wisconsin trails network plan trails network plan · trails network plan wisconsin department of...

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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Wisconsin Trails Network Plan

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Open/Established Trail Proposed Trail

PUB-PR-313 2003



Box 7921, 101 S. Webster St.

Madison, WI 53707

For more information contact the Bureau of Parks and Recreation at (608) 266-2181

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative

Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.

This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audio tape, etc.) upon request. Please call the Bureau of Parks and Recreation at

(608) 266-2181.

First Printed in January 2001

Revised in March 2003

Wisconsin

Trails Network Plan2003

Wisconsin Trails Network Plan 2001

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George E. Meyer, Secretary

Steve Miller, Administrator, Lands Division

Susan Black, Director, Bureau of Parks and

Recreation

1999 Guidance Team

Dale Urso, Land Leader, Northern Region

Susan Black, Director, Bureau of Parks and

Recreation

Robert Roden, Director, Bureau of Lands and

Facilities

Kathy Curtner, Director, Bureau of Community

Financial Assistance

Staff Team for PreviousDrafts of this Plan

William Moorman, Bureau of Parks and Recreation

Dave Aslakson, South Central Region

Allison Hellman, South Central Region

Dave Daniels, Northern Region

Paul DeLong, Bureau of Forestry

Douglas B. Fendry, Bureau of Property

Management

Larry Freidig, Bureau of Community Assistance

Therese Gripentrog, Southeast Region

Bonnie Gruber, Bureau of Parks and Recreation

David Hammer, Bureau of Parks and Recreation

Lyle Hannahs, Northern Region

Gary D. Hanson, Northeast Region

Terry Jordan, Northern Region

Dennis Kulhanek, Bureau of Parks and Recreation

Mark Martin, Bureau of Endangered Resources

Jeffrey C. Pagels, Northeast Region

Kathleen A. Patnode, Bureau of Wildlife

Management

Michael L. Ries, West Central Region

Daniel C. Rogers, Northeast Region

Jean A. Rygiel, West Central Region

Paul Sandgren, Southeast Region

Jim Schweiger, Northern Region

Kermit Traska, Bureau of Parks and Recreation

Kris Visser, Division of Lands

Patricia J. Zatopa, Northern Region

James Kurtz, Chief Legal Counsel

State Trails Council

Connie C. Loden, Hurley, Chair

Christopher Kegel, Mequon, Vice Chair

Michael F. Sohasky, Antigo, Secretary

Jeffrey L. Butson, Madison

Thomas Huber, Madison

Mike McFadzen, Plymouth

Bill Pfaff, New Lisbon

David W. Phillips, Madison

Joe Parr, Brodhead

Others Involved in 2000Plan

Peter Biermeier, Bureau of Parks and Recreation

Dana White-Quam, South Central Region

Andrew Hanson, Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation

John Pohlman, DNR 2050 Land Legacy Study

Carla Wright, DNR Environmental Corridors

Melissa Cook, South East Region

Special Thanks to Tom Huber, Gayle Stearn and

Department of Transportation District Staff

for their input.

Production Credits

2001 Production Coordinator: Danielle Valvassori,

Bureau of Parks and Recreation

2001 Editor and Typesetting for the Public Review

Draft: Meg Turville-Heitz, Oakland Ink

Map development: Mike Wenholz, Bureau of Parks

and Recreation

2003 Reprint Editor: Brigit Brown, Bureau of Parks

and Recreation

2003 Cover, Layout Design, and editing: Shawn

Schmidt, Bureau of Parks and Recreation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSACKN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 1

Background

Purpose

What is a Trail?

Relationship to Other Plans

Benefits of Trails

Environmental and Aesthetic Benefits

Economic Benefits

Social Benefits

Health Benefits

Wisconsin Trails Network Plan

Selection Objectives

Corridor Types

Implementation

Summary

Existing & Approved Statewide Network Map & Table

Northeast Region Network

Northern Region Network

South Central Region Network

Southeast Region Network

West Central Region Network

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Background

The Wisconsin State Trails Strategic Plan

(1993) clarifies the Wisconsin Department ofNatural Resources’ (DNR) role and mission ofproviding all types of trails, and spells outstrategies for carrying out this mission. The1993 plan foresaw the need for a blueprintfor implementing the strategies that wouldcontain specific recommendations for astatewide network of state-owned or state-designated recreational trails. Thus, the State

Recreational Trails Network Plan identifies aseries of potential trail corridors across

Wisconsin that would link existing trails, publiclands, natural features, and communities. Itdescribes a vision of a statewide network ofinterconnected rail trails into which smallerstate, partnership, county, municipal andprivate trails feed. Preserving corridors forfuture use is a very important considerationwhen converting a rail line to a recreationaland alternative transportation corridor.Under current Federal Law, once preserved

the corridor will remain available for futurerail use.

Once the Wisconsin Trails Network Plan isapproved by the Natural Resources Board itbecomes an amendment to the Wisconsin

State Trails Strategic Plan and providesauthorization for the DNR to pursueacquisition of any abandoned rail grade orother corridor identified in the plan. The planwill also be incorporated into the DNR’s LandLegacy Study which will identify recreationalland acquisition needs for the next 50 years.

Once the DNR negotiates with the railcompany or the Department of Transportation(DOT) to acquire abandoned rail lines, projectstaff will need to prepare abbreviatedfeasibility studies that address issues ofconverting the corridor to a recreational trail,and identify local support for the trail,economic impact, manageability and potentialuses of the trail.

After the feasibility study is completed, amaster plan that identifies allowable trail usesis developed with public input. The feasibilitystudy and development of the master planshould consider other plans and planningprocesses, including comprehensive plans thatare required under the Smart Growthlegislation.

This network mainly consists of rail-basedtrails and utility corridors that occasionallyemploy road connections. Existing state andcounty converted rail corridors, “rails-to-trails,”are integral parts of the proposed statewidetrail network. Natural feature corridors such asthe Ice Age National and State Scenic Trail arealso an important component of the overallnetwork.

Many of the existing state trails aredeveloped and operated in successfulpartnerships with counties. By agreement theDNR acquires the corridor and the countygovernment(s) develop, operate, and maintainthe trail. Many counties have taken the initiativeto provide rail-trails with little or no assistance

from the DNR beyond the initial acquisition.

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Purpose

This plan identifies a statewide network oftrails and provides guidance to the DNR foreffectively utilizing its limited funding for landacquisition and development. Maps in this plandetail the potential trail network for each ofDNR’s five regions and tables provideinformation on each trail segment, followed bymore detailed descriptions of each trailsegment and reasons why these segments areimportant to the overall trail network in thestate.

What is a Trail?

For this plan the definition of a trailencompasses trails that range from facilitiessuch as a rail trail with at-grade or separatedgrade crossings such as a bridge over a roador a box culvert under a road, to roadsideshoulders or a path beside a roadway. On-road trails are limited to bicyclists, or in manycases occasional hiker use, whereas other,“separated” state trails accommodate variousnon-motorized and motorized users to includehikers, wheelchair users, bicyclists, equestrians,cross country skiers, in-line skaters, skiers,snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, snowshoes,dogsledders and four-wheel drive vehicles.The uses of separated trails are determinedduring the master planning process, whichconsiders the physical characteristics of thetrail, compatibility of users, local ordinancesand public input.

The department is committed to expandingtrail opportunities for people with disabilitiesduring the trail feasibility and master planningprocesses. The DNR will comply with theAmerican Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADAAccessibility Guidelines.

Trail segments within the corridors willchange over time, as some opportunities openand others fail to materialize. Therefore, thisplan should be continually updated andimproved. If one corridor becomes available,

another similar or parallel corridor may nolonger be necessary and can be removedfrom an updated version of this plan. Due tothe uncertainty of future rail abandonment itis important to list all corridors that could linkto the statewide network. It is highly unlikelythat all the rail corridors identified in this planwill ever be abandoned or available for trailuse.

Relationship to OtherPlans

County and MunicipalPlans

This plan, which focuses on major corridorsstatewide, acknowledges that many local unitsof government have or are working on plans todevelop trail systems through theircommunities to provide citizens theopportunity to recreate and commute safely.The intent is to look at the big picture and dueto the scale of this plan it therefore does notinclude many of the segments that local unitsof government are currently working on. TheDNR, however, acknowledges theirimportance at both a regional and statewidelevel. DNR will continue to work with countiesand municipalities to develop and incorporatethese important local links within the network.Local governments should continue workingon the development of their local trail systemsas they have in the past looking foropportunities to connect to the statewidenetwork.

Wisconsin Department ofTransportation (DOT)Plans

In keeping with DNR’s mission for providingoutdoor recreation, this plan focuses onrecreational trails. However, often no cleardistinction exists between recreation and

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transportation uses of trails. Most recreationtrails can also be used for transportation, justas most trails planned primarily fortransportation can also be used forrecreation. For this reason DNR and DOT areconsulting with one another on theirrespective trail and pedestrian-bicycle plans.

The DOT completed the Wisconsin Bicycle

Transportation Plan 2020 in December 1998.The plan highlights seven key inter-city trailsthat are important links to the state trailnetwork. Many other inter-city bicycleconnections were also presented in the plan.Paved shoulder improvements in combinationwith the identification of low volumeroadways were recommended as appropriateways to make these connections. The seventrails considered to be key linkages on state

highways include:

1. Urban Trail from Eau Claire to ChippewaFalls

2. Badger State Trail from Madison toBelleville

3. Wild River Trail from Rice Lake toCameron

4. Lakefront Trail from South Milwaukee tothe Racine County Trail

5. Wiouwash Trail from New London to theWaupaca/Shawano County Line

6. Hurley to Upson Segment

7. North Hudson to Houlton

The Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan

2020 also recommends urban and communitytrails and endorses the 14 metropolitan areabicycle and pedestrian plans. All the plansmake recommendations for bicycle and/orpedestrian facilities. Lastly, the Wisconsin

Bicycle Transportation Plan 2020 makes astrong recommendation to consider “safe andconvenient bicycle access (likely to be pavedshoulders) to trailheads that are located withinreasonable distances of communities.”Connections were not specified project-by-

project in the plan, but are recommended forthe statewide trail network based on the

above language.

The DOT has both a State Highway Plan

and a Six-Year Highway ImprovementProgram. The latter identifies projects,planned year of work and the anticipatednature of the work (e.g., re-paving,reconstruction, etc.) for state highways. Thevast majority of projects are relatively simpleimprovements, such as re-paving a highwayor existing two-lane roadway. In these casesthe construction of a separated, freestandingtrail is impractical.

DNR Land Legacy Study

The State Trails Plan focuses on meetingrecreational trail demands and is not intendedto address ecologically based corridor needs.These are addressed in the DNR’s assessmentof future needs for public land ownership, aproject under way in the DNR’s Land LegacyStudy. The Land Legacy Study evaluates theland and area types possibly appropriate forpublic ownership to meet conservation andrecreation needs over the next 50 years. TheWisconsin Trails Network Plan will be animportant component in identifying recreationneeds and opportunities, and will be acomponent of the Land Legacy Study.

DNR Strategic Plan

The Wisconsin Trails Network Plan supportsthe concept of sound planning withcommunities and other state agencies alongidentified corridors and segments to providethe citizens of the state access to trails thatprovide a long list of benefits. These benefitsare consistent with the goals of the DNR’sStrategic Plan to provide outdoor recreationand to sustain healthy ecosystems.

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Environmental andAesthetic Benefits

Trails provide people alternativetransportation routes that can reduceautomobile use and provide alternatives to solodriving, resulting in improved air quality. Byproviding safe, pleasant places to walk andbicycle, trails encourage people to use non-motorized means of getting to work, school,play, and shopping which result in reducedtraffic congestion, noise, and air pollution.

The Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan

2020 states: “the most frequent, comfortable,and practical trips for bicyclists—those underfive miles—produce the greatest environmentalbenefits since trips under five miles in lengthare the least fuel efficient and produce thehighest emissions per mile.”

Trails also provide a unique facility to servea diverse population that may otherwise havelimited opportunities to access natural areasdue to financial or transportation constraints.

When rail lines are converted to trail use,the state generally acquires a 100-foot widecorridor, of which a 10-foot strip is surfacedfor the trail. Most of the rest of the land is leftin its natural state, providing habitat for birdsand other wildlife as well as diverse plantcommunities that include prairie remnants. Thecorridors are also extremely important aswildlife corridors which protect speciesdiversity and diverse plant communities such asprairie remnants.

Economic Benefits

Trail users spend money on bicycles,snowmobiles, other durable goods andequipment maintenance related to theirrecreation, often in the areas near the trails.Local hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants,bakeries, gas stations, and other businessesalso benefit from tourists’ spending.

The state Department of Tourism developednumerous publications that promote statewidetrail use. Studies show that long trails, whichattract users from far away, represent the

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most spending per user. Shorter, urban trailsgenerally get more users, so they also have ahigh economic impact. This spending results inhigher sales tax revenues for the state andcounties.

For example, the communities along theElroy-Sparta State Trail have seen an increasein tourism since the trail opened in 1968. Thecity of Sparta now proclaims itself the“Bicycling Capital of America.” Promotions bythe cities of Elroy and Sparta attractedbusinesses to serve trail users. The Wisconsin

Bicycle Transportation Plan 2020 cites datafrom a 1988 study of the Elroy-Sparta trailthat indicated a per person spending of$25.00 per day. Once adjusted for inflationand assuming 60,000 visitors annually, usersof this trail spent in excess of $2 million peryear on trail-related activities.

The presence of trails often increases thevalue of properties adjacent to the corridors,especially those through residentialneighborhoods. The National Association ofHome Builders cites trails as the second andthird most important amenity that wouldinfluence people to move to a new location.

Quality of life is an increasingly importantfactor in attracting and retaining businesses ina community, and trails are importantcontributors to the quality of life. Corporationsbring jobs to communities and help supportother businesses.

Additionally, health improvement due tooutdoor exercise can help control medical costsin the long run.

Social Benefits

Trails can provide a sense of place and asource of community pride. When integratedwith features such as historic sites, commercialor residential areas, and parks, they canimprove the overall character of a region.They are beautiful places for people to enjoythe natural beauty of our state.

Trail corridors can become outdoorclassrooms where children and adults canobserve and learn about their natural andcultural environment.

Health Benefits

Trails provide pleasant places for people towalk, run, bicycle, ski, skate, or do otherexercises, all of which help control weight,blood pressure and cholesterol levels, buildsstrength and endurance, and help preventosteoporosis, diabetes and depression.

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The Wisconsin Trails Network Plan accom-

plishes the following:

1. Clarifies the DNR’s intent to establish astatewide network of trails

2. Identifies the system of trails that createthe statewide rail-trail, utility corridor andconnector network, amending the State

Trails Strategic Plan.

3. Identifies rail corridors in which the DNRmay have an interest if and whenabandonment is considered.

4. Shortens the land acquisition approvalprocess for new trails.

5. Encourages inter-agency planning betweenthe DNR, the DOT and other highwaydepartments for potential trail corridorlinks on public roadways.

6. Encourages local governments, DNR andDOT to consider connections betweenrecreational trails and roadway routes toprovide a comprehensive and seamlesssystem for bicyclists traveling from theirhomes to employment, commercial andrecreational facilities.

7. Encourages local governments to worktogether toward a common goal andencourages partnerships between localgovernments and DNR. The plan wouldbe a tool for local government’s use inplanning and developing trail systemsconnecting with the statewide network.The plan should be considered whendeveloping the transportation element of

local comprehensive plans.

Selection Objectives

The DNR’s choice of potential recreationaltrail corridors is based on the following objec-

tives:

1. Proximity to population centers that offerconnections to a statewide network ofrecreational trails.

2. Existing rail corridors with a high potentialfor abandonment, utility and naturalfeature corridors as described below.

3. Existing historical sites, tourist attractions,state and county parks, and othersignificant features.

4. Links to existing federal, state, county andmunicipal trails.

5. Links to interstate trails in Illinois, Iowa,Minnesota and Michigan.

6. “Natural feature” corridors tied to riversand other scenic landscape patterns,including major topographic features.

Separate and distinct from this list areecological habitat corridors that allow for themovement of animal species and plant coloni-zation. These corridors will be discussed in theLand Legacy Study (described above).

Corridor Types

Five types ofcorridors aredescribed.

♦ Rail corridors

♦ Utilitycorridors.

♦ Potentialroutes ofstreets, roads,and majorhighways oreasements asconnectors.

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♦ Natural features trail corridors, such asthe Capital City and Ice Age trails.

♦ Trails within the water, i.e. lakeshore orparallel waterways i.e. rivers and streams,to provide water-based recreation, such ascanoeing and kayaking along rivers

Rail Corridors

Of the state’s 4,100 miles of operating railline, this plan identifies more than 1,800 milesas potential trail corridor. In 1979, the NaturalResources Board directed the DNR to refrainfrom taking a position on any proposed railcorridor abandonment. Often, however, theDNR has 180 days in which to act if and when

a rail line is abandoned. Identifying corridorsfor potential trail development enables theDNR to act more quickly by shortening theprocess for land acquisition approval.

Some trails are created under the “interimtrail use” authority. The Surface TransportationBoard, once rail line abandonment isapproved, can allow the railroad to negotiatewith a public agency for conversion of thecorridor to trail use. This process essentially“railbanks” a corridor for possible future railuse. The Surface Transportation Board assignsinterim use of the corridor to a qualified publicor private agency if that agency agrees tomanage the trail and cover all associatedexpenses, including taxes and liability.

Consideration should also be given to the“rails-with-trails” approach. This involvesconstructing a multipurpose public pathwaybeside an active rail line, within the samecorridor, designed for safety for all users andacceptable to the railroad.1

Currently, the DNR is working with the stateAttorney General’s office and the federalBureau of Land Management to determine whoowns a discontinued railroad grade that waspart of a federally granted right-of-way. Thegrant requires a formal declaration ofabandonment from a court of competent

jurisdiction or an act or Congress, instead ofthe usual Surface Transportation Boarddetermination. Once this case is resolved theDNR will know how, and if, to proceed onother federally granted right-of-ways inWisconsin.

Utility Corridors

Utility corridors can provide excellent off-road trail opportunities. They are generallymore abundant in the populated areas of thestate where trail demand is often the greatest.In southeast Wisconsin, a number of existingand potential trail routes are located on utilitycorridors.

Connectors: Roads orEasements

This plan identifies potential connectors orlinks to abandoned rail corridors that would bemade via road or easement. Once the DNR hasthe opportunity to purchase a rail corridorrequiring a connector, the DNR will work withappropriate agencies, local government orcitizens to create these connections, which willbe considered case by case as needed in viewof the overall system.

Appropriate “trail” improvements within ahighway corridor could range from a separatepath to a paved shoulder to no additionaltreatment at all on lightly traveled roads. Theeventual recommended treatment woulddepend on traffic volume, width of the right-of-way, highway geometrics, cost, the number andtype of anticipated users, and maintenanceconsiderations. Most of the identified highwaycorridor connections will likely be served byproviding paved shoulders that benefitbicyclists and walkers.

The DNR and DOT have an opportunity tocoordinate during the trail feasibility planningprocess by actively working with highwaydepartments and taking advantage of any

1For more information, see Kraich, Patrick (1996). Rails-with-Trails: Sharing Corridors for Transportation and Recreation.Washington, D.C.: Rails to Trails Conservancy.


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opportunities to address connections inhighway planning efforts. This is especiallyimportant since most road-based links can beachieved most efficiently during highwayreconstruction projects.

Where corridors are in private ownership,the DNR and other entities have the potentialto work out easements that would allow thetrail to pass across private lands.

Natural Features TrailCorridors

A natural features trail corridor is anaturally occurring linear corridor such asalong a river (e.g. Nine Springs Creek besidethe Capital City Trail) or related to alandscape or major topographic feature suchas the glacial footprints along the Ice Age Trail.

The Capital City Trail in Dane Countycapitalizes on state, county and universityowned properties within the Dane County NineSprings E-way Corridor. Specific ecologicallandscape and/or scenic features are likely tobe the basis for natural features trails that mayemerge as part of the Land Legacy Study.

The Department is currently a partner ontwo natural features trail corridors: the IceAge and North Country National Scenic Trails.The 1,200 mile route of the Ice Age Trail,designated a State Scenic Trail in 1987,generally follows the end moraine of themost recent glaciation through local, countyand state-owned lands. At this time about500 miles of this premier-walking trail areopen for public use. The general route of thetrail, set in a 1983 comprehensive plan stillrequires considerable land acquisition beforethe 1,000-mile route is in place.

The Department’s Five-Year LandAcquisition Plan identified projects thatneeded to be completed by June, 2000.These included feasibility studies for the IceAge Trail through Marathon, Sauk, Polk,Northern Columbia, Sheboygan and

Manitowoc. The prioritization of all pendingfeasibility studies, to include the ones listedabove, will be considered in the Land LegacyStudy process next year.

The North Country National Scenic Trail wasapproved as a DNR project in October 2000,with the Natural Resources Board approval ofa trail corridor plan for three of its fourcounties. Approval of the trail as a projectwill allow expenditures by the Department forland acquisition, as lands become availablefrom willing landowners. The North CountryNational Scenic Trail runs for 4,200 miles,crossing seven states from Crown Point StateHistoric Site in New York to Sakakawea StatePark on the Missouri River in North Dakota,where it joins the Lewis and Clark NationalForest and various state and county lands. Thetrail crosses Wisconsin for 390 miles. Of thatamount, 170 miles is on public land, such as theChequamegon National Forest and variousstate and county land. About 180 miles will belocated on privately owned land in the projectarea. Another 40-mile section of the trail thatruns east from Copper Falls State Park toHurley will be added to the project area at alater date once a trail corridor planningprocess is completed.

Water Trails

Wisconsin’s lakes and streams, great andsmall, have provided transportation, commerce,and recreation, throughout the State’s history.

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The Department, in partnership with localinterests and regional or statewideorganizations, will help to build a strongercoalition around the educational andrecreation opportunities provided byWisconsin’s water trails, as part of the StateTrails Network.

The demand for water-based recreationopportunities in Wisconsin continues to increase.The DNR Strategic Plan has a major goal ofProviding Outdoor Recreation. One strategyfor achieving that goal encourages theagency to promote and improve recreationalopportunities on state waters and on public andprivate lands through partnerships with people,governments, tribes, businesses and otherorganizations.

