conversion in the United States. The 33-mile journey atop crushed limestone is a trek through time, tunnels, and towns, making this Wisconsin trail a true gem of the American heartland.
About the Route
The Elroy-Sparta State Trail’s western endpoint is at the Sparta Chamber of Commerce, a building which was once a rail depot. Signage makes the direction of the Elroy-Sparta trail clear. (For fans of quirky monuments, consider a quick detour here a half mile north on Water Street to check on “Ben Bikin’,” a large statue of a mustachioed 19th-century sportsman atop a Victorian-style “penny-farthing” high-wheel bicycle.)
A mile east of Sparta, a bridge takes trail users over I-90, before shortly approaching the Sparta DNR Campground, one of four camping options along the route.
8.9 miles southeast from Sparta, trail users will find the longest tunnel along the route, Tunnel 3. Open from May-October, the route becomes pitch black as it passes through the tunnel for 3,810 feet—bring a flashlight! Just past the tunnel is the Summit Rest Area, home to a reconstructed watchman’s shack and, where, with a little searching, trail users can find a 8-foot-deep stone flume to divert water away from the rails.
East of Tunnel 3, the trail turns south and meets the town of Norwalk, which offers another camping facility and an opportune spot for a picnic. Ahead another 3.2 miles is Tunnel 2, at 1,694 feet long.
Southeast from Tunnel 2, the trail continues to Wilton, where a community campground can be found a few blocks off the trail, south through the town, at the end of East Street.
3.8 miles east of Wilton, the trail passes through Tunnel 1, which is 1,649 feet long and the driest of the three. East of Tunnel 1, the trail makes a 3.3-mile downhill run to the trail headquarters in Kendall at a restored depot that also serves as a museum and bike rental shop.
The easternmost segment from Kendall to Elroy consists of 6 miles of mostly flat, open farm country. The Elroy-Sparta State Trail meets its eastern end in Elroy, which offers a campground, and connections to the 400 State Trail and Omaha Trail.
Connections
At the trail’s western endpoint in Sparta, the trail continues as the La Crosse River State Trail.
At the trail’s eastern endpoint in Elroy, trail users can continue along the 400 State Trail and Omaha Trail.
Trail History
Before it opened as a rail-trail in the 1967, the Elroy-Sparta Trail carried the Chicago and North Western Railway, carting passengers, grain, and livestock between on steam locomotives between St. Paul and Chicago. In its prime, the route carried 6 passenger trains and 40–50 freight trains daily. The railroad discontinued passenger service in 1953 and freight in 1964.
The trail’s hand-dug tunnels—two at 1,600 feet and the other at 3,800 feet—have long been a big draw for the trail. Work crews chipped through solid rock to create a railway-grade path for trains to traverse the hilly Driftless Area. Covering much of southwestern Wisconsin, the Driftless Area never saw ice during the last ice age; hence today, its rugged hills stand in contrast to its flatter surrounds.
The tunnels are unlit, and water drips down the walls and pools at your feet. The temperature in the tunnels is a cool 50–60 degrees, regardless of the outside temperature. The 20-foot-tall double doors at the tunnel entrances were used by watchmen who opened and closed them for passing trains, to prevent winter temperatures from damaging walls inside the portals. These wooden doors are closed all winter now; snowmobilers take a detour around them.
A state agency bought the right-of-way soon after the railway closed, and began developing the trail, which opened to the public in 1967. It was the first trail of its kind to be named a National Recreation Trail by the Department of the Interior.
Parking and Trail Access
The Elroy-Sparta Trail runs between 111 Milwaukee St (Sparta) and State Route 82 (Elroy), with parking available in Sparta.
Parking is also available:
9890 Imac Ave. (Sparta)
101 Railroad St. (Norwalk)
113 White St (Kendall)
Please see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
A State Trail Pass ($25 annually/$5 daily) is required for bicyclists ages 16 and older. Snowmobilers must display either a Wisconsin registration or a snowmobile State Trail Pass. Refer to the Wisconsin DNR website for more information.
Elroy-Sparta State Trail Facts
States: Wisconsin
Counties: Juneau, Monroe
Length: 33.8 miles
Trail end points: S. Water St. and Milwaukee St./La Crosse River State Trail (Sparta) and SR 82 at SR 71 (Elroy)
Trail surfaces: Crushed Stone
Trail category: Rail-Trail
ID: 6017483
Activities:
Bike
Wheelchair Accessible
Mountain Biking
Snowmobiling
Walking
Cross Country Skiing