Elroy-Sparta State Trail
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(608) 337-4775
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 2
Partial closure Elroy-Sparta ST Norwalk to Wilton Closed (Oct. 26 - Dec. 31, 2026)Sections of the trail from Cty Hwy T west of Norwalk to Logan Rd east of Wilton will be closed Oct. 26 though Dec. 31, 2026 for bridge work. Reroutes… (more)
Sections of the trail from Cty Hwy T west of Norwalk to Logan Rd east of Wilton will be closed Oct. 26 though Dec. 31, 2026 for bridge work. Reroutes will be posted when areas are under construction. Follow marked detours and keep out of all closed areas. Impact: High.
Posted by the park 2026-10-13. Official alert
Weather Elroy-Sparta ST Tunnels Closed (Nov. 2026 to April 2027)The three tunnels on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail will close for the season on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. The tunnels will reopen May 1, 2027. During… (more)
The three tunnels on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail will close for the season on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. The tunnels will reopen May 1, 2027. During winter, snowmobile users may follow marked routes around the tunnels to connect to county trail systems. Impact: Low.
Posted by the park 2026-10-12. Official alert
Overview
Elroy-Sparta State Trail is a 629-acre trail in Monroe County, about 11 miles south of Tomah.
Visitors come for hunting in season and biking. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trails | The trail is open year-round. The trail is open year-round. The three tunnels on the trail are closed annually from Nov. 1 to April 30. | ||
Official wording
The trail is open year-round. The trail is open year-round. The three tunnels on the trail are closed annually from Nov. 1 to April 30.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets allowed on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet at all times and under control; loose pets may be seized. Property-specific pet areas/restrictions appear on park pages.
Statewide rule from Wisconsin's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, resident vs nonresident pricing: a vehicle admission pass is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas (daily $13 WI / $16 out-of-state; annual $28 / $50; rates effective Aug. 19, 2025). State trails use a per-person trail pass for certain uses. Heritage Hill SP charges a per-person admission instead.
Statewide fee rule from Wisconsin's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Wisconsin park passes
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (Wisconsin plates) — $28. All Wisconsin state parks, forests and recreation areas for 12 months Details
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (out-of-state plates) — $50. Same, nonresident vehicles Details
- 12-month pass, Wisconsin residents 65+ — $13. Resident senior vehicles Details
- 12-month reduced-rate pass (additional household vehicle) — $15.50 resident / $32.50 nonresident. Additional vehicles at the same household address; bought with a full-price pass Details
- Daily vehicle admission pass — $13 resident / $3 resident 65+ / $16 nonresident Details
From the Wisconsin state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campgrounds The address for the Sparta Campground is 9890 Imac Avenue. In Sparta, turn south on John Street. John Street turns into Igloo Road. After crossing under Interstate 90, turn left on Imac Avenue to the campground.
• Sparta walk-in campground map
The Elroy Campground is along Highway 71 near the intersection of Highway 80 in Elroy. An underpass allows campers to walk under Highway 71 and up a 100-yard asphalt road to the campground.
• Elroy walk-in campground map | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Two DNR campgrounds are available in season. Each campground offers campsites with a fire ring and picnic table. Hand pumps and vault toilets are available. No firewood is sold at these campgrounds and there are firewood rules to help prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Campsites are hike-in only and vehicles can be parked in adjacent lots. There is an open picnic shelter at the Elroy campground.
Campgrounds: The address for the Sparta Campground is 9890 Imac Avenue. In Sparta, turn south on John Street. John Street turns into Igloo Road. After crossing under Interstate 90, turn left on Imac Avenue to the campground.
- Sparta walk-in campground map
The Elroy Campground is along Highway 71 near the intersection of Highway 80 in Elroy. An underpass allows campers to walk under Highway 71 and up a 100-yard asphalt road to the campground.
- Elroy walk-in campground map
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BikingCampingHunting
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elroy-Sparta State Trail | 32.5 mi | — | Rail trail: YesCrushed limestone surface |
Trail descriptions from the park
- Rail trail: Yes
- Length: 32.5 miles
- Surface: Crushed limestone
- Counties: Monroe, Juneau
- Communities: Sparta, Norwalk, Wilton, Kendall, Elroy
Trail history and story map
Amenities
Camping
- Tent camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Nearest town
- Tomah — about 11 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 43.8376, -90.5596 (from PAD-US)
- Phone
- (608) 337-4775
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Kendall: The restored railroad depot in Kendall serves as the trail headquarters and has a railroad history museum with pictures and artifacts on display. Parking and trail passes are available. Kendall is between Elroy and Sparta, along State Highway 71. Sparta: The Sparta depot is at 111 Milwaukee Street, Sparta. Exit I-90 on State Highway 16/71 and go west about two miles to Water Street, then south about 0.6 miles to Milwaukee Street. A bridge over Interstate Highway 90 in Sparta connects the La Crosse River Trail to the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. Elroy: Exit I-90/94 on State Highway 82 and go west for about 12 miles. There is parking at the Elroy trailhead, where the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and the 400 State Trail connect. Norwalk and Wilton: State Highway 71 runs between Elroy and Sparta through both towns.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Wisconsin State Park System — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Wisconsin DNR 'Find a Park' directory (server-rendered Drupal view, ?page=0..5), filtered to /topic/parks/ property pages
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology