Red Cedar State Trail
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(715) 232-1242
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 3
Partial closure Red Cedar ST Depot Visitor Center Parking Lot Notice (Fall 2026)Construction on Hwy. 29 near the north trailhead of the Red Cedar State Trail will begin on Aug. 26 and continue through fall 2026. The Depot Visitor… (more)
Construction on Hwy. 29 near the north trailhead of the Red Cedar State Trail will begin on Aug. 26 and continue through fall 2026. The Depot Visitor Center will remain open, however, the parking lot will be closed to vehicle access. For more info, see: Impact: Moderate.
Posted by the park 2026-08-03. Official alert
Partial closure Red Cedar ST Mile Marker #1.5 to #3 Closed (November 2026)Work to replace a culvert on the Red Cedar Trail south of Menomonie will begin on Nov. 2, 2026 and continue for approx. 3 weeks. A 1.5-mile section… (more)
Work to replace a culvert on the Red Cedar Trail south of Menomonie will begin on Nov. 2, 2026 and continue for approx. 3 weeks. A 1.5-mile section of trail will be closed between markers 1.5 and 3. A town road can be used to detour around the closure. Impact: Moderate.
Posted by the park 2026-10-08. Official alert
Partial closure Red Cedar ST Junction with Chippewa River State Trail Notice (Fall 2026)A 12-mile section of the Chippewa River Trail from the junction with the Red Cedar Trail to Fuller Road will be resurfaced beginning Sept. 15, 2026.… (more)
A 12-mile section of the Chippewa River Trail from the junction with the Red Cedar Trail to Fuller Road will be resurfaced beginning Sept. 15, 2026. This section may be closed during construction. Work is tentatively scheduled to last through fall 2026. Impact: Low.
Posted by the park 2026-08-03. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 389 acres, Red Cedar State Trail lies in Dunn County, about 7 miles south of Menomonie.
The park supports cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, and hunting in season.
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).
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.
Pets
See the park’s wording
Please do not hike, snowshoe, bike or walk pets on this section.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
Canoeing and kayakingBikingWinter sportsCross-country skiingHuntingSnowmobiling
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Cedar State Trail | 14.5 mi | — | Rail trail: YesCrushed stone surface |
Trail descriptions from the park
- Rail trail: Yes
- Length: 14.5 miles
- Surface: Crushed stone
- Counties: Dunn
- Communities: Menomonie, Irvington, Downsville
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter biking: Menomonie to Downsville: In winter, seven miles of the Red Cedar State Trail are groomed for skiing from Menomonie to Downsville. Please do not hike, snowshoe, bike or walk pets on this section. These activities are permitted on the ungroomed section from Downsville to the intersection of the Chippewa River State Trail. Skiers age 16 or older need a state trail pass before using this groomed section of trail.
Downsville to Chippewa River State Trail: Winter bicyclists 16 years and older also need a state trail pass to use the trail south of Downsville.
Boating and paddling
The trail is ideal for a bike and paddle trip. Sections of this former rail corridor parallel the Red Cedar River. You can paddle downstream and then bike back to your starting point or vice versa.
Getting there
- Nearest town
- Menomonie — about 7 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 44.7865, -91.9295 (from PAD-US)
- Phone
- (715) 232-1242
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Menomonie: The depot building/visitor center along Highway 29 on the west side of Menomonie serves as the northern trailhead for the Red Cedar State Trail. Parking and trail passes are available. Irvington: Parking is available at the intersection of County Highway D and Paradise Valley Road. Downsville Parking is near the intersection of Highway 25 and County Highway C. The Empire in Pine Lumber Museum in Downsville traces the colorful Lumber Era of Dunn County and gives trail users a look into the area's history. The Chippewa River State Trail connects to the Red Cedar State Trail in the Dunnville Wildlife Area near the confluence of the Red Cedar and Chippewa rivers. Sandbars in this area offer access to swimming, fishing and picnicking. There is some parking in the Dunnville Wildlife Area near County Highway Y.
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