Trail Length

32.5 miles

Trail Start and End Details

As the name suggests, this trail travels between the towns of Elroy, Wisconsin, and Sparta, Wisconsin. The end points are found at South Water Street and Milwaukee Street/La Crosse River State Trail in Sparta, and SR 82 at SR 71 in Elroy.

Description and Tips

Elroy-Sparta State Trail is commonly acknowledged as the oldest rails-to-trails conversation in the US, a beautiful route through five small towns and three hand-dug tunnels that are over 100 years old. Two of the tunnels are 1/4 mile long, and the third 3/4 mile, and all are unlit, making for quite the adventure. The rest of the trail is a beautiful countryside route through rolling hills and farmland.

Submitted By

Barbara Thompson, Glenn Green