By the end of 2001 the Department willimprove the identification of water trailopportunities within, along, and near statelands, and will collaborate with othersinterested in improving educational andrecreation water trail opportunities.

Implementation

As the identified potential trail corridorsbecome available for conversion torecreational trails, the DNR will work inpartnership with the state Department ofTransportation, local and county governments,regional planning commissions, user groups andothers to implement the Wisconsin TrailsNetwork Plan. Important connectionsbetween these trails will be developed byworking with DOT and local highwaydepartments as appropriate or via easementas described above, case-by-case.

As segments become available the DNR willhelp facilitate acquisition, and in some instancesdevelopment, as funding and grant availabilityallow. Cooperative trail partnerships willcontinue to be an important part of the statetrail system. In these situations DNR acquires thetrail grade, and local partners develop,

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maintain and operate the trail. Varioussources of funding are available for localgovernments interested in cooperative trailpartnerships.

DOT and DNR will consult one anotherwhen trails, consistent with this plan, are readyfor a connection via a state highway. Thefeasibility and timing of incorporatingdifferent types of trails will be evaluatedproject-by-project by comparing thestatewide trail needs with the DOT’sWisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan 2020,the State Highway Plan, Six-Year HighwayImprovement Program and the WisconsinPedestrian Plan along with the prioritiesestablished through the DNR’s Land LegacyStudy.

Summary

This plan describes a vision of a statewidenetwork of interconnected trails that feed intosmaller state, county, municipal, private andstate partnership trails. To make progress onthe network the DNR will continue workingwith local units of government, the Departmentof Transportation and other partners to createthe connections that will continue providingcitizens the opportunity to recreate andtransport safely.

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Existing and ApprovedStatewide Network

The following table delineates the existingsystem of state and locally owned trails thatare critical links in the overall network. Thetable includes trails that have been approvedby the Natural Resources Board but are notyet constructed. Additionally, the tableincludes information regarding ownership andoperations.

Following the table a Statewide mapshows the existing and approved trails as wellthe potential trails which are then identifiedand described by DNR region. Each regionhas a map zooming in on the existing andpotential trails within the region, a tabledescribing the existing trails shown on themap and another table which describes theproposed network.

State Trail Owned by Operated by Status

“400” State Trail

Ahnapee State Trail

American Birkenbeiner Trail

Badger State Trail

Bearskin-Hiawatha State Trail

Buffalo River State Trail

Bugline Recreational Trail

Burlington Trail

Capital City State Trail

Cattail State Trail

DNR

DNR/County

DNR

DNR

DNR

DNR

DNR

Cheese Country Trail

Chippewa River State Trail

Elroy-Sparta State Trail

Fox River Trail

Friendship State Trail

Gandy Dancer State Trail

Open

DNR CountyNot Open from Kewaunee toLuxemberg

Private Private Open

Not Open

DNROpen except for connector between

Bearskin & the Hiawatha State Trails

County County

County County

County

County County

County

County

County

DNR

DNR DNR

DNR DNR

DNR

DNR

DNR

County/CityCounty/City/

DNR

Open

Open

Open

Open

Open from Amery to Almena

Open

Open

Open

Open

Not Open

Open; section of trail is inMinnesota

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Glacial Drumlin State Trail

Glacial River Trail

Great River State Trail

Green Circle Trail

Hank Aaron State Trail

Hillsboro State Trail

Ice Age National & StateScenic Trail

La Crosse River State Trail

Lake Country Trail

Mascoutin Valley State Trail

DNR

DNR

City/Private

DNR

DNR

Cooperative

Cooperative

Military Ridge State Trail

Mountain-Bay State Trail

MRK Trail

New Berlin Trail

Nicolet State Trail

North Country National ScenicTrail

Not open from Cottage/Grove to Madison

CountyOpen from FortAtkinson southto Rock County border

DNR DNR Open

Open

DNR Under Construction

Private/PublicIAPTF, NPS,

DNR

DNR DNR

County

DNR DNR

County

County

NPS/LocalChapters

DNR

DNR County

County County

County

DNR

Private/Public

Private County

Open

525 miles of 1200 openstatewide

Open

Open

Open

Not open from Dodgeville toMineral Point

Open

Open

Open

Not Open

Open

County

North Shore Trail

Norway Trail

Oak Leaf Trail

Old Plank Road Trail

Oconto-Stiles Junction StateTrail

Old Abe State Trail

County County

County

County

County

County County

County County

County

DNR

DNR

Open

Open

Open

Open

Open

Open

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Omaha Trail

Ozaukee County Trail

Pecatonica State Trail

Pine Line Trail

Pine River Trail

Racine Sturtevant Trail

Red Cedar State Trail

Saunders State Trail

Sugar River State Trail

Tomorrow River State Trail

County

County

County

County

County

County

County

Tri-County RecreationalCorridor

Tuscobia State Trail

Urban State Trail

White River State Trail

Wild Goose State Trail

Wild Rivers State Trail

Open

County/Local Open

DNR CountyNot open from Belmont toPlatteville

Open

County Open

DNR DNR

DNR County

County

DNR/County County

Pending

County

County

DNR

DNR/DOT DNR

DOT County

DNR

DNR

DNR

DNR DNR

Open

Open

Open

Open

Under Construction

Open

Open

Not Open

DNR working with counties

Open

Open from Rice Lake to Ambridge;not open from Rice Lake toChippewa Falls

County/Local

Waterford-Windlake Trail

Wiouwash State Trail

County County

DNR County

Open

Not open from Hortonvillenorth to Shawano County


14

NO

RTH

EAS

T R

EG

ION

NORTHEAST REGION


15

Existing and ApprovedTrail Network for North-east Region

NO

RTH

EAS

T R

EG

ION

Wis

cons

in D

epart

ment

of

Tour

ism

Trail Name Owned by Operated by Status

Ahnapee State Trail

Fox River Trail

Friendship State Trail


Mascoutin Valley State Trail

Mountain-Bay State

Nicolet State Trail

Oconto- Stiles Junction StateTrail


Wild Goose State

DNR

County

Private/Public

DNR

County

County

IAPTF, NPS,DNR

Wiouwash State Trail

Not Openfrom Kewaunee toLuxemberg

County Open

DNR County Not Open

525 miles of 1200 miles openstatewide

DNR Open

DNR County

DNR County

County

DNR/County County

DNR

DNR County

Open

Open

Open

Under Construction

Not open from Hortonvillenorth to Shawano County

Open

DNR


16

NO

RTH

EAS

T R

EG

ION

MapKey

SegmentRegional

Miles Type of Corridor

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Northern Door County (Sturgeon Bayto tip of Door County)

45

Green Bay to Mississippi River

Green Bay via Manitowoc toSheboygan

42

46

65

11

27

54

55

56

57

Off and on Various Roads

50 Rail, Abandoned

Stiles Junction to Gillett 22 Rail; Various Town Roads

Rail, Active & Abandoned

Green Bay to Luxemburg Rail, Active & Abandoned

Green Bay via Chilton to Kiel 40

Manitowoc to Fremont 45

10

Berlin via Fond du Lac to Sheboygan 46

100

22

15

Oshkosh to Fond du Lac

Kewaunee to Luxemburg 16

Green Bay to Marinette 50

Green Bay to Michigan

Shawano to Crandon

Fox Valley to Hortonville

Oshkosh via Ripon to Oxford 75


Rail, Active & Abandoned; Highway57

Rail; Highways

Rail, Active; Various Town Roads

Rail, Active; Trolley, Abandoned

Rail, Abandoned; Highway US 23

Rail, Abandoned

Rail, Active

Rail, Active

Rail, Announced for Abandonment

Rail; Roadway

Pulaski to Michigan

58

60

61

Appleton to Plover 60

Ripon to Oxford 35

Fond du Lac to Washington County 17

Rail

Rail; Roadway


Potential Trail Networkfor theNortheast Region


17

NO

RTH

EAS

T R

EG

ION

Northeast Region

This region harbors more than 275 miles ofLake Michigan shoreline, additional frontageon Lake Winnebago which is Wisconsin’slargest inland lake and hundreds of miles ofriver and stream. Besides these dominantwater features, the Door County peninsulahas five state parks which add to the charmand popularity of this area. Five other stateparks exist in the region, as well as PointBeach State Forest, the Nicolet NationalForest, numerous county forests andcommunity parks and 224 miles of establishedstate trail.

Existing or authorized state trails in thisregion are the Ahnapee, Wiouwash, andMascoutin Valley, portions of the Mountain-Bay and Wild Goose trails, the FriendshipTrail (Forest Junction to Brillion), Fox RiverTrail (Green Bay to Greenleaf) and theNicolet Trail (Pulaski to Wabeno).

Segment 1 - NorthernDoor County

The Door County Chamber of Commerceinitiated this proposed segment to extend theAhnapee State Trail off-road from SturgeonBay north to the tip of the county. Intended asa safe, scenic travel alternative to busy roads,this long-term objective will become moredifficult to accomplish as more of the DoorCounty landscape is developed. As analternative, and to provide immediateassistance to potential trail users, the Chamberdeveloped a map to help navigate inNorthern Door County. State Highway 42from Egg Harbor to Gills Rock is also listed inthe Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan

2020 as a priority linkage, making thishighway a good candidate for wider pavedshoulders. The DOT, DNR and the Chamber ofCommerce will work cooperatively to createthis connection.

Segment 2 - Pulaski toMichigan (NortheastRegion)

The Nicolet State Trail portion of thiscorridor passes through a mixture of farmlandto mature woods in the Nicolet NationalForest. The corridor intersects the MountainBay Trail at Pulaski. The potential exists forextending the trail further north into ForestCounty.

Most of the segments of this potential trailcorridor in Shawano County were sold toprivate interests, but public support exists forconversion to a public trail. The DNR owns afew parcels of the corridor and landacquisition continues. The section of corridor inOconto County, the Nicolet Trail, is beingtransferred from DOT ownership to the DNR.Oconto County will remain the operatingpartner.

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Segment 3 - StilesJunction to Gillett

The Stiles Junction to Gillett Trail wouldconnect the Oconto, Stiles Junction, andOconto Falls to the Nicolet State Traildescribed in Segment 2. Part of the corridorfrom Stiles Junction to the Oconto is DNR-owned and operated by the county. Theremaining portion to the Nicolet State Trailconnection can be best accomplished byplacing signs on roads scheduled for wideningand upgrading.

The Oconto to Stiles Junction portion ofthe trail parallels the Oconto River, a popularwater for float trips and fishing. Users canfloat part of the river and safely hike or bikeback on the trail to retrieve vehicles.

Segment 4 - Green Bay toMississippi River(Northeast Region)

The city of Green Bay could serve as ahub for a number of potential trail routes. Thissegment is a 65-mile link from Green Bay tothe Waupaca-Portage county line. It wouldconnect with the Wiouwash Trail in NewLondon (Outagamie County) and theTomorrow River Trail west of Scandinavia. It isalso an important link in a long-distance east/west corridor across the state. At present, theWaupaca County line to Scandinavia portionis DNR-owned with Waupaca County as theoperating partner. The reach fromScandinavia to Manawa is being appraisedfor purchase, and the railroad ownersrecently announced the abandonment of therail from Green Bay to New London. This trailwould connect many populationconcentrations for both recreational andtransportation benefits.

