Description
Note: A user fee is required for those 18 and older ($1 per day or $15 per year).
The Sauk Rail-Trail runs for 33 paved miles between Swan Lake State Park in Carroll and Black Hawk State Park in Lake View. The trail links the communities of Swan Lake, Maple River, Breda, Carnarvon and Lake View with scenic state parks and serene farmland.
Along the trail you'll pass through prairies and wetlands, preserved at such places as Black Hawk Marsh, Breda's Railroad Depot, Hazelbrush Wildlife Area, Mid-Prairie Park and Rolling Hills City Park in Carroll. And each end is crowned by Black Hawk Lake and Swan Lake state parks.
Around Swan Lake you'll encounter hills but more level grades are between Maple River and Carnarvon. Distances between towns are as follows: Lake View and Carnarvon: 6.2 miles; Carnarvon and Breda: 6.5 miles; Breda and Maple River: 8 miles; Maple River and Carroll: 4.5 miles; Carroll and Swan Lake: 4 miles. The trail around Swan Lake is 3.8 miles.
Parking and Trail Access
Very Scenic
By
mlbattani
in
June, 2012
The trail is great condition and very scenic. Love going through the wind farm. You must pack snacks and drinks, no where to stop along trail.
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Beautiful Scenery
By
venuslpn
in
April, 2012
I've only ridden this trail from Carroll to Breda but the scenery is amazing! You need to bring a $1 bill along which you deposit in one of the boxes as a charge for using the trail. The trail is paved, the only downside for me was that there are no underpasses ...
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Great Trail
By
hawkeyebellz
in
March, 2012
This trail is now paved the whole length. This is a great and easy trail to ride. Some great stops along the trail include Trappers Den in Lake View, Carnarvon Inn in Carnarvon, Reds place in Breda and Little Gus's in Maple River. And of course Carroll ...
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