2016 Tavels, Bicycling the Elroy - Sparta State Trail, WI

The Grand Daddy of Trails. One of our goals for our 2016 Travels was to bicycle the Elroy - Sparta State Trail in Wisconsin. This 32-mile long trail follows the Chicago Northwestern Railroad bed and is the first Rails to Trails conversion.

What also makes this trail unique are 3 railroad tunnels. Two of them are about 1/4 mile long and one about 3/4 mile long. Bicyclists must walk their bikes through the tunnels. You'll see why as we take you on this tour of the Grand Daddy of Trails.

A giant statue of Ben Bikin' welcomes us to Sparta.

We arrived in Sparta and got trail information from the Sparta Depot which serves as an information and welcome center for the Sparta end of the trail. They have maps of all the trail systems, trail souvenirs and trail passes. A $5 per person day pass is required to ride the trail and must be displayed on our bikes. We're glad to pay the fee to ride this unique trail.

While we were in Sparta we visit Speed's Bike Shop to get an adjustment on a recently installed cable. The folks at the shop were helpful and the owner adjusted my bike free of charge. The shop is located right along the trail just east of the Sparta Depot. They also have day passes, bike rentals and shuttles if you want to ride the entire 32-mile trail one way. There are also several other bike shops in Sparta that provide services.

The Sparta Depot serves as information a welcome center at the Sparta end of the Sparta-Elroy State Trail.

The Elroy - Sparta State Trail is surfaced with packed limestone which is said to be easy to ride with most bike tires. I was worried about how my 23mm tires would do on the surface but found the ride was very smooth.

Looking down the trail from the Sparta Depot platform.

After looking over the maps we decide to camp at the Wilton Village Campground near the center point in the trail. We stayed there 2 nights and rode the trail out and back in each direction from the town of Wilton. The plan worked out really well and broke the ride into 2 segments. It means we doubled the miles and got to walk our bikes through the tunnels twice. Double the experience, double the fun.

Our campsite at the Wilton Village Campground.

The Wilton Village Campground was a large grassy park. Like camping on a big lawn. There were restrooms, individual coin-op shower rooms and a small laundry room with a washer and dryer. The cost was $7 per person per night and an additional $3 per night for electric. It's a short 5 block ride to the trail head. The park also had a pool that campers could use for a $2 fee.

The Village of Wilton Campground welcomes bicyclists.

Wilton seems to have created this campground with bicyclists in mind. When we arrived most of the campsites were filled with cyclist who had the same plan we did. It was really neat camping in this little transient cycling community and visiting with others about trails they'd ridden.

Wilton's main street.

Wilton is a small community, hardly any traffic but there are a few places to eat and an ice cream shop. The community shows it's appreciation for cyclists.

A banner on a convenience store shows Wilton's appreciation for cyclists.

Signs at trail access points are a reminder that a day or annual passes are required to ride the trails. $5 isn't a bad price to pay to ride and help keep information centers operating and the trail maintained. Gateway communities for the trail are Elroy, Kendall, Norwalk and Sparta.

Signs at trail access points are reminders that passes are required to ride the trails.

Our first ride on the trail is from Wilton to Sparta. It's17 miles one way and passes through Tunnel 2 and 3. The trail is railroad grade, mostly flat but with an occasional 3% grade as it ascends to the tunnels.

Jim rides the Wilton to Sparta segment of the trail.

It's about 2 miles from Wilton to Tunnel 2 which is 1,694 feet long. A plaque at the entrance gives railroad history and stats about the tunnel.

The plaque at Tunnel 2 has railroad history and Tunnel Trivia.

Approaching Tunnel 2.

Tunnel 2 has wood framework above the entrance but we're not sure what the purpose was. Maybe for extra support of the brick above the tunnel. Signs at the entrance tell cyclists they must walk their bikes. When you see the rough, rounded surface of the trail in the tunnels you won't want to think about riding. Water seepage also makes riding hazardous. Bike lights or headlamps are required. The tunnel is pitch black with temps about 57 degrees. Raw rock walls and occasionally finished brick work arcs up to the high ceiling. It's like entering the Mines of Moria in the Lord of the Rings. Voices of other cyclist echo down the tunnel in strange unintelligible words and we see their tiny distant lights moving toward us. Having to walk a bike couldn't be more fun.