Segment 5 - Green Bay toSturgeon Bay

The Ahnapee State Trail, an existing railtrail from Sturgeon Bay to Casco via Algoma,would complete a Green Bay to SturgeonBay link with an extension from Casco toGreen Bay. The Ahnapee State Trail was thefirst state-owned trail in the region and hasbeen greatly enhanced and expanded in thepast five years. The trail now extends into theurban centers of Sturgeon Bay and Algoma.

Segment 6 - Green Bay toSheboygan via Manitowoc(Northeast Region)

This trail corridor boasts of some of themost significant elevation changes in theregion, offering beautiful vistas.

This rail trail would extend south fromGreen Bay to Sheboygan, mostly onabandoned rail corridor. Efforts are nowunder way to acquire a section from Denmarkin Brown County to Rockwood in ManitowocCounty that was abandoned several years

ago. Recently, rail owners announced theproposed abandonment of the corridor fromManitowoc to Cleveland and efforts areunder way to acquire this portion as well.

NO

RTH

EAS

T R

EG

ION

Chri

s D

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19

Segment 7 - Green Bay toKiel (Northeast Region)

The northern portions of this corridoroffers spectacular views of the Fox River,then continues on for many miles in theshadow of the Niagara Escarpment. Besidessignificant recreational opportunities, it willserve as a major non-motorizedtransportation corridor for workers in theGreen Bay-Allouez-DePere metro area.

The first section of this trail to come intoDNR ownership extends from Green Bay toGreenleaf. Recently, rail owners announcedthe proposed abandonment of the railcorridor from Greenleaf to Forest Junction. Amulti-use trail between New Holstein and Kielis under construction in the State Highway 57/32 right-of-way at the south end of thecorridor. This trail could continue from Kielsouth on rail corridor (see Segment 7 in theSoutheast Region).

Segment 8 - Manitowocto Fremont

This corridor includes an approved statetrail segment between Brillion and ForestJunction, known as the Friendship Trail; apending purchase in Menasha known as theLittle Lake Butte des Morts connection; and ahighway corridor trail from the town ofMenasha to Fremont along newlyreconstructed U.S. Highway 10. This trailconnects with Segment 7 at Forest Junction.From Manitowoc to Brillion abandoned railcorridor exists as well as a potential roadwayconnection. From Forest Junction west toMenasha, the trail will consist of a mixture ofabandoned rail, local roads and local publictrail systems that are part of the Fox ValleyGreen Way Program. Moving through large,congested, urban areas is always a challengeand this trail’s goal is to accomplish that in asafe and scenic manner.

Segment 9 - Oshkosh via

Ripon to Oxford

Beginning in Oshkosh, this trail wouldconnect to Ripon, Brandon, Markesan andOxford. It would make use of a combinationof rail corridor and local roads. This trailwould connect or bisect the Wiouwash andMascoutin Valley state trails. Several smallurban centers exist that this trail can connectto as well as affording key junctions with twoother state trails.

Segment 10 - Oshkosh toFond du Lac

This trail would connect the WiouwashTrail, which now ends in Oshkosh, to the WildGoose and Mascoutin Valley trails near Fonddu Lac. The rail corridor between Oshkoshand Fond du Lac went through abandonmentseveral years ago, only to be reclaimed bythe owners. Other possible connections mightinclude old trolley right-of-ways and utilityright-of-ways. This trail would become asignificant alternative transportation corridorfor workers in this part of the state.

Segment 11 - Berlin toSheboygan (NortheastRegion)

This segment on State Highway 23 right-of-way from Sheboygan to Greenbush isknown as the Old Plank Road Trail. The DNRowns the Mascoutin Valley Trail portion,between Berlin and Fond du Lac, which isoperated by county government. All butseven miles of this trail runs throughabandoned rail corridor. The gap betweenFond du Lac and Greenbush will probably bebest accomplished along various roadways.This trail bisects key DNR wildlife areas and

NO

RTH

EAS

T R

EG

ION


20

takes advantage of large highway right-of-way expanses.

Segment 27 - Kewauneeto Luxemburg

This segment will link with the trail fromGreen Bay to Sturgeon Bay. The ownershave abandoned the rail corridor and theDNR is in the process of negotiating for thepurchase of the land. This trail is consideredto be one of the most scenic in the state.

Segment 54 - Green Bayto Marinette

This segment would connect Green Bay toMarinette and bisect Segment 3 in Oconto.

Segment 55 - Green Bayto Iron Mt., Michigan

This segment would connect Green Bay tothe Upper Peninsula of Michigan near IronMountain, Michigan and bisect Segment 3near Stiles Junction.

Segment 56 - Shawano toCrandon

The owners recently announced intentionsto abandon this rail corridor. A key portion ofthe rail line, just outside of Shawano, waswithheld from the current abandonmentproposal. Much of the corridor proposed forabandonment lies within the MenomineeIndian Reservation. As yet, no efforts havebeen made to determine if this corridor is ofinterest as a trail to the Menominee Nation.

Segment 57 - Fox Valleyto Hortonville

This segment would connect the existingportion of the Wiouwash State Trail to theFox Valley communities, including an importantlink over Little Lake Butte de Mortes.

Segment 58 - Appletonto Plover (Green CircleTrail)

This 60-mile-long segment will connectAppleton to the Green Circle Trail in Plover.From Appleton, this route would follow a railcorridor northwest through New London, southof Manawa, then to Odgensburg, AmherstJunction, then to Plover where it connects withthe Green Circle Trail

Segment 60 - Ripon toOxford

Beginning in Ripon, this trail would followrail corridor and roadways to Oxford.Heading south out of Ripon, the trail followsthe rail line through Markesan, then west toKingston, to northwest through Glen Oak andPackwaukee to end up in Oxford.

Segment 61 - Fond duLac to WashingtonCounty

This segment of rail corridor would connectFond du Lac with Washington County via theFond du Lac area communities of Eden andCampbellsport. Currently, the portion of railcorridor between Eden and West Bend inWashington County has been abandoned andis being appraised for DNR purchasefollowing significant public interest in theproject.

NO

RTH

EAS

T R

EG

ION


21

NO

RTH

ER

N R

EG

ION

NORTHERN REGION


22

Existing & Approved TrailNetwork Northern Re-gion


American Birkebeiner Trail

Bearskin-Hiawatha State Trail

Cattail State Trail

Gandy Dancer State Trail

Nicolet State Trail

North Country National ScenicTrail

Pine Line Trail

Saunders State Trail

Tri-County RecreationalCorridor

Tuscobia State Trail

Private

County

DNR

DNR

Private

County

County


Open

DNR/CountyOpen except for connector betweenBearskin & the Hiawatha State Trails

DNR County Open from Amery to Almena


DNR Open

County County

DNR County

DNR

DNR County

DNR/DOT

County/DNR County


Open

Open

Open

Open from Rice Lake to Ambridge;not open from Rice Lake toChippewa Falls

Open

DNR


IAPTF, NPS,DNR

Private/Public

Open; section of trail inMinnesota

NO

RTH

ER

N R

EG

ION

Conn

ie L

oce

n


23

NO

RTH

ER

N R

EG

ION

MapKey

SegmentRegional

MilesType of Corridor

2

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Forest Co. to Michigan state line

150

Bayfield to Hudson

Mellen to Hurley

40

25

180

56

62

63

64

65

68

Rail

13 Roadway, Various

Dresser to Michigan State Line,Includes Rhinelander to Monico 250 Rail; Roadway; Existing Trail

Rail, Abandoned (now used bysnowmobiles)

Ashland to RhinelanderRail, Abandoned; Roadway; ExistingTrail

Washburn to Abbotsford 130

Tomahawk to Wisconsin Dells 39

14

Argonne to Shawno 65

38

30

15

Florence County - Michigan toMichigan link

Reserve to Wheeler 52

Cornell To Chelsea 40

Ladysmith to Marshfield

Loretta to Grandview

Rhinelander to Three lakes

Langlade Co. to Michigan state line 85

Rail, Abandoned

Rail, Active; Existing Trail

Rail, Roadway; Utility corridor

Rail, Abandoned; Southern Connec-tions to Wiouwash Trail

Rail, Abandoned

Rail, Abandoned

Rail, Abandoned

Rail, Abandoned; Roadways

Rail; roadways

Rail, Abandoned; County & NationalForest Roadways

Rail, Abandoned

St. Croix - Mississippi river corridor

69

70

Tomahawk to Crandon 40

Antigo to White Lake 20

Rail, Abandoned

Rail, Abandoned

Potential Trail Networkfor theNorthern Region


24

NO

RTH

ER

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ION

Northern Region

The 18-county Northern Region could bewell described as the “land of lakes.” Manymiles of trail in the region take advantage ofthis scenic landscape. State-owned rail trailsaccount for about 260 miles of the region’strail, including the Bearskin, Tuscobia, WildRivers, Saunders, and Gandy Dancer StateTrails. County-owned and operated rail trailsadd another 170 miles. In addition, hundredsof miles of other trails exist on federal, state,and county lands.

The following describes potential trailcorridors in the region that would fit into astate trails network. A number of segments inthese corridors may become available withinthe next several years, opening possibilitiesfor developing new, extensive rail trails toconnect the northern part of the state botheast-west and north-south.

Segment 2 - Forest Co.to Michigan, NicoletTrail (Northern Region)

The DNR has partially acquired the NicoletState Trail corridor from Gillett to Wabeno.The rest of the rail corridor in Forest Co., fromCavour to Wabeno, remains largely DOT-owned, with portions used for private rail byterm agreement. The tracks from Wabeno toLaona have been removed as well as thetracks north of Cavour to the Michiganborder, and this grade may be available fortrail acquisition in the near future. A largesegment of the corridor falls within theboundaries of the Nicolet National Forest.Numerous streams, lakes and wetlands lieadjacent to the grade as the scenic corridorruns north from Forest County to FlorenceCounty. See the Northeast Region section fora description of the southern reaches of thisproposed trail.

Segment 12 - St. Croix -Mississippi RiverCorridor (NorthernRegion)

A connector along highway corridors tothe south end of the Gandy Dancer StateTrail near St. Croix Falls would link with WestCentral Region’s Segment 12 at the St. Croix/Polk county line. The segment includes StateHighway 35 in St. Croix county and acombination of roadways in Polk County.

Segment 13 - Dresser toMichigan

This 250-mile-long east-west corridorconsists of rail line, the Cattail Trail, which isowned by the DNR and operated by Polk andBarron counties, and an optional highwayright-of-way. It has the potential to link withthe Gandy Dancer, Wild Rivers, and Bearskin-Hiawatha state trails, the Pine Line Trail,Nicolet State Trail, Ice Age National and StateScenic Trail, and three proposed segments—2, 15, and 17. It would also link with theproposed Hiles to Crandon snowmobile trail inForest County. The use of roadways inOneida and Forest counties are analternative to the rail line. The rail line fromDresser to Amery was abandoned andnegotiations are ongoing between the countyand the railroad to acquire the segment fortrail purposes.

The corridor runs from a hilly, rollingagricultural landscape in Polk Co. throughlevel agricultural and forested areas in Ruskand Price counties, to predominately lake andpine forest landscapes in Oneida and ForestCounties.

The short 14-mile segment fromRhinelander to Monico connects the Tri-County Trail originating in Bayfield County tothe Michigan corridor by way of theproposed Washburn to Rhinelander trail


25

NO

RTH

ER

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EG

ION

corridor. Connection can also be made to theMountain Bay Trail to the south through theproposed Langlade corridor.

Segment 14 - Bayfield toHudson, (NorthernRegion)

The abandoned rail grade from Hudson toSpooner could link the Wild Rivers and Cattailtrails and connect to trails in Minnesota nearthe state line. The corridor from Spooner toHayward is an active rail line. The proposedtrail continues onold, abandoned railgrade fromHayward toBayfield. TheHayward toBayfield portion ofthe corridor wouldconnect to the Tri-CountyRecreationalCorridor and link toHayward area trailsalready in place.Parts of it,particularly in theChequamegonNational Forest andcounty forests, areused now assnowmobile trails.Much of this corridor runs through typicalnorthern lakes and forest landscapes.

Segment 15 - Ashland toRhinelander

Beginning in Ashland and extendingsoutheast to Gurney near the Ashland/IronCounty line, this potential corridor includes asection of abandoned rail line mostly owned

by the Bad River Band of Lake SuperiorChippewa.

From Gurney to Hurley, Iron County’s 22-mile Iron Horse Trail is part of this segment.

The section from Hurley to Manitowish, arail line abandoned in the early 1980s, is astate-funded snowmobile and ATV trail forwhich Iron County has oral or writteneasements. The county is interested inimproving the trail for mountain biking.

From Manitowish, a potential trail corridorextends southeast through Vilas County to theCity of Rhinelander. The route includes

abandoned rail corridors, roadways andexisting trails in the Northern Highland StateForest. The segment in Iron County is anexisting snowmobile trail. Iron County wouldlike to cooperate with the state forest torepair bridges so the trail can be opened forbicycling.

Part of this segment includes a proposedloop route on abandoned rail line that fromManitowish to Woodruff. From Woodruff, theloop extends north to Boulder Junction and

Wisco

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26

returns to Manitowish. In addition toabandoned rail line, the loop consists ofBoulder Junction’s community trail, roadwaysand/or existing forest trails. A spur connectorto Sayner is also proposed using forest trailsand/or low-use roadways.

Continuing south, a route throughWoodruff/Minocqua would connect with theBearskin/Hiawatha State Trail. From thesesame communities, an old abandoned railcorridor near the route of State Highway 47may provide the opportunity to connect tothe City of Rhinelander. If the rail corridor isnot intact, it may be feasible to use roadwaysand existing trails, since the northern half ofthe route is through the Northern Highland/American Legion State Forest.

Segment 16 - Mellen toHurley

The rail line from Mellen to Hurley couldconnect the two communities, Copper FallsState Park, and the northeast terminus of theIron Horse Trail in Hurley. It would alsoconnect up to the proposed Washburn toSpencer and Washburn to Fond du Lacgrades, (Segment 17). A portion of the gradefollows Highway 77, winding through therugged hills of the Gogebic Range in IronCounty. Highways 77 and 13 were identifiedin the Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan

2020 and are likely candidates for widerpaved shoulders improving accommodationsfor bicyclists and hikers.

This grade is a federally granted right-of-way that is under study by the FederalBureau of Land Management and theWisconsin Attorney General’s Office. Onceownership is clarified, the DNR will know how,and if, to proceed on other federally grantedright-of-ways in the state.

The Iron County Board favors thisacquisition and will assume development andoperation of the trail if acquired. The

proposed route of the North CountryNational Scenic Trail approximately parallelsthe Mellen to Hurley corridor its entire length.

Segment 17 - Washburnto Abbotsford (NorthernRegion)

This is a major, 135-mile-long, north-southcorridor that uses rail line from Washburn toAshland to Prentice, the 26-mile-long PineLine Trail from Prentice to Medford, and railline from Medford to Abbotsford where itlinks with Segment 50 in the West CentralRegion.

This segment also links to the Tri-CountyTrail in Ashland, the Mellen to Hurley grade,the North Country National Scenic Trail,Copper Falls State Park near Mellen, theTuscobia State Trail in Park Falls and theDresser to Cavour line. This corridor, ifacquired, would be a major link in theNorthern Region to many of the otherproposed trail routes. Right now most ofcorridor is active rail line.

This proposed corridor runs from theBayfield Peninsula of Lake Superior throughheavily forested lands in Ashland and PriceCounties, and the Chequamegon NationalForest. The proposed corridor crosses manystreams and runs adjacent a great majority ofnorthern landscape features such as bogs,lakes, and wet and dry forests.

Segment 18 - Tomahawkto Wisconsin Dells(Northern Region)

From the end of the Bearskin/HiawathaState Trail in Tomahawk, this corridor wouldgo south to Merrill, and then into the WestCentral Region terminating in Wisconsin Dells.Part of State Highway 107 has wide shouldersto accommodate bicycles and was identified

NO

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27

in the Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan

2020. When the remaining section of highwayis reconstructed, wide shoulders will beincluded. Going south this corridor links toWausau, it could link up to Mountain Bay Trailfrom there via road corridors.

Segment 19 - LangladeCo. to Michigan

This abandoned rail corridor links the Stateof Michigan with the Mountain Bay Trail nearEland in Marathon County. It passes through afew state wildlife areas and some countyforests. This corridor also links to theproposed Three Lakes to Rhinelander andCrandon to Tomahawk abandoned railcorridors, the Washburn to Rhinelandercorridor at Monico and the Antigo to WhiteLake proposed corridor. The segment includesa loop to the Crandon to White Lakeproposed corridor. The grade runs throughportions of Langlade County Forest, the lakearea around Kempster in Langlade Countyand the popular tourist areas of Three Lakesand Eagle River in Vilas County.

Segment 20 - FlorenceCounty - U.P. Michigan toU.P. Michigan throughFlorence Co. Link

This abandoned rail corridor is owned byDOT with a few possible reversions. FlorenceCounty uses the corridor for trail purposes viaa use agreement with DOT. A partneringeffort with the State of Michigan could allowa connection between the two state trailsystems via this corridor, including the Cavourto Michigan corridor, the Langlade County toMichigan corridor, the Mellen to Hurleycorridor, and the Washburn to Hurley corridor.This allows trail users loop connections inWisconsin to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Segment 56 - Argonne toShawano

This is an active rail corridor withabandonment expected in fall of 2000 on thesegment from Crandon to White Lake.Argonne is on the Dresser to Michigancorridor in the north, and Shawano links to theMountain Bay Trail in the south of thecorridor. The Crandon to Tomahawk corridorand the White Lake to Antigo corridor link tothe Langlade County to Michigan corridor toform a loop. An old abandoned corridor eastof White Lake in the future could link thiscorridor to the Nicolet State Trail or connect itto road routes. This corridor runs along theeast shore of Lake Metonga at Crandon, thenruns south through forested lake areas of theNicolet National Forest. In Langlade County itfollows the Wolf River for about seven milesand continues south through the Northwestportion of the Menominee Indian Reservation,terminating at Shawano and its connection tothe Mountain Bay Trail.

Segment 62 - Reserve toWheeler

This segment’s abandoned rail corridor islargely privately owned. From Wheeler toRidgeland the trail corridor would followvarious roadways. From Ridgeland throughBarron to Rice Lake the rail grade is still intactin many places. Some of this corridor servesas city street in Rice Lake or County TrunkHighway F in Barron and Sawyer Counties.The northern terminus of the trail occurs onthe Lac Court Orielles Reservation in SawyerCounty. This corridor connects with the Dresserto Cameron proposed corridor, the WildRivers, and Tuscobia trails. It passes throughcounty forest, by a few state wildlife areas,the lakes area of Rice Lake and rollingagricultural lands in southern Barron County.

NO

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28

Segment 63 - Cornell toChelsea

Beginning at the Old Abe Trail in the WestCentral Region, this abandoned rail corridorpasses through some state wildlife areas anda portion of the Chequamegon NationalForest to connect with the Pine Line Trailbetween Prentice and Medford. Since thiscorridor was abandoned many years agoportions of the grade may not be availabledue to property reversions. Road routes maybe the only way to connect significantportions of this corridor from Cornell toChelsea.

Segment 64 - Ladysmithto Marshfield

This abandoned rail corridor fromLadysmith to Marshfield intersects the Cornellto Chelsea corridor in Taylor. This corridorpasses a few state wildlife areas and crossesthe Jump River. This small segment is a mediumpriority for acquisition in the Northern Region.

Segment 65 - Loretta toGrand View

This abandoned rail corridor starts fromthe Tuscobia Trail in Lorettam heads norththrough the Chequamegon National Forest toClam Lake and Grand View where it thenwould connect with the Bayfield to Hudsoncorridor. Some of this corridor is now used forroads and these possibly could be up gradedfor trail use. This corridor passes through thearea where elk reintroduction began.

Segment 68 -Rhinelander to ThreeLakes

This abandoned rail corridor would linkthese two communities via an off-road

connection. At Rhinelander, links to theWashburn to Fond du Lac corridor, and atThree Lakes links to the Langlade County toMichigan corridor are possible. Significantbike trail interest has occurred in OneidaCounty in the last three years. Strong supportcan be expected for this connector trail.

Segment 69 - Tomahawkto Crandon

This abandoned corridor would link thesetwo communities via an off-road connector.This corridor intersects the Langlade Countyto Michigan corridor at Pelican Lake and linksthe Argonne to Shawano corridor in the eastwith the Tomahawk to Wausau corridor in thewest. This short linking corridor providesopportunity to access the very popularHiawatha-Bearskin Trail from other corridorsto the east. The corridor runs throughprimarily heavily forested lands in Lincoln andLanglade Counties.

Segment 70 - Antigo toWhite Lake

This abandoned rail grade links these twocommunities via off-road connector. At Antigoit connects to the Langlade County toMichigan corridor and at White Lake itconnects to the Crandon to White Lake railsegment about to be abandoned. Thecorridor runs through the Antigo flats to theWolf River at White Lake.

