400 State Trail
Chicago and Northwestern Depot Reedsburg, WI
400 State Trail headquarters in the historic Chicago and Northwestern Depot in Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Length22 mi (35 km)
LocationWisconsin, USA
Designationmulti-use
TrailheadsReedsburg, Wisconsin and Elroy, Wisconsin
Difficultyeasy
SeasonMay through October
Surfacecrushed limestone
Maintained byWisconsin Department of Natural Resources
400 State Trail
 
Elroy-Sparta State Trail
22 mi
35 km
 Elroy
18 mi
29 km
 Union Center
Hillsboro State Trail
to Hillsboro (5 mi/8 km)
14 mi
23 km
 Wonewoc
7 mi
11 km
 LaValle
0 mi
0 km
 Reedsburg
400 State Trail

The 400 State Trail is a 22-mile (35 km) rail trail between Reedsburg and Elroy, Wisconsin. It is designed for foot, bicycle, equestrian, snowmobile traffic. It is designated as a multi-use trail, offering recreational access to the routes, and is open to the public.[1]

History

The original railway was constructed from Madison, Wisconsin to Winona, Minnesota, starting in 1870, by a predecessor of the Chicago and North Western Railway, the Baraboo Air Line Railroad Company. It was so named because of the straightness of the Air-line railroad route.[2] The railway became the route of the Minnesota 400, a named train of the C&NW that connected Chicago with Southern Wisconsin and Southern Minnesota.[3] It eventually became the route of the South Dakota destined Dakota 400.[3] The "400" trains of the C&NW were related to the C&NW flagship high-speed Twin Cities 400, which met the Minnesota 400 at Wyeville.[3]

The State of Wisconsin acquired the railway after it was abandoned by C&NW in 1988. After renovations, they opened the trail in 1993.[4] The trail's surface is crushed limestone.[5] The 400 Trail is one of four connecting bike trails in west-central Wisconsin that spans approximately one-third of the state. The trail is known for its rural scenery of the Baraboo River which it crosses eleven times.[6] It is part of the larger Wisconsin Bike Trail System, operated by the state of Wisconsin.

The five mile spur west to Hillboro, known as the Hillsboro State Trail, was formerly the Hillsboro and Northeastern Railway.[7] It joins the 400 State Trail just south from Union Center.

Connecting Trails

Map of the 400 State Trail and connecting trails
400 State Trail Elroy, Wisconsin

The four connecting west central Wisconsin trails, known as the Bike 4 Trails, going from southeast to northwest are:[8][9]

The 400 State Trail connects to the Elroy-Sparta State Trail in Elroy.

The trail headquarters is located in a historic depot in Reedsburg and is open from May 1 through October 31. There is a $5.00 per day fee for use of the trail if one does not have the $25.00 yearly Wisconsin bike trail pass. Bike lights are advisable even on the brightest summer days when going into the long unlit tunnels. Camping, lodging, food, parking, bike rentals and information are available at many points along the trail.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "400 State Trail - Reedsburg to Elroy". www.400statetrail.org. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  2. ↑ Yesterday and Today: A History of the Chicago and North Western Railway System. Winship Company, Printers. 1910. pp. 73–.
  3. 1 2 3 Scribbins, Jim (2008) [1982]. The 400 Story. Minneapolis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8166-5449-9.
  4. ↑ "400 State Trail | Wisconsin Trails | TrailLink". www.traillink.com. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  5. ↑ "Basic Information | Wisconsin DNR". dnr.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  6. ↑ "Visit & Discover the Reedsburg Wisconsin 400 Bike Trail | Wisconsin Dells Travel & Green Country Living". Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  7. ↑ 1948 Handy Railroad Atlas of the United States. Rand McNally and Company, 1948
  8. ↑ "400 State Trail | Travel Wisconsin". TravelWisconsin. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  9. ↑ Basic Information - 400 State Trail Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, April 2, 2022
  10. ↑ Hillsboro State Trail Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource
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