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Wisconsin is famous for its rail-trails and deservedly so. The Elroy-Sparta Trail was the granddaddy of them all and the successful blueprint for every one that has followed nationwide.
Today, there are more than 36 state recreational trails in Wisconsin, the majority of which were originally built as railroad rights-of-way. Now that the tracks are gone, these corridors function as recreational routes for snowmobilers, in winter, and hikers and bikers, in summer. These rail-trails are an integral part of the state's snowmobile trail network, which many claim is the best in the nation in terms of coverage and total miles.
In Southern Wisconsin, the Glacial Drumlin State Trail is a premier rail-trail. This popular east-west route, once part of the Chicago & North Western Railway, connects Waukesha, a Western Milwaukee suburb, with Cottage Grove. There are nearly 20 bridges over that distance, three being major spans.
The first 12 miles, from Waukesha to Dousman, are paved and off limits to snowmobiles. So, for sledders, the fun begins near milepost 8 in the town of Wales, where Mickle Road crosses the trail by Saxe's restaurant, along US 18, just west of state Hwy. 83. Saxe's large parking lot makes this a popular jumping-off point for anyone wanting to get onto the trail network, especially those from Milwaukee, or its suburbs. Saxe's also is one of the best area dining spots, so come hungry.
Sledders who wish to park in the Saxe's lot are asked to stop inside for a $5 permit, which later becomes a $5 coupon for food or drinks. Saxe's is one of the best area dining spots too, making parking a good value. Note though that on Fridays and Saturdays, those with trailers are asked to leave the lot by 4 p.m., to make way for the dinner crowd.
For those setting off from Saxe's, the first several miles are atypical for a rail-trail. That's because the main trail is paved and off-limits. No problem though, because the snowmobile trail runs alongside the embankment.
When this segment was paved in 2000, it appeared that valuable trail miles might be lost, as had already occurred on the section from Waukesha to Wales. Fortunately, due to the imagination and cooperation of Harold Butschke (Waukesha County's director from the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs) and Paul Sandgren (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources administrator