NO

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29

SO

UTH

CEN

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South Central Region


30

SO

UTH

CEN

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Existing & Approved TrailNetwork South CentralRegion



Badger State Trail

Capital City State Trail

Cheese Country Trail


Military Ridge State Trail

Pecatonica State Trail

Pine River Trail

Sugar River State Trail

DNR

IAPTF, NPS,DNR

County

DNR

County

Wild Goose State Trail

Open

DNR Not open


DNR Open

Not open from CottageGrove to Madison

Private/Public525 miles of 1200 miles openstatewide

DNR DNR

DNR County

DNR

DNR County

DNR

County County

Not open from Dodgeville toMineral Point

Not open from Belmont toPlatteville

Open

Open

Open

DOT

Glacial Drumlin State Trail DNRDNR

Open

Glacial River Trail County CountyOpen from Fort Atkinsonsouth to Rock County border

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MapKey

SegmentRegional


12

21

22

23

24

25

26

28

29

30

St. Croix - Mississippi river Corridor

9

Mazomanie to Devil’s Lake

Lone Rock to Hillsboro

84

39

19

31

32

33

34

35

36

Rail; Various Roadways

62 Roadways

Prairie du Chien to Madison 97 Rail; Roadways

Rail

Madison to Sun Prairie Rail

Darlington to Yellowstone Lake StatePark

10

Madison to Lake Delton 50

27

Madison to Racine 45

60

11

26

Madison to Cottage Grove (GlacialDrumlin State Trail)

Monroe to Janesville 34

Janesville to Clyman Junction 48

Rock River, Watertown to Beloit

Watertown to Delafield

Beaver Dam to Pike Lake

Madison to Reedsburg 53

Rail; Roadways

Roadway

Roadways

Rail

Existing Trail; Rail; Natural ResourceCorridor

Rail; Roadway

Rail, Ice Age Trail

Rail

Rail; roadway; natural resourcecorridor

Utility corridor; Rail

Rail

Spring Green to Wisconsin/Illinois/Iowa state line

69

70



Rail, Abandoned

Rail, Abandoned

Potential Trail Networkfor the



32

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Among natural features in this region arethe Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Rock rivers,and their respective watersheds, much ofwhich are dominated by Driftless Areatopography, an area that escaped glaciationin the last glacial advance. Edward Daniel, thefirst state geologist, described the DriftlessArea in the 1850s: “About one-third of thesurface is prairie, dotted and belted withbeautiful groves and oak-openings.”

Other topographic features include agroup of five mounds described as outliers ofthe Niagara escarpment. Blue Mound, thehighest at 1,716 feet, is protected within BlueMound State Park near the Village of BlueMounds. The Baraboo Bluffs also carrysignificant geologic importance as theremnant of an ancient mountain range that isalso home to Devils Lake State Park.

Recreational resources in the 12-countyregion consist of 238 miles of established

rails-to-trails, 94 miles of Ice Age Trailcorridor, 16 state parks and recreation areas,and the 90-mile Lower Wisconsin StateRiverway. Existing state trails are the MilitaryRidge, Pecatonica, Sugar River, and part ofthe Glacial Drumlin Trail.

The following describes 16 potential trailcorridors.

Segment 12 - St. Croix -Mississippi Rivercorridor (South CentralRegion)

Following the Mississippi River in Grantand Crawford Counties, this 84-mile potentialtrail route is part of a state-long MississippiRiver corridor that extends southward into asimilar trail system in Illinois, and could link upwith a similar trail system in Iowa andMinnesota. The Wisconsin Bicycle

Transportation Plan 2020 identifies a 150-mile-long segment of State Highway 35 as a“priority corridor” that is resulting in widerpaved shoulders for bicyclists and walkers

The Mississippi River provides a nationalnatural resource corridor and this segmentwould serve up a high quality, river’s edgeexperience through diverse uplands andlowlands from broad, spectacular panoramicviews of the river valley to intimate views ofless extensive landscape features. Users couldvisit the villages and towns and many othercultural features along the river andencounter the wide variety of ecosystems thatcharacterize the river valley.

The eventual completed segment could bepieced together in a variety of ways, usingprimarily corridors incorporating state, countyand town highway right-of-ways, parts of railcorridors, and public and private lands.

In the South Central Region, the corridorlinks a dozen communities, Nelson Dewey andWyalusing state parks, Stonefield Village and

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Villa Louis historic sites and major portions ofa large national wildlife management area.

Segment 21 - SpringGreen to Illinois

State Highway 23 is a potential north-south trail route that could connect Tower Hilland Governor Dodge State Parks, and linkwith the Military Ridge State Trail.

Road routes could link Mineral Point andthe Military Ridge Trail with the Pecatonicaand Cheese Country State Trails to create a62-mile system that highlights highly scenicunglaciated landscape and culture ofsouthwest Wisconsin. It also would link anumber of interesting communities, state andlocal parks, and historical sites, includingPendarvis and First Capitol historical sites andBelmont Mound State Park. In addition, thissegment would connect with the Mississippi

River corridor and the states of Illinois andIowa.

Segment 22 - Prairie duChien to Madison

A major east-west route along the historicand highly scenic Wisconsin River corridorwould create a long-distance trail linking theMadison metropolitan area with theMississippi River valley corridor andWyalusing State Park near Prairie du Chien.

Much of the 97-miles-corridor is alreadyrecommended for a trail in the master plan ofthe Lower Wisconsin State Riverway and theWisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan 2020,

where paved shoulders are suggested forState Highway 133. The trail would likely relyprimarily upon a combination of publiclyowned lands within the Lower Wisconsin StateRiverway project boundary, as well as avariety of state and county highway toinclude paved shoulders and possible railcorridor.

Segment 23 - Mazomanieto Devil’s Lake

This roughly 19-mile-long corridor wouldlink two major recreation areas, the LowerWisconsin Riverway (LWSR) and Devil’s LakeState Park. Together with Segments 28 and/or 29, discussed below, Segment 23 wouldprovide a link from Madison and beyond tothe “400,” Elroy-Sparta, Great River, and LaCrosse River state trail corridors. Theproposed corridor might use rail, road, andutility right-of-ways.

The area has abundant scenic resources asit passes from the LWSR into the BarabooHills. This proposed trail relates to several trailrecommendations in the Devil’s Lake masterplan:

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♦ Page 8 of the Devil’s Lake master planrecommends creation of the Stage CoachTrail on a route that would roughly parallelan old stagecoach route between Barabooand Sauk City. This route would follow apath now known as Burma Road and asnowmobile route that follows theperimeter of the Badger Ammunition Plantproperty.

♦ Also on page 8 the plan recommendsdevelopment of a bicycle trail along SouthShore Drive from the eastern parkboundary to the South Shore use area byconstructing a separate gravel pathparallel to the road, similar to the one atPeninsula State Park.

♦ The master plan recommends that if therailroad grade is ever abandoned, it couldbe converted into a trail. The rail corridorcould extend either to Sauk City throughthe Badger Ammunition Plant property orto Madison through Merrimac (seeSegment 11, below).

Segment 24 - Madison toSun Prairie

This nine-mile corridor would serve SunPrairie, a growing suburb of Madison. Thetrail would provide a significant link betweenthe two communities for commuting andrecreation. The proposed corridor might userail, county or town roads.

Segment 25 - Lone Rockto Hillsboro

The 19.5-mile section of this corridor fromLone Rock to Richland Center is an existingtrail on an abandoned rail line owned andoperated under a joint county/privatepartnership arrangement. The 20 miles fromRichland Center to a linkage with theHillsboro State Trail in Hillsboro would follow

various roadways and the Pine River. Thisroute would link with Segment 22 (Prairie duChien to Madison).

Segment 26 - Darlingtonto Yellowstone LakeState Park

County Trunk Highway F is a potential trailconnector route from Darlington that wouldprovide users of the Pecatonica and CheeseCountry trails access to Yellowstone LakeState Park. This 10-mile-long connection willadd to the recreational opportunities ofYellowstone Lake State Park.

Segment 28 - Madison toLake Delton

This corridor would provide an opportunityfor both recreation and bicycle commuting.The 50-mile-long corridor, which follows theU.S. Highway 12 right-of-way to Prairie duSac/Sauk City, is a major link from Madisonto the recreation-rich areas of the LowerWisconsin State Riverway. Various roadroutes would make the connection beyond thispoint. In Madison, there is the potential toconnect with the Capital City State Trail.There are two crossings of the Ice Age StateScenic Trail corridor, one south of WisconsinDells and another between Madison andSauk City.

Segment 29 - Madison toReedsburg

This 53-mile-long route would provide aunique opportunity to travel from the capitalcity of Madison, across Lake Wisconsin on theMerrimac ferry, and on to Devil’s Lake, one ofthe state’s most popular natural resources,linking to the “400,” Elroy-Sparta, GreatRiver, and La Crosse River trail corridors. It

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could connect with the Ice Age State ScenicTrail at Lodi, Merrimac, and Devil’s Lake. Thisroute would follow rail and road routes.

Segment 30 - Madison toCottage Grove

For several years, the cities of Madisonand Fitchburg, Dane County and the DNRhave worked together on the 27-mile-longCapital City State Trail proposal. The trail willlink the Military Ridge and Glacial DrumlinState Trails by using active and abandonedrail corridor, city streets, private lands, andsegments of the Dane County E-Way. Theonly remaining section to complete is a seven-mile-long section of the Glacial Drumlin Trailbetween Madison and Cottage Grove.

Segment 31 - Madison toRacine (South CentralRegion)

This 45-mile-long rail corridor provides apotential trail route between Madison andJanesville. It is one leg of a triangular trailsystem that includes Segments 27 and 32. Itwould connect with, and potentiallyincorporate, a portion of the Ice Age StateScenic Trail near Janesville.

Rail corridor or roadway would create apotential trail connector from Janesville to theproposed backbone trail system in the DNR’sSoutheast Region. The Rock County Allianceof Snowmobile Trails is on record in favor ofa trail on the rail line, recently proposed forabandonment. This proposed connection withthe Turtle Creek corridor would take placenorthwest of Darien at the Rock/Walworthcounty line.

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Segment 32 - Monroe toJanesville

This potential 34-mile-long trail route inGreen and Rock counties uses a railroadright-of-way that links with the CheeseCountry Trail and Sugar River State Trail onone end and connects with the Rock CountyTrail system in Janesville. This corridor wouldconnect with segment 31 and 33.

Segment 33 - Janesvilleto Clyman Junction

This 48-mile-long trail would be made upof a variety of corridors. The Ice Age StateScenic Trail from Janesville north to Milton isrecommended for completion, with railcorridor a second option. The section fromMilton to Fort Atkinson, part of which hasbeen developed as Jefferson County’sGlacial River Trail, includes various highwayand rail right-of-ways. From Fort Atkinson tothe south end of the Wild Goose State Trailat Clyman Junction, the proposal includes theoption of using rail corridor or highway right-of-way. It intersects the Glacial Drumlin StateTrail north of Jefferson.

Segment 34 - Rock River,Watertown to Beloit

With the support of Jefferson and RockCounties, the Rock River is recognized as amajor natural resource corridor having trailpotential. The 60-mile corridor intersects theGlacial Drumlin trail east of Lake Mills. It couldalso be considered as having interstate trailpotential with a connection at the state line inBeloit.

Segment 35 - Watertownto Delafield (SouthCentral Region)

A 11-mile route on utility corridor or railline from Watertown to Oconomowoc has thepotential of providing a connection to an on-street/road trail proposed in theSoutheastern Wisconsin Regional PlanningCommission’s Bicycle / Pedestrian Plan forSoutheastern Wisconsin. This route would linkwith the Ice Age Bike Route proposed as oneof the “backbone” trails in the SoutheasternRegion and with Segment 33, the proposedsoutherly extension of the Wild Goose StateTrail.

Segment 36 - Beaver Damto Pike Lake (SouthCentral Region)

This 26-mile segment has the potential ofconnecting with the Wild Goose State Trailand with the Southeast Region’s proposed“backbone” trail system via rail corridor tothe Dodge/Washington county line. Wisconsinand Southern Railroad Co. operate the railline. At the county line there are two optionsfor extending east to Hartford—rail line orthe Rubicon River natural resource corridor.There is an off-road trail from Hartford toPike Lake State Park and a trail in the parkfrom Highway 60 to the beach, where itwould connect with the Ice Age Scenic Trail.

