Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System
Great River State Trail

• A Wildlife Corridor
• Four Trails in One
• More Information

This 24-mile trail travels through prairies and backwaters of the upper Mississippi River valley. Built on an abandoned Chicago-Northwestern railroad line, the trail has a finely crushed limestone surface suitable for walking and bicycling for much of the year and snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

Great River State Trail map [PDF 229KB]

A 287-foot steel trestle crosses the Black River at Lytles Landing.
Department of Tourism Photo by RJ and Linda Miller

The trail passes through the river communities of Onalaska [exit DNR] and Trempealeau [exit DNR]. Accommodations and services are available year-round in both communities.

Near Trempealeau, there is direct access from the trail to Perrot State Park where camping, hiking trails, canoeing, and a nature center are available. Perrot State Park was a natural landmark for the Hopewell Native American culture, which built many mounds along the Mississippi River Valley. There is a mound observation deck along the trail near Trempealeau.

The trail is in Wisconsin's scenic Coulee Region, part of the Driftless Area that was untouched by glaciers during the last Ice Age. Visitors to the Great River trail will enjoy the changing wetlands of the Mississippi River backwaters, 500-foot bluffs, hardwood forests, unique sand prairies and oak savannahs. The Great River Trail Prairie and the Midway Railroad Prairie are state natural areas with direct access from the trail.

A Wildlife Corridor

The Great River trail is within a larger area called the Mississippi Flyway. Many species of birds including great blue herons, egrets [exit DNR], tundra swans, ducks, white pelicans and eagles use this flyway twice a year during their migrations. Local nesting birds such as the prothonotary warbler [exit DNR], Bell's vireo [exit DNR] and the sandhill crane draw bird watchers to this area year-round. The numerous songbirds and waterfowl found in the area make the trail a popular section of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail.

Two national fish and wildlife refuges are also along the trail:

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge [exit DNR]
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge [exit DNR]

Four Trails in One

Western Wisconsin has a unique network of four connected state trails that provides over 100 miles of continuous trail for users to enjoy. The Great River, La Crosse River, Elroy-Sparta, and the "400" state trails link together unique natural ecosystems, Native American cultural sites, railroad depots and tunnels, and communities which have evolved from railroad towns to tourist destinations.

Bike 4 Trails is a cooperative effort between trail staff, friends groups, chamber of commerce groups, and tourism officials along the four trails. Visit the Bike 4 Trails Web page [exit DNR] to get information about the trails, local accommodations and services, and maps of the individual trails as well as a large overview of the entire trail system.

More Information

A state trail pass is required for bicyclists 16 years and older. Annual and daily passes can be purchased from designated vendors along the trail, at the Onalaska Center for Commerce and Tourism and at Perrot State Park. Buy your pass before using the trail.

The Great River State Trail is designated as a recreational trail which allows hunting. The areas open for hunting include Midway to Trempealeau and Lehmen Road to the Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge. All hunting regulations and seasons apply.

Snowmobiling is a popular winter activity. The Great River trail is a part of both the La Crosse and Trempealeau county snowmobile trail systems.

Lytles Landing is a primitive canoe launch area along the Black River. Parking, water, and vault toilets are available.

For more information, ask:

Great River State Trail
W26247 Sullivan Road
PO Box 407
Trempealeau, WI 54661
(608) 534-6409