Omaha Trail:
Wisconsin
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Description:
This 14-mile limestone trail is a gorgeous offshoot from a 100-mile continuous trail corridor that includes the Great River State Trail, La Crosse River State Trail, Elroy-Sparta State Trail and the 400 State Trail.

The Omaha Trail's gentle surface and superb scenery make it a worthwhile trip. The county-maintained path has several unique features, starting with its surface. The limestone is sealed, making for a smoother ride than the connecting state trails. The trail also passes spectacular rock outcroppings that are not found anywhere else in Wisconsin—or in most of the Midwest.

Beginning at the northern end in Camp Douglas, the trail will take you past farms and though pastures for 4 miles before reaching the small town of Hustler. This tiny community has a pleasant public park right near the trail that provides a great spot to take a breather. Leaving Hustler the trail gently rises through scenic bluffs. The type of rock in the stunning outcroppings in these bluffs cannot be found anywhere else in the midwestern United States.

At almost exactly the halfway point, you will reach the apex of your climb. This is also the entrance to a 300-foot-long tunnel. This magnificent historic railroad tunnel is one of the highlights of this trip. A small park just before the tunnel's domed entrance provides restrooms and water.

After you exit the damp, dark tunnel it is all downhill to the town of Elroy. The final 7 miles pass through sections of dense forest where you are sure to see whitetail deer, small mammals and many species of bird. You also shoot past quintessential Wisconsin farms, with their red barns and grain silos. Use caution crossing the many country roads intersecting the trail as you make your way into Elroy.

The town of Elroy is the endpoint for the Omaha trail, but here you can easily connect to both the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and the 400 State Trail. The town has many cafes and lovely shops, and it's a great place to take a break while navigating your way though this impressive western Wisconsin trail system.

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Parking & Trail Access:
To get to the Douglass Camp trailhead from Interstate 90,take Exit 55 and head south on County Road C. Take a right on Tomah Road and turn left on Bartell Street, which becomes Main Street. The trail starts right in the middle of town at the intersection of Main Street and Eddy Avenue.

The Elroy trailhead is located near the intersection of State routes 82 and 71. From this intersection follow Cedar Street east, and the trail will be on the left.

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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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nice ride
By jrutch in October, 2010
easy to find from elroy....nice ride....fairly smooth, sealed surface....farms, pretty palnts, rock formations, a small tunnel, small towns, etc. ..... a great afternoon ride for us
One of the good ones..
By swell in April, 2009
We ride this trail numerous times every year. A season pass is only $5.00! Yes the surface has to put up with snow machines, but I have always been very impressed with the way the county takes care of this trail. Every time I go there, there's more work being done and limbs cleared etc. Always lots of critters around, too. The Hustle Inn in Hustler always seems to have a hot batch of brats in a slow cooker and lots of ice cream. At Camp Douglas, you can grab a sub and take it up to the cave park (about 7 miles one way) and eat lunch. I love this trail.
Needs better maintenance to restore the surface
By pbadam in January, 2009
I rode this trail on a beautiful warm sunny day on August 29, 2008 with my Scorpion Fx trike. The trails surface is composed of compressed gravel making the surface as hard as cement. However, it seems like very little maintenance is done on this trail because of it's ruts and pot holes throughout the length of this 14 mile trail, a biker has to be careful when navigating this trail. I began my ride from the restored railroad depot at the commons' in Elroy where the Sparta-Elroy and 400' trails intersect as well. To get to the Omaha Trail, you'll need to follow the 400' trail for a short distance, and then follow the brown signs along the city streets until you arrive at the start of the trail. The scenery is beautiful along this trail consisting of woods, unique sandstone bluffs, serene meadows, farm land and the quaint town of Hustler. Before Hustler you'll approach the tunnel by way of a 120 foot gradual climb, when compared to the Sparta-Elroy tunnels, it's somewhat anticlimactic considering it's length is only about 1/8 of a mile long, but still a pleasure to ride through on a hot day. A ways down, after you leave the tunnel, you'll come to the only rest area along the trail with full facilities. At one point on the trail you'll cross what is known as the shelf where the trail is sandwhiched between bluffs on one side, and a 75' drop off to the road below on the opposite side. The day I rode the trail, this portion was broken up because of the heavy rains we had here in wisconsin in spring, But I was still able to get around the broken portions of the trail safely.

I found this trail to be very peacefull and pleasant to ride, but it should be better maintained.


Dennis Adam
Sheboygan, WI
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