State Trail Pass
Wisconsin State Park System
Photo credit: Travel Wisconsin
A state trail pass is required for all people age 16 or older who bike, cross-country ski, horseback ride or inline skate on certain trails. A state trail pass is not required for walking or hiking. State trail passes can be purchased online, at individual properties, at DNR service centers or from state trail pass vendors.
Purchase a Wisconsin state trail pass online by selecting "Trail Pass" under "Product Type."
State Trail Pass Rates
| State Trail Pass Fees | Annual | Daily |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin resident, senior or nonresident | $25 | $5 |
Wisconsin state trail pass fees are the same for Wisconsin residents and seniors and for nonresidents. The annual pass is good for the calendar year, and the daily pass is good for the day of purchase. The 2025 annual state trail passes are now available for purchase and are valid through Dec. 31, 2025. Annual passes for 2024 are valid through Dec. 31, 2024.
A state trail pass is issued to the person and is non-transferable, meaning that it cannot be passed from person to person or shared with others. The customer information fields on the state trail pass must be filled out for the pass to be valid.
There's an additional $5 fee for anyone who fails to pay for admission before using the park, forest, trail or recreation area. If a visitor refuses or fails to buy a pass, a citation can be issued.
How to purchase state trail passes
Buy online: State trail passes can be purchased online by selecting "Trail Pass" under "Product Type." Passes can be purchased one at a time through the online service, or a combination of passes can be purchased in one transaction at a state park property.
Buy at a state park: Annual and daily state trail passes can be purchased at most Wisconsin State Park System properties via the following methods:
- In person at a property during office hours (credit cards, cash or checks accepted).
- An electronic sales kiosk is available at many properties from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily (credit cards accepted).
Buy at a DNR service center: State trail passes can be purchased in person at open DNR service centers.
Buy at a DNR affiliate: State trail passes can also be purchased from a state trail pass vendor or sub-vendor.
Trails that require a state trail pass
A state trail pass is required on specific trails that allow biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and inline skating. These trails are in state parks, forests, recreation areas and stand-alone state trails. Signs are posted at trailheads on the trails that require a state trail pass. County and local trails in Wisconsin may have their own fees, and state trail passes are not valid for those trails.
Please remember that all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests, and recreation areas must have a vehicle admission pass.
The state park, forest and recreation area trails that require a state trail pass are:
| Property Name | Bicycling (off-road) | Cross-Country Skiing | Horseback Riding | Inline Skating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River State Forest | Yes | Yes | Yes | -- |
| Blue Mound State Park | Yes | Yes | -- | -- |
| Brule River State Forest | -- | Yes | -- | -- |
| Flambeau River State Forest | No | Yes | -- | -- |
| Governor Dodge State Park | Yes | No | Yes | -- |
| Governor Knowles State Forest | -- | Yes | Yes | -- |
| Hartman Creek State Park | Yes | Yes | Yes | -- |
| Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area | -- | Yes | -- | -- |
| Lake Wissota State Park | No | No | Yes | -- |
| Lapham Peak Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest | Yes | Yes | Yes | -- |
| Mirror Lake State Park | No | Yes | -- | -- |
| Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest | Yes | Yes | -- | -- |
| Northern Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest | Yes | Yes | Yes | -- |
| Peninsula State Park | Yes | Yes | -- | -- |
| Perrot State Park | -- | Yes | -- | -- |
| Richard Bong State Recreation Area | Yes | No | Yes | -- |
| Southern Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest | Yes | Yes | Yes | -- |
| Wildcat Mountain State Park | -- | No | Yes | -- |
Not all state trails require a state trail pass to use the trail. The state trails that require a state trail pass are:
| Trail name | Bicycling | Cross-country skiing | Horseback riding | Inline skating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 State Trail | Yes | No | Yes | -- |
| Badger State Trail | Yes | No | -- | Yes |
| Bearskin State Trail | Yes | No | -- | -- |
| Buffalo River State Trail | Yes | No | Yes | -- |
| Capital City State Trail | Yes | No | -- | Yes |
| Chippewa River State Trail | Yes | No | -- | Yes |
| Elroy-Sparta State Trail | Yes | No | -- | -- |
| Fox River State Trail | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Gandy Dancer State Trail | Yes | No | -- | -- |
| Glacial Drumlin State Trail | Yes | No | -- | Yes |
| Great River State Trail | Yes | No | -- | -- |
| Great Sauk State Trail | Yes | No | -- | Yes |
| Hillsboro State Trail | Yes | No | -- | -- |
| La Crosse River State Trail | Yes | No | -- | -- |
| Military Ridge State Trail | Yes | No | -- | Yes |
| Mound View State Trail | Yes | No | -- | Yes |
| Mountain-Bay State Trail | Yes | No | -- | -- |
| Old Abe State Trail | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Pecatonica State Trail | Yes | No | Yes | -- |
| Red Cedar State Trail | Yes | Yes | -- | -- |
| Stower Seven Lakes State Trail | Yes | Yes | -- | -- |
| Sugar River State Trail | Yes | No | -- | Yes |
| Tomorrow River State Trail | Yes | No | Yes | -- |
| White River State Trail | Yes | No | Yes | -- |
State trail pass Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should I do if I want to use a trail but haven't received my online trail pass order?
Trail users must carry a valid state trail pass or proof of purchase with them while using the trails. State trail passes purchased online are delivered electronically. Users will be sent a digital pass rather than a physical pass for download into a mobile wallet. For more information about proof of purchase receipts, please see Admission Pass Receipts.
Why do specific trails require a state trail pass?
DNR staff selected these trails for various reasons, including the quality of experience they offer, their popularity, their maintenance costs and the DNR's ability to enforce the requirement in these locations.
Where does the state trail pass money go?
Money from the sale of state trail passes is deposited into the parks segregated account of the state Conservation Fund. The trail fee revenues are used to maintain and operate state trails, parks and recreation areas. For trails, these costs include dealing with erosion, trash removal, maintaining safe surfaces, trimming brush, removing fallen trees and law enforcement. Additional funds from ATV and snowmobile registration fees are allotted to trails that allow ATVs and snowmobiles.
Why don't snowmobilers, ATV riders, off-highway motorcycles and hikers need state trail passes?
Snowmobilers, all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycle riders pay for their trails through registration fees and gasoline taxes. Every state trail that allows ATV or snowmobile use receives some of this money. Wisconsin law requires those who use Wisconsin ATV, OHM or snowmobile trails to display either Wisconsin registration or an ATV or snowmobile trail pass. ATV and snowmobile trail passes differ from state trail passes and are available through the DNR's licensing system.
Generally, bike, ski and horse trails are more expensive to maintain than hiking trails. However, the exemption for pedestrians (which includes snowshoers) enables everyone to access Wisconsin trails.
What if I don't have a state trail pass?
Trail users must purchase their state trail pass before using the trail. State trail passes can be purchased online 24 hours a day for immediate use. Electronic sales kiosks may also be available to pay trail pass fees when the property office is closed. There's an additional $5 fee for anyone who fails to pay for admission before using the park, forest, trail or recreation area. If a visitor refuses or fails to buy a pass, a citation can be issued.
How long has there been a state trail pass?
Since January 1994, the state trail pass has been required for specific off-road (mountain) bike, horse, cross-country ski and inline skate trails. Cyclists on railroad-grade trails have been charged a fee since 1978.
Who created the state trail pass?
Wisconsin State Statute 27.01(8) authorizes the establishment of the state trail pass. With statutory authority, the current state trail pass was approved by the Natural Resources Board in 1993 with the support of many user groups. The pass was created to raise much-needed trail maintenance funds. The state trail pass complies with the State Trails Strategic Plan, completed in 1992 after comments from user group leaders and many other people around the state. Also, the Department of Natural Resources conducted surveys and focus group discussions with trail users and consulted the State Trails Council before recommending the fees. Wisconsin State Statute 27.01(8)(c) establishes the cost of the state trail pass.
How can I sell state trail passes?
State trail pass vendors offer a valuable service for trail users. The state trail pass allows users to experience and enjoy many miles of DNR trails throughout Wisconsin.
If you are interested in selling state trail passes, please contact your local DNR property manager. There may be a local organization, such as a friends group or the property itself, for which you can become a sub-vendor of state trail passes. If that is not the case, you will be referred to the Wisconsin State Trail Pass Orders email, where you will be set up as a direct vendor of state trail passes.
To become a vendor of state trail passes, you will need to sign the appropriate state trail pass vendor agreement (provided to you by the DNR), read the Wisconsin State Trail Pass Vendor Handbook and indicate how many annual passes and how many daily passes you would like in your initial pass shipment (you do not have to sell daily passes if you would prefer not to).
The annual passes come in books of 10, and the daily passes come in books of 25.