The Elroy Sparta State Trail

For several years Ted and I had wanted to ride this trail. We had driven the three hours to the trail a few years ago, only to find that Elroy and the trail were flooded. The trail was closed.

This time we checked everything we could think of to prepare for riding the trail. This almost worked. When we arrived in Sparta we had to wait for a train to go by. Once the tracks were cleared I attempted to put my car back into Drive. The lever was locked in place. Cars behind me were honking impatiently. I had to rip the cover off the steering column to access a button that would release the shift lever.

Once that was done, we parked Ted's car in Sparta and drove mine and the bikes to Elroy. We bought trail passes and headed onto the thirty-two mile trail.

We expected the scenery along the trail to be as beautiful as you see when driving alongside the trail between Elroy and Sparta, but shrubs and trees on either side of the trail kept the view from us.
What does make the trail exceptional are three tunnels along the way. Two of them are a quarter mile long. 

The third tunnel is three quarters of a mile long. From the center of the this tunnel, you can't see light at either end. Because it's cool inside the tunnel and 85 or so degrees outside, it's raining inside the tunnel. Moderate rain. The floor is slick and bumpy, making riding impossible and walking somewhat tentative. The bike lights, bright as we thought they were, barely illuminate our way through the tunnel.

Walking through the tunnel is required, no riding. It felt like a long walk, but even with the rainfall it felt good to be out from under the hot sun.

Tunnel Entrance

Preparing to Enter

Going into the Light

Exiting Tunnel #2

The Finish

When we reached the end of the trail we agreed that it was a good ride and that we would not do it again. We celebrated that evening in an Italian restaurant in Mauston, happy to have finally met the challenge of the Elroy Sparta State Trail.