Jim enters Tunnel 2.

The trail passes through farmlands.

The trail scenery is varied, passing through open country with farms tucked into the hills and through wild woodlands where trees arch over the trail . It's all a very enjoyable ride.

A dairy farm along the trail.

The trail passes through wild woodlands.

Nine miles from Wilton we arrive at Tunnel 3, the longest of the tunnels at 3,810 in length.

Tunnel 3 Trivia and history plaque.

The trail is also used by hikers and joggers who we often meet along the way.

Jim approaches the Tunnel 3 were we meet hikers emerging from the tunnel.

It's a long way to the light at the end of Tunnel 3.

The light at the end of Tunnel 3 is very small and a long way off. This is also the wettest of the tunnels. Water from a spring drips from the tunnel ceiling and through the vents in our helmets as we walk.

It was 8 miles from Tunnel 3 to Sparta, the turnaround point in this ride. Wilton to Sparta and back to Wilton is 34 miles round trip.

Riding the trail from Wilton to Elroy.

Our second ride was from Wilton To Elroy, about 15 miles one way. Tunnel 1 between Wilton and Kendall is the only tunnel on this segment.

The approach to Tunnel 1.

It's 6 miles from Wilton to Tunnel 1. The approach is in a long trench cut into the mountain. The tunnel is about 1,694 feet long.

The plaque at Tunnel 1.

Every tunnel entrance has a different look but they all have big wooden doors at the entrances. When the railroad was operating the doors were  to keep the tunnel warmer and prevent ice forming on the track. They were opened manually when trains came. Probably not the most fun job to have in winter.

The approach to Tunnel 1.

Jim and the light at the end of the tunnel.

Looking out from Tunnel 1 as Jackie rides up.

Every tunnel entrance has a reminder to get off the bike and walk.

Reminders to get off the bike and walk through the tunnel.

The trail to between Wilton and Elroy.

It's 3 miles from Tunnel 1 to Kendall. The Kendall Depot is the head quarters for the Elroy to Sparta Start Trail.

Kendall Depot, headquarters for the Elroy - Sparta State Trail.

This plaque tells about the job of the brakeman and purpose of the frame work at the approach to the tunnels.

There are many historical plaques along the way that tell about the construction and operation of the railroad. The frame structure at the approach to Tunnel 1 pictured in the above plaque warned the brakeman, who often worked on top of the train, that they were approaching a tunnel. It also warned the hobos who often rode on top of the train. Each tunnel approach had a frame like this but this is the only one that has been preserved.

The frame at the approach to Tunnel 1 gave the brakeman advance warning that they were approaching a tunnel.

The Elroy - Sparta trail rolls on through the countryside just as the trains did. Soon we'll be approaching the Elroy Depot.

The bike path makes a straight line for the Elroy Depot.

The Elroy Depot.

The Elroy Depot has an information center, give shop and snacks. A great place to get refreshed and have some ice cream.

Jackie and her souvenir photo.

There are also other photo opportunities. Jackie has to take the opportunity for a souvenir photo all though a dress an parasol would have been better for a biking lady.

A brief history of the Elroy to Sparta State Trail.

Elroy is our turnaround point and after some ice cream we head back to Wilton. A plaque at the Elroy Trailhead give a brief history of the trail.

Ben Bikin'.

Back in Sparta, Ben Bikin' will continue to welcome bicyclists. This area is indeed a biking capitol. There are 3 other trails here and we'll plan on riding if we pass this way again. These trails are: The 25 mile Great River Trail, the 22 mile La Crosse River Trail and the 22 mile 400 Trail. So if you plan on coming give yourself a few extra day to enjoy this trails and bike-friendly communities.

See you on down the trail.
Jackie