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Existing & Approved TrailNetwork

Southeastern Region


Bugline Recreational Trail

Burlington Trail

Glacial Drumlin State Trail

Hank Aaron State Trail

MRK Trail

New Berlin Trail

North Shore Trail

Norway Trail

Oak Leaf Trail

DNR

IAPTF, NPS,DNR

County

DNR

County

Old Plank Road Trail

Open

DNR Open


DNR Open


Private/Public Open

DNR DNR

DNR County

DNR

DNR County

DNR

County County

Open

Open

Open

Open

Open

DOT

Ice Age National & StateScenic Trail DNRDNR

Under Construction

Lake Country Trail County County Open

Ozaukee County Trail

Racine Sturtevant Trail

White River State Trail

Waterford to Windlake Trail

DNR County

DNR

DNR County

DNR

County County

Open

Open

Open

DNR working with counties

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MapKey

SegmentRegional


6

7

31

35

36

37

38

39

40

42

Green Bay to Illinois

5


Franklin to Illinois

110

36

7

43

44

33

34

35

36

Natural Resource; Rail; Roadways;Utility

12 Rail; Roadways

Madison to Racine 55Rail, Active & Abandoned; NaturalResource; Utility; Roadways

Rail; Roadway

Beaver Dam to Pike Lake Rail

Sturtevant to Bong State RecreationArea

35

Burlington to La Grange 20

93

Mequon to New Berlin 20

60

11

26

Plymouth to La Grange

West Bend to Saukville 29

Janesville to Clyman Junction 48

Rock River, Watertown to Beloit


Beaver Dam to Pike Lake

Oak Creek to Delavan 60

Rail; Roadways

Roadway

Roadways

Rail

Existing Trail; Rail; Natural ResourceCorridor

Rail; Roadway

Rail, Ice Age Trail

Rail

Rail; roadway; natural resourcecorridor

Utility corridor; Rail

Rail

Green Bay to Plymouth

69

70



Rail, Abandoned

Rail, Abandoned

Potential Trail Networkfor theSoutheastern Region

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Southeast Region

Lake Michigan bounds the SoutheastRegion on the east; to the south it’s a rapidlygrowing northeastern Illinois metropolitanregion, and on the west fertile agriculturallands. The eight counties within the region’sboundary contain about 40percent of Wisconsin’s popula-tion.

A geologically prominentfeature is the 10,000-year-oldregion known as the kettlemoraine. This collection of hills,ridges, and depressionsextends more than 100 mileslengthwise and ranges from 1-to-10-miles wide. Thousands ofacres of this unique topogra-phy created by the Ice Ageare protected within the KettleMoraine State Forest’s, North-ern, Southern, Loew Lake, andLapham Peak units. Five stateparks, a state recreation area,an environmental education center, and 16miles of the Glacial Drumlin State Trail alsoexist in the region. The Hank Aaron State Trailis under development along the MenomoneeRiver in Milwaukee. When completed, the trailwill stretch about seven miles, starting at LakeMichigan and linking to the MilwaukeeCounty Oak Leaf Trail in Doyne Park at itsWest End.

Intensive growth and development pre-sents a somewhat different scenario for trailexpansion in this region. Good bicyclingroutes to be used for trips to work or as analternative means of travel intensifies theneed for trail designation and connectivitybetween municipalities. This same develop-ment limits the likelihood of rail abandonmentand corridor availability in much of theregion. Trail development, in some cases willtake place within natural resource corridors,presenting additional challenges in acquisition.

While they may not be optimum trail routes, insome instances it may be necessary to useroadways in order to reach the desiredconnections or destinations. Where thissituation arises, the DNR is working closelywith the Department of Transportation todesignate routes on lightly traveled roads

and wherever possible, develop pavedshoulders or grade separated paths.

The Southeastern Wisconsin RegionalPlanning Commission (SEWRPC) providesplanning services for seven counties insoutheastern Wisconsin. SEWRPC developeda bicycle and pedestrian facilities system planthat includes DNR’s entire Southeast Regionexcept for Sheboygan County. Most of thefollowing “backbone” trail corridor segmentsare adopted from that plan.

Segment 6 - Green Bay toIllinois (Southeast Re-gion)

This segment also serves as a link, via rail,to a potential Northeast Region corridor atthe Manitowoc/Sheboygan county line. Ashared-road segment along Highway LS has

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been developed by Sheboygan County fromthe county line south to the city ofSheboygan. The proposed corridor extendssouth through Sheboygan County intoOzaukee County where the county and localgovernments are developing an off-roadsegment on WEPCO utility right-of-way southto the Ozaukee/Milwaukee County line. Ashort on-road connector to Harrington BeachState Park, as well as a connector segment toMilwaukee County’s Oak Leaf Trail will bepursued in the future. West of Port Washing-ton, a road corridor would link with theproposed Milwaukee River Trail (Segment 44)at Saukville.

Continuing southward the trail runs alongthe Oak Leaf Trail to South Milwaukee. Thecounty is currently pursuing continuation ofthe trail along the previous North Shore rightof way to the Milwaukee/Racine County line.

Racine and Kenosha Counties and munici-pal governments have developed a numberof trails on parkway lands, utility companyright-of-ways and on-street routes. Thecorridor links with Illinois’s North Shore Trail atthe state line.

Segment 7 - Green Bay toPlymouth (Southeast Re-gion)

In Sheboygan County, the proposed 13-mile-long route along State Highway 67would cross the county’s Old Plank Trail alongState Highway 23 and would link the commu-nities of Plymouth, Crystal Lake, Elkhart Lake,and Kiel; Sheboygan Marsh County Park, andthe Osthoff multi-family residential develop-ment. The trail could be a separate trail alongthe highway, paved shoulder, on the parallelrail corridor, or some combination. See thedescription of the section that continues toGreen Bay in the Northeast Region section ofthis plan.

Segment

Racine-Kansasville 14

Active CanadianPacific rail line

Kansasville-Burlington 8

Inactive, but not aban-doned; publicly owned

City ofBurlington 2 Active rail line

Burlington-Elkhorn

Ownership transferringfrom DOT to DNR13

Elkhorn-Darien 8

Owned by DOT, operatedby Wisconsin & SouthernRailroad

Miles Status

Segment 31 - Madison toRacine (Southeast Re-gion)

From Racine to Delavan, all of this east-west proposed trail is rail line. The status ofthe rail line varies:

SEWRPC identifies the 37-mile-longsection from Racine to east of Elkhorn as theSouthwestern Trail corridor. The state cur-rently owns the section between Burlingtonand Elkhorn and is pursuing the potential fortrail development through this corridor. FromDelavan, the proposed corridor connects tothe Turtle Creek Trail via city streets. TurtleCreek is a natural resource corridor thatextends westward into Rock County andprovides a potential link with the proposedSouth Central Region trail system.

A connector located on County TrunkHighway NN, Lake Geneva city streets, andState Highway 120 will provide trail usersaccess to the City and nearby Big Foot BeachState Park. County Trunk Highway B is pro-posed as a connector to Bong State Recre-ation Area.


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Segment 35 - Watertownto Delafield (SoutheastRegion)

This proposed trail would link the South-east and South Central regions. See descrip-tion for Segment 35 in the South CentralRegions section of this plan.

Segment 36 - Beaver Damto Pike Lake (SoutheastRegion)

From the intersection of the Ice Age BikeRoute in Pike Lake State Park, this segmentwould be an important link to one of SouthCentral Region’s backbone trails, extending toBeaver Dam. Referred to as the RubiconRiver corridor in SEWRPC’s Bicycle/Pedes-trian Plan, about half the route is on roadway

and the other half is a natural resourcecorridor.

Segment 37 - Franklin toIllinois

This segment begins in the southwestcorner of Milwaukee County at the east endof the Muskego Lakes Trail identified inSEWRPC’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan (Segment40). Part of this segment includes a naturalresource/utility corridor proposed as theWaterford-St. Martins Trail. Racine Countyhas developed four miles of this corridor,known as the Waterford-Wind Lake Trail.

The remaining corridor from Waterfordsouth to the Wisconsin/Illinois state line, isreferred to as the Fox River Trail. RacineCounty has developed the four-mile-longBurlington Trail on this segment. South ofBurlington the corridor intersects the South-western Trail section of Segment 31 andcontinues south on a natural resource corridoralong the Fox River.

Segment 38 - Sturtevantto Bong State RecreationArea

Beginning east of Sturtevant, this segmentincludes the 9.5-mile-long Pike Creek Trailabout 3.5-miles of on-road connector to theDes Plaines River Trail, and then northwest 22miles to Bong State Recreation Area and alinkage with the Fox River Trail section ofSegment 37.

Segment 39 - Burlingtonto La Grange

From Burlington west, this segment usesSEWRPC’s proposed 14.5-mile-long SugarCreek Trail to Abel’s Corners in WalworthCounty. The route continues north on road-

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ways five miles to link with the MukwonagoRiver Trail section of Segment 40 east of LaGrange. Continuing north on a short sectionof roadway on Segment 40 will provideaccess to the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit and the Ice Age Bike Routesection of Segment 42.

Segment 40 - Oak Creekto Delavan

From its link with the Lake Michigan Trailsection of Segment 6 in Oak Creek, thisproposed corridor extends west on streetroutes to the Muskego Lakes Trail in thecommunity of St. Martins. Muskego hascompleted a 2.5-mile-long segment on utilitycompany right-of-way.

The corridor continues west on theMukwonago River Trail section about 14 milesfrom the town of Vernon in Waukesha Countyto the town of Troy in Walworth County.None of this proposed corridor is developed.

From the west end of the MukwonagoRiver Trail, about four miles of the Ice AgeBike Route on U.S. Highway 12 and TamarackRoad are to be used as a connector to theKettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unittrail system. At the south end of the forest, aproposed connector to Whitewater would usetown roads, of which about two miles aredesignated as Ice Age Trail. Also on the southend near Whitewater Lake, the Turtle CreekTrail is proposed as the final connecting link toDelavan and the South Central Region.

Segment 42 - Plymouthto La Grange

Extending south from proposed Segment7, Segment 42 will also run on rail line toElkhart Lake in Sheboygan County.

From Elkhart Lake, the route will switch tolocal roadways and continue south throughmuch of the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit, paralleling the Ice Age Trail. At

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the Fond du Lac/Washington county line, theproposed corridor connects with the proposedMilwaukee River Trail and extends south toWest Bend. From West Bend the remainderof the corridor, to its meeting with Segment39 in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-South-ern Unit is on SEWRPC’s Ice Age Bike Route.

From north to south, the corridor connectsKettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit,Pike Lake State Park, Loew Lake Unit,Lapham Peak Unit, Glacial Drumlin State Trail,and Kettle Moraine State Forest-SouthernUnit.

Segment 43 - Mequon toNew Berlin

This proposed north-south trail corridorbegins near Mee-Kwon Park in Mequon inOzaukee Co. where it links with the proposedMilwaukee River Trail. It uses the route of theLittle Menomonee River Trail as it continuessouth to the Menomonee River Trail near theconfluence of the Menomonee and LittleMenomonee rivers in western MilwaukeeCounty. Part of the Menomonee River Trailproceeds northwest from this junction. Milwau-kee County has developed about five milesof the Little Menomonee River Trail.

The trail proceeds south following the OakLeaf Trail along Milwaukee County’s westernedge. It continues south until it links with theNew Berlin Trail in Milwaukee County’sGreenfield Park.

Segment 44 - West Bendto Saukville

Beginning in West Bend, where it connectswith the Ice Age Trail and Segment 42, thisproposed trail route follows the MilwaukeeRiver eastward into Ozaukee County, whereit meets the Green Bay to Illinois trail (Seg-ment 6) at Saukville.


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WEST CENTRAL REGION


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Buffalo River State Trail

Chippewa River State Trail

Elroy-Sparta State Trail

Hillsboro State Trail


La Crosse River State Trail

Mountain Bay State Trail

Old Abe State Trail

DNR

Cooperative

DNR

DNR

DNR

Omaha Trail

Open

DNR Open

DNR DNR Open

Open

DNR Open

Private/PublicIAPTF, NPS,

DNR

DNR DNR

DNR

County County

DNR

DNR County


Open

Open

Open

Open

DNR

Great River State Trail DNRDNR

Open

Green Circle Trail City/Priavte Cooperative Open

Red Cedar State Trail


Urban State Trail


DNR DNR

County

DNR County

DOT

DNR County

Open

Under Construction

Not open from Rice Lake toChippewa Falls

Not Open

Existing & Approved TrailNetwork

West Central Region


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Potential Trail Networkfor the

West Central Region

MapKey

SegmentRegional


4

12

17

18

46

47

48

49

50

51

Marshland to Wisconsin Rapids

25

Tomahawk to Wisconsin Dells

Marshfield to Merrillan

115

40

120

52

53

64

Rail with option of using roadway

150 Rail; Roadway

Ashland to Abbotsford 7 Rail

Utility; Roadway

Red Cedar Junction to Nelson Roadway; Potential Rail Option

Mondovi to Durand 17

Hudson to Merrillan 110

20

Wausau to Marshfield 40

Cornell to Bloomer

Wyeville to Mauston to AdamsCounty Hwy Z 32

Ladysmith to Marshfield 36

Somerset to Marathon City 144

Rail; Roadway

Roadways

Rail

Roadways

Roadways

Rail; utility corridor; roadway

Rail & Roadways

Rail & Roadways

St. Croix - Mississippi River Corridor

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West Central Region

The West Central Region contains a vastarea of Western Upland, a landscape oftendescribed as one of the most scenic parts ofthe state. The driftless, or unglaciated,portions of the region contain long, narrowvalleys and steep ridges. Tributary streams inthe area follow steep gradients to largerriver valleys such as the Black, Buffalo,Trempealeau, and La Crosse rivers, while theSt. Croix and Chippewa Rivers drain thegently rolling glaciated portions of theWestern Upland. The Mississippi River createdbluffs and steep terrain along its immediatebanks, some bluffs rising over 400 feet abovethe river, as at Perrot State Park.

A number of counties within the region arepart of another geographical province knownas the Central Plain. Between Camp Douglasand Merrillan, the striking hill-like landscapefeatures called buttes and mesas arerepresentative, as are expansive, flat sandyplains with pine barrens. In contrast, otherportions of the Central Plain have the softswells of glacial topography. The WisconsinRiver is an important water resource in theeastern portion of the region and CentralPlain.

Recreational opportunities in the regioninclude 15 state parks and recreation areas,the Black River State Forest, and 226 miles in11 state-owned rail trails: Red Cedar,Chippewa River, Buffalo River, Old Abe,Great River, La Crosse River, Elroy-Sparta,“400,” Hillsboro, Tomorrow River and theMountain-Bay in Marathon County.

The community of Chippewa Falls couldpotentially serve as a major trail hub. TheNatural Resources Board approved theestablishment of the Wild Rivers State Trail, a135-mile trail from Norma, near ChippewaFalls, to Ambridge Junction near Superior, theUrban Trail between Chippewa Falls and EauClaire, and the Old Abe State Trail betweenChippewa Falls and Cornell. These trails

connect with the Chippewa River and RedCedar trails to form the 70-mile-longChippewa Valley regional trail system.

Under the National Trails System Act, theDNR purchased an abandoned rail line fromPlover to Scandinavia in Portage andWaupaca counties. Both counties areagreeable to a cooperative trail project. Thesection from Plover to the Portage Countyline is currently under development.

Additionally, the City of Marshfield has thepotential to become a trailhead with thepossible development of several new trails inthe area.

Segment 4 - Green Bay toMississippi River (WestCentral Region)

Beginning in Marshland, across theMississippi River from Winona, MN, thispotential trail corridor is on rail line that

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parallels the Trempealeau River east toMerrillan.

The rail line continues east through thenorth end of the Black River State Forest toCity Point. From City Point to WisconsinRapids, the option of remaining on the railcorridor or using roadways should beconsidered.

See the Northeast Region section of thisplan for a description of the eastern part ofthis proposed trail.

Segment 12 - St. Croix -Mississippi Rivercorridor (West CentralRegion)

The potential St. Croix - Mississippi Rivertrail corridor would link the Northern, WestCentral and South Central regions.

The link with the South Central Regionwould occur at De Soto on the Vernon/Crawford county line. The proposed trailcontinues north on corridor using rail line,highway right-of-way, and the existing 22-mile-long Great River Trail betweenOnalaska and Trempealeau. State Highway35 from Grant County to Prescott is identifiedin the Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan

2020 as a priority bicycle corridor. Widerpaved shoulders are being added as thehighway is being reconstructed. CurrentlyDOT and DNR are cooperating on a 3.9-mile-long separated extension from Marshland(current terminus of the Great River Trail)along State Highway 35 to Winona, MN.Perrot, Merrick, Kinnickinnic, and Willow Riverstate parks are in or near the corridor.

From Prescott to the St. Croix/Polk countyline, the recommended route is on CountyTrunk Highways F, A, and I and State Highway35.

Segment 17 - Ashland toAbbotsford (WestCentral Region)

Abbotsford could be the junction of majornorth-south (Segment 17) and east-west(Segment 50) trails. Most of the proposedAshland to Abbotsford trail is in the NorthernRegion. Please see the discussion of Segment17 in the Northern Region section. Sevenmiles of this corridor extend into the WestCentral Region south to Abbotsford.

Segment 18 - Tomahawkto Wisconsin Dells

It is important to note that Segment 18links with potential corridors in the Northernand South Central regions to create acontinuous trail route from Ashland, on LakeSuperior, to the Wisconsin/Illinois state line.The Bearskin-Hiawatha State Trail and

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Segment 15 would provide the link to LakeSuperior.

A variety of corridor types are used onthis potential north-south trail route. From theLincoln-Marathon county line, a trail followinga power line corridor that extends south fromState Highway 64 near Merrill to north ofWausau is recommended. Marathon Countyalso recognizes the value of this utilitycorridor along the scenic Wisconsin Riverwayfor trail purposes.

Continuing southward, a power linecorridor along County Trunk Highway X fromWausau to Stevens Point should beconsidered a component of the statewide“backbone” trail system. This potential trailnot only connects the communities of Wausauand Stevens Point, but also could link with theGreen Circle State Trail and several otherproposed trail corridors.

From Stevens Point to Wisconsin Dells, apotential trail route using roadways isrecommended that generally would followthe Wisconsin River and its flowages and mayprovide access to Roche-A-Cri and BuckhornState Parks for trail users. With the support ofthe counties, this could become a designatedbike route. Paved shoulders should beincluded with any future road improvements.The Ice Age Trail crosses this potentialcorridor near the intersection of CountyHighway Z and State Highway 82.

Segment 42 - Red CedarJunction to Nelson

From the junction of the Red Cedar andChippewa River Trails at Red Cedar Junction,two options exist for a trail connector toDurand. The first would use town and countyroadways. The second option would follow anabandoned rail corridor owned by NorthernStates Power. Currently, local governmentsare working with NSP to negotiate the use of

the abandoned railroad grade. This potentialtrail continues south to Nelson via roadways.

Segment 48 - Mondovi toDurand

Roadways are recommended as ahighway connector trail from the Buffalo RiverState Trail in Mondovi to Durand. Besideslinking with the Buffalo River Trail, it alsoconnects with three other potential trailcorridors and becomes part of a loop system.

Segment 49 - Hudson toMerrillan

Between Hudson and Eau Claire, Segments49 and 50 are two alternate east-west railcorridors with trail potential. Segment 49connects with the Red Cedar Trail inMenomonie and the Chippewa Valley trailsystem in Eau Claire.

A trail along the rail line from Eau Claire toMerrillan would link the Buffalo River andChippewa River State Trails and proposedSegment 4.

Segment 50 - Somersetto Marathon City

The Chippewa Falls to Somerset alternateclosely parallels Segment 49 to the south andlinks with the Chippewa Valley Trail system inChippewa Falls. Linkage to the Red CedarTrail could be accomplished via roadwayconnectors between Wheeler andMenomonie. The trail corridor would extendeastward along roadway from Chippewa Fallsto Marathon City west of Wausau.

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Segment 51 - Cornell toBloomer

This potential connector trail alongroadways would link the Old Abe State Trailand Ice Age State Scenic Trail at Cornell andthe Wild River State Trail at Bloomer.

Segment 52 - Wausau toMarshfield

Marathon County also recognizes thisabandoned rail corridor from Wausau toMarshfield as having significant trail potential.After rail line abandonment in the early1980s the county took part of the rail right-of-way for tax purposes. A section nearWausau serves as a power line corridor byWisconsin Public Service (WPS), whichapparently would not object to sharing theright-of-way with trail users. Sections of thecorridor have reverted back to adjacentlandowners, but there may be opportunitiesfor easements or the use of lightly traveledlocal roads.

Segment 53 - Wyeville toMauston to AdamsCounty Hwy Z

This potential trail corridor is a combinationof rail line and highway right-of-way that linksvia Juneau County’s Omaha Trail to the Elroy-Sparta and “400” State Trails in Elroy. Railline would provide the linkage from Wyevilleto Mauston, and various roadways fromMauston east to the Wisconsin River.

Segment 64 - Ladysmithto Marshfield

This potential trail corridor is a combinationof rail line and highway right-of-way thatcontinues into Northern Region as Segment #

64 to Ladysmith. This segment passes throughnumerous wildlife areas and several smallcommunities.

Segment 47 - Marshfieldto Merrillan

This potential trail corridor is combinationof a rail line and roadway that will link thesetwo communities as it passes through manysmall towns. This segment will connect to WestCentral Region Segment #4 in Merrillan.Roadways maybe necessary for thecompletion of this section as a portion of therail corridor is in private ownership.

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Peter Biermeier, Section Chief of External Relations, Planning, and Trails

(608) 264-6136

Brigit Brown, State Trails Coordinator

(608) 266-2183

Gary Hanson, Northeast Region

(920) 492-5823

Terry Jordan, Northern Region

(715) 635-4121

Dana White-Quam, South Central Region

(608) 275-3302

Melissa Cook, Southeast Region

(414) 263-8559

Jean Rygiel, West Central Region

(715) 839-1607

For more information about trails in your regionplease contact:

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