Sparta Elroy Trail or La Crosse to St. Paul
09-03-21, 07:13 PM
#1
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Sparta Elroy Trail or La Crosse to St. Paul
Hello all,
Looking for wisdom and experience from the group. I'm planning a ride in mid October, thinking of these two options. Would be bike camping. If I do Sparta I will car camp in the middle and ride half and half over 2 days. If La Crosse, I would take the train there and bike tour back to the Twin Cities. Or could just drive / camp and ride the Driftless area ( MN and WI) from one home base. Anyone done this? Can point me in a direction for ideas?
Thanks!
TimOK
Looking for wisdom and experience from the group. I'm planning a ride in mid October, thinking of these two options. Would be bike camping. If I do Sparta I will car camp in the middle and ride half and half over 2 days. If La Crosse, I would take the train there and bike tour back to the Twin Cities. Or could just drive / camp and ride the Driftless area ( MN and WI) from one home base. Anyone done this? Can point me in a direction for ideas?
Thanks!
TimOK
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09-03-21, 10:01 PM
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Just a note that there are still a couple portions of the Elroy Sparta trail that are closed:
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/elroysparta
I live in Wisconsin. Driftless area is a blast if you don't mind a couple hills.
It's really quite scenic, and the county roads don't get much traffic outside of the bigger towns.
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/elroysparta
I live in Wisconsin. Driftless area is a blast if you don't mind a couple hills.
It's really quite scenic, and the county roads don't get much traffic outside of the bigger towns.
09-04-21, 07:17 AM
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Curious what route you'd take from LaCrosse to Twin Cities? I'd definitely reccomend great River Trail North of Lacrosse most the way to Winona but don't know a good cycling route after that. Gets hilly N of Winona.
Sparta Elroy trail is great, off road but dirt/gravel. Even with some minor closures I would reccomend. Have ridden most of it.
Sparta Elroy trail is great, off road but dirt/gravel. Even with some minor closures I would reccomend. Have ridden most of it.
09-04-21, 09:10 AM
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Elroy to Sparta is my favorite rail trail.
It's essentially three long, not very steep hills with a tunnel at the top of each. (Bring a light. It's impossible to see through the tunnels). If parts of the trail are closed as another poster has indicated, be advised that the alternative local roads are quite hilly and much steeper than the rail bed..
It's essentially three long, not very steep hills with a tunnel at the top of each. (Bring a light. It's impossible to see through the tunnels). If parts of the trail are closed as another poster has indicated, be advised that the alternative local roads are quite hilly and much steeper than the rail bed..
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09-04-21, 12:44 PM
#5
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Took Amtrak from St Paul to La Crosse late Sept 2018 and rode back to Twin Cities.
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/b1ihcxK2VU8aR3hz8
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/b1ihcxK2VU8aR3hz8
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09-04-21, 01:12 PM
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The Driftless region is really nice. My club always does some fall rides there and we'll hit up Stone Barn Pizza. The wife is partial to a pie stop in Stockholm. 
09-05-21, 01:45 PM
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Took Amtrak from St Paul to La Crosse late Sept 2018 and rode back to Twin Cities.
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/b1ihcxK2VU8aR3hz8
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/b1ihcxK2VU8aR3hz8
Besides the great River Trail out of Lacrosse/Onalaska what route did you take?
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09-05-21, 02:15 PM
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09-06-21, 11:04 AM
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Thanks everyone for the info.
will keep you posted.
will keep you posted.
09-06-21, 02:48 PM
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Would that be "Pie are Square"?
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09-06-21, 02:56 PM
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No. Pies at the General Store in Stockholm, WI.
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09-07-21, 05:34 PM
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Hey, I think I've kinda done all of those. In 1989, I rode an organized camping tour with Bike America (later renamed to Cycle America, and no longer around), which was a cross country tour where you could select which leg(s) you wanted to do. I chose Wisconsin and we rode from Lake City, MN to Manitowoc, WI. I think it was day 2 where the route included the trail from Sparta to Elroy.
In 1992, I did a solo tour from my home in Minneapolis and rode along the St. Croix and then along the Mississippi through La Crosse and down into Iowa.
In 2004, 2005, and 2006, I rode a thing called Cheese Country Hell Week. It was 8 days of riding (90-120 miles/day) and each day we would return to the same city - Richland Center, WI. It was an offshoot of Texas Hell Week (the same guy organized both), but neither are held any more.
Anyway, my favorite of the 3 was the Cheese Country Hell Week. But I didn't plan the routes. I think the Big Dogs Endurance Cycling group did most of that but I can't seem to find their website. Maybe they aren't around anymore either.
In 1992, I did a solo tour from my home in Minneapolis and rode along the St. Croix and then along the Mississippi through La Crosse and down into Iowa.
In 2004, 2005, and 2006, I rode a thing called Cheese Country Hell Week. It was 8 days of riding (90-120 miles/day) and each day we would return to the same city - Richland Center, WI. It was an offshoot of Texas Hell Week (the same guy organized both), but neither are held any more.
Anyway, my favorite of the 3 was the Cheese Country Hell Week. But I didn't plan the routes. I think the Big Dogs Endurance Cycling group did most of that but I can't seem to find their website. Maybe they aren't around anymore either.
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09-08-21, 07:31 AM
#13
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biker222,
Looks amazing. at this point it is looking like the Sparta trail we be the choice, but still need a few more details on the detour conditions as I might have a friend along on a 3 wheeler. Need to figure out how wide the shoulders are on the detours....
Thanks again
TOK
Looks amazing. at this point it is looking like the Sparta trail we be the choice, but still need a few more details on the detour conditions as I might have a friend along on a 3 wheeler. Need to figure out how wide the shoulders are on the detours....
Thanks again
TOK
09-08-21, 07:34 AM
#14
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Retro, can you advise on the size of the shoulders .... for the detours? will it seem okay for a 3 wheeler (recumbent)?
How is the tent camping in Wilton community campgrounds?
Thanks!
How is the tent camping in Wilton community campgrounds?
Thanks!
Last edited by TIMOK; 09-08-21 at 07:46 AM. Reason: added addition comment.
09-09-21, 06:38 AM
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Just did a 40mi ride on the Elroy-Sparta Trail. Started in Kendall because of trail closure outside of Elroy and rode 20mi west. The second trail closure heading west is before Wilton and the detour is short on Rt71 but hilly. If remembering correctly Rt71 had wide shoulders. You might not have to detour because they were working on this section and the repair might be completed.
The 40mi up/back from Kendall got us through the three tunnels but not all the way to Sparta. On the third tunnel which is the longest 3/4mi you'll need a rain jacket and as mentioned a headlight.
The 40mi up/back from Kendall got us through the three tunnels but not all the way to Sparta. On the third tunnel which is the longest 3/4mi you'll need a rain jacket and as mentioned a headlight.
