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Elroy - Sparta Trail Closure

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Elroy - Sparta Trail Closure

Old 08-30-18, 03:13 PM
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Elroy - Sparta Trail Closure

There were severe storms in the Elroy - Sparta area on Monday night and continuing into Tuesday morning. Parts of the Elroy - Sparta trail have some significant damage. The DNR has closed the trail and also closed the 400 Trail. I will try to post a few pictures later this evening.

DNR Site for Elroy - Sparta Trail

DNR Site for 400 Trail
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Old 08-30-18, 03:45 PM
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This afternoon I tried riding from Wilton to Norwalk. I could only get to within sight of tunnel #2 . Several trees were down along the way, and the rain had scoured potholes in the trail. The condition of the trail got worse the closer I got to the tunnel. This picture is looking toward the tunnel which is just visible in the background. The trail has been completely eroded away and a large pile of rocks was deposited across the trail.

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Old 08-30-18, 03:47 PM
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This picture is looking back toward the spot where I took the previous picture.

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Old 08-30-18, 03:50 PM
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This is as close as I could get to tunnel #2 without wading through water.

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Old 08-30-18, 03:52 PM
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Since I couldn't get to Norwalk, I decided to try my luck at riding to Kendall. This picture shows a washed out portion of the trail just outside of Wilton. I believe the stream is the Kickapoo River.

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Old 08-30-18, 03:55 PM
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Here's another washout about a mile from Wilton. The picture really doesn't do justice to the damage here. There was no way for me to cross the gap and get onto the bridge. I turned around and went back to Wilton. These pictures were all taken in about a 4.4 mile portion of the trail. The damage looks pretty severe in places. I'm guessing that the trail won't reopen soon.

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Old 08-31-18, 02:20 PM
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Update

I tried riding the Omaha Trail today. I got within 1/2 mile of the tunnel when I was turned back by a person working on the trail. He said there had been an avalanche and the trail was covered with lots of soil. He wouldn't let me look because there were other workers and trucks clearing away the soil. There is a sign that says the trail is closed. I have no idea when it will reopen.
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Old 09-01-18, 10:00 AM
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That looks like a lot of damage, thanks for the update,
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Old 09-04-18, 05:45 PM
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Thanks for the updates (and pictures).

We've been hit pretty hard closer to the river as well - some of the roads in Vernon County are still washed out or underwater, and with more rain on the way, it's not a great situation.
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Old 09-06-18, 01:58 PM
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Most recent update I got is that the 400 and Elroy-Sparta trail will be closed indefinitely, but the Great River State Trail from Onalaska to Trempealeau is still open and in good shape.
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Old 09-06-18, 05:57 PM
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Thanks for the info wipekitty. I left the Sparta area on Tuesday, so I won't be able to provide any updates on any of the trails.

The La Crosse River Trail also appears to be open. Following is a link to the DNR website:

DNR Site for La Crosse River Trail
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Old 09-09-18, 09:45 PM
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Gosh, how terrible! This is why it would be nice for our state to understand how important it is to maintain funding. At the same time, thank goodness the rain finally let up.
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Old 08-07-19, 11:58 AM
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Update

About half the Elroy - Sparta Trail is open now. The section from Elroy to Kendall is closed and may reopen later this year. There's a section open from Kendall through Tunnel #1 . A short distance past Tunnel #1 , at Logan Road, the trail is closed all the way to Wilton. The trail is then open from Wilton to Sparta.

The Omaha Trail is open.

Here is a link to a map of the trail closures: Closures

Following is a picture of tunnel #2 taken last Wednesday, 7/31, from about the same location as the picture in post #2 :

Last edited by Focus1; 08-07-19 at 12:04 PM.
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Old 05-01-20, 03:10 PM
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Wow! I know this is an old post, but now I don't wonder why the DNR closes trails. FYI, the DNR is doing a pretty good job of keeping their web site up-to-date with trail closure warnings:

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/elroysparta/

I wanted to plan a trip on the Badger State Trail before all this COVID-19 stuff happened and I'm glad I visited the DNR web site first as the Badger Trail has all sorts of closed sections. Had I not checked ahead, I would've been really frustrated to find I couldn't ride the trail w/o major detours and couldn't ride through the tunnel!
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Old 05-09-22, 01:34 PM
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A re-opening on May 14..long time coming

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/57096

Nice to see.
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