La Crosse River State Trail
- Status
- Status not posted
- 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
Overview
Covering about 326 acres, La Crosse River State Trail lies in La Crosse County, in Bangor.
Things to do include 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The park’s wording doesn’t give clock times — see the official wording below. | |||
Official wording
The trail is open year-round.
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
There is a DNR campground in Sparta that has non-reservable sites with a self-registration station available to campers for camp fees. The campground offers campsites with a fire ring and picnic table. Hand pumps and pit 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 walk-in only, and vehicles can be parked in adjacent lots. The address is 9890 Imac Ave. 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
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingBiking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse River State Trail | 22 mi | — | Rail trail: YesCrushed limestone surface |
Trail descriptions from the park
• Rail trail: Yes • Length: 22 Miles • Surface: Crushed limestone • Counties: La Crosse, Monroe • Communities: La Crosse, West Salem, Bangor, Rockland, Sparta
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
- Bangor
- Coordinates
- 43.9020, -90.9825 (from PAD-US)
- Phone
- (608) 337-4775
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Sparta: The 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. The Sparta Depot serves as trail headquarters. A bridge over Interstate Highway 90 in Sparta connects the La Crosse River Trail to the Elroy-Sparta State Trail on the east end. Bangor: Exit I-90 on State Highway 162 and go north about 0.3 miles. Medary: Trailhead is about a mile east of North La Crosse. Exit I-90 on State Highway 16 and go south about 1.5 miles to County Highway B, then east about 0.3 miles. A bridge over the active rail line at Medary connects the La Crosse River State Trail to the Great River State Trail to the north.
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