Find the top rated fishing trails in Wisconsin, whether you're looking for an easy short fishing trail or a long fishing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a fishing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I love riding this trail as it's yards from my house, but honestly, the DNR hasn't done jack shXX to maintain this trail for years! It is full of holes and ruts. DNR solution to holes is simply dump sand all over them. That way if you survive hitting the hole, you can always injure yourself by having a wheel slip away from you in the sand! Was on the trail yesterday afternoon, tree branches all over the place covering the trail... full of ruts. I don't understand why the DNR won't roll the trail in the spring when the ground is soft to even it out some.
I don't mind buying a trail pass every year for my wife and I, but it's high time some of that money went into real maintenance. Another big problem is that the trail to bridge transitions are terrible. You hit the bridge and the first plank is 3-4 inches above the ground on MANY bridges! Again, enough is enough. Fix it already!!!! I live in Green County and love the trails, but this one is basically unusable since maintenance has been ignored for so long.
I started my trek south on the trail from the EB Shurts Center, where there are restrooms, changing rooms and plenty of parking. The trail goes along Sentry Drive for a while, through an industrial park area then veers into a more natural setting of fields and wooded areas, all the while following the Fox River. It keeps getting better as you go south, as there are boardwalks and observation decks in the Fox River Sanctuary. After crossing Sunset Drive, you follow the the Fox River Parkway through a very pleasant riverside park. It returns to a blacktop trail that is especially scenic in the Fox River Park. There are several places to stop and admire the Fox River. The trail loops around in the park and returns north. While the trail actually starts north of the Shurt Center at Frame Park, I didn't feel like riding along busy College Avenue to rejoin the trail that leads to Frame Park. My afternoon ride was a very pleasant 10 miles.
What a fun trail to ride it does have some street riding but the views are awesome. One more reason why I love my home town
There is a beautiful off-road experience waiting for you near the north end of the trail between Terry Andrae Road and Stahl Road. Park the bike or car there in the pulloff and enjoy a meadow and woodland experience. Almost all trails eventually loop back to within 100 yards of the start. You will see the Black River Forest and some of the plants and animals that call it home. It is occasionally used as a horse trail, so watch your step. I will attach photos.
Biked from Sparta to Wilton and back (about 35 mi of biking, 2 miles of walking thru tunnels) last weekend. It's a nice route through mildly scenic wooded and farming areas, but the tunnels are definitely an interesting experience (don't forgot your flashlight--you'll need it to keep your footing since the tunnel floors are pitted and wet/muddy/slippery). While the trail's elevation changes aren't severe, there are long sections that are persistently up hill, so be prepared to pedal consistently for those.
The only concern about the trail is the surface. The trail surface (packed gravel) was mostly in good shape but there are some soft/muddy and rutted spots. It definitely makes you work harder compared with a paved trail. But more bothersome was how narrow the trail is--for large distances it's being overgrown, leaving it at only about 4-5 feet wide, maybe less. I have to agree with other reviewers who have wondered what the trail fees are being used for if not to keep the surface in better shape. Frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't been paved by now.
In summary, we're glad we biked the trail, but consider it a "been there, done that" experience given the surface conditions.
I am new to the Madison area and am looking for good paved asphalt (not concrete) trails to rollerski. I tried this one out today and found it good for the views and the varied terrain (no hills however). For rollerskiing it is not fantastic, as there are many crossings that can be awkward and many concrete sections that do not give poles with carbide tips any purchase.
I can see this being a very nice road cycling trail however, as the views are great and the trail passes by a few good looking food shops.
I held back a star only because it didn't suit my needs as a roller-skier.
Excellent trail. I can't wait until it connects with Belmont!!
Let me start by saying, we have ridden most of the rail trails in Wisconsin. This is a 5 star trail for scenery and surface. An easy 42 mile round trip due to the perfect pavement and flat nature of the trail. Particularly scenic from Jim Falls to Cornell.
I have to knock it down a star for two glaring omissions (especially for the stellar Wisconsin trail system).
1. As mentioned in other comments, there is no trail head at the south end. No parking, signage or anything. Very odd. We parked in a credit union parking lot at Park Ave, which is ok only when the credit union is closed. After starting north, i spotted a small lot just north of the Chippewa river on the east side that could be used. Further north just over the Lake Wissota bridge is a nice lot with a pay station. The trouble is you've already gone over the way cool bridge before you get there. So if you start north from this point you never see the bridge.
2. There are no public restrooms/outhouses on the entire trail. Not one. For a trail of this length, that is not a good thing. In Jim Falls there is a gas station right on the trail that caters to bikers, but you feel guilty if you just use their bathroom and don't buy anything. In Cornell there are several restaurants and ice cream shops that have bathrooms.
So, beautiful trail, just have a strong bladder.
We biked the Caryville to Durand part of this trail on September 1, 2017. The trees, rocks, river, animal and plant life is very lovely. The surface from Caryville 12 miles toward Durand is only arguably paved. If you have trail bikes, great. If you have thin-tired road bikes? They would likely sustain damage. Stick to Durand and no more than 7 miles in with a road bike.
I walked this trail after a rain storm and most of the trail was dry except for a small are near the beginning. The trail was straight and not much change in grade level which made it easy to walk. The vegetation was cut back nice. My only complaint is that there is no bathroom facilities in the parking lot or along the trail. I wish they would continue the trail to Union Grove and on to Sturtevant. I enjoy walking and would love to use a trail closer to home.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
_133586_st.jpg)
_111107_st.jpg)
_135282_st.jpg)
