Hidden Valleys of Southwestern Wisconsin

Elroy
u
juneau County u
The noise and the rush of passenger trains carrying countless pioneers
and dreamers west are no more than an echo. The city of Elroy, once a
prominent railroad center, is now the hub of three bike trails. Nestled in
Southwestern Wisconsin, visitors to this area will find a thriving, friendly
community that extends a warm welcome to all those who come to visit. The
Elroy-Sparta Trail is 32 miles of smooth, hard-packed, crushed limestone
that wind through wooded valleys and small towns. This trail boasts three
century-old tunnels that were dug out with pick axes in the 1870s. Two
of these tunnels are 1 /4 mile long, and the other tunnel is just under a mile
long. The “400” State Trail runs 22 miles from Elroy to Reedsburg and has
a limestone surface. This trail was named for the Chicago & Northwestern
passenger train which traveled the 400 miles from Chicago to Minneapolis
in 400 minutes. The “400” trail parallels the Baraboo River, crossing it 11
times. The Omaha Trail is a peaceful, secluded ride from Elroy to Camp
Douglas. This asphalt trail brings you through 12 1 /2 miles of beautiful
farmland and one 875’ tunnel.
The hub of these three trails is the Elroy Commons, which is a lovely
downtown park providing a trail shop where trail passes can be purchased,
along with souvenirs, snacks, and many other items. The Elroy Commons
is also a trail information center which offers restrooms with shower
facilities, parking, bike rentals, and a picnic area. If you are planning to
stay the night or the whole week, Elroy has camping available at Schultz
Park which is located 1 /2 mile south of the Elroy Commons, and just off of
the “400” State Trail. This campground offers tent camping, RV camping
with water and electric hookups, a swimming pool, playground, and a dump
station. Arrangements for camping at Schultz Park can be made at the Elroy
Commons.
Finley, Sprague,
& Mather
Finley, Sprague, & Mather of
Northern Juneau County may appear
small on a map but they are big on
adventure! While Finley and Sprague
border the Necedah National Wildlife
Refuge, Mather sits between the
refuge and the Meadow Valley State
Wildlife Area, in addition to the
excellent hunting and fishing offered,
the immense size and diversity of both
these properties provide some fine
opportunities for canoeing, kayaking,
hiking, berry picking, and observing
wildlife in a truly natural setting. Finley
is also home to the Hardwood Air-to-
Ground Weapons Range, which provides
training for combat aircrews, through
presentation of a variety of realistic
target arrays, for air-to-ground weapons
delivery. An open house is held every
two years for the public and affords
the opportunity to increase awareness
of the range and its activities and visitors
are welcome to observe activities during
operating hours. Events are held each year
in Finley, Sprague and Mather; at Josie’s
Hideaway and Wilderness Inn just north of
Necedah along Highway 80, some of the
activities include Pool tournaments, ATV
poker runs, and an annual, ‘Can’t afford to
go to Sturgis’ party, which is held the first
weekend in August.
juneau County
Voice • Internet • TV
LEMONWEIR
VALLEY
TELCOM
127 US Hwy. 12
PO Box 267
Camp Douglas
WI 54618
www.lynxnet.com
608-427-6515
Hidden Valleys u www.hiddenvalleys.com u
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