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June 3, 2017
11 am
This is the 52nd anniversary year for the Elroy-Sparta trail, the first rail-trail conversion in Wisconsin. If the weather prevents us from enjoying this weekend, the rain date is the following week. The following Sunday is the starting day for the Grand Illinois Tour (formerly GITAP), so lets keep our fingers crossed that the weather is good for the first weekend. Should weather force us to cancel, I will post by 7:00 a.m. on June 3. Here are the details -
Start in Wilton, Wi at the trail parking lot at the corner of Main St. and Cemetery Rd. in Wilton. Google Maps says that it will take about 3 1/2 hours from here to there, so let's meet at 10:45 and get rolling at 11:00 from there. We will go to Sparta on Saturday, ride back to Wilton, and then start again on Sunday, ride to Elroy, and then back again to Wilton.
If the trail passes are available by then, we will need to get them. $5 per day, $25 for annual, good all year at all Wisconsin trails. Various places in and around the trail sell them. I spoke to "Hardware Hank" in Wilton today, and the passes are not there yet, but should be in by June 1. If the passes are not available, we do not need to buy them.
Lodging and camping info -
Wilton City Campground - 400 East St., Wilton, villageofwiltoncampground.com 5 blocks from the trail, $7/person. No reservations required.
Mid-Trail Motel - 803 Walker St., Wilton, mid-trail-motel.com , 608-435-6685, $55/night + tax, only 4 rooms total, I would recommend reservations, 1 1/2 blocks from the parking lot.
Trail Side Bed & Breakfast, 26147 Wisconsin 71, Wilton, trailsidebednbreakfast.com, 608-435-6525, rates vary from $90-$110/night + tax (includes breakfast) , I spoke to the owner this morning and he has no other reservations for that night yet, 3 1/2 miles from Wilton on the trail.
Tunnel Trail Campground - 26983 Wisconsin 71, Wilton, tunneltrail.com, 608-435-6829, rates start at $42/night, I estimate this is another mile (4 1/2 miles) from Wilton. Just like Trail Side, this is on the trail.
Misc. things to remember - There are three tunnels along the trail, so be sure to bring headlights or at the very least, flashlights. I would not recommend riding in the tunnels, as the water dripping from the ceilings has resulted in many potholes on the trail surface, but you will want some illumination to prevent tripping in said potholes. The trail surface is primarily limestone, so mud or dust is certainly likely depending on weather conditions. There are some elevation changes (hills) along the way, but nothing more than we encounter in most of our other rides.
Starting Location:
Start in Wilton, Wi at the trail parking lot at the corner of Main St. and Cemetery Rd. in Wilton. Google Maps says that it will take about 3 1/2 hours from here to there, so let's meet at 10:45 and get rolling at 11:00 from there. We will go to Sparta on Saturday, ride back to Wilton, and then start again on Sunday, ride to Elroy, and then back again to Wilton
| Distance: | 70 |
| Average Speed: | 10-13 |
| Leader: | Pat
(patman1100@sbcglobal.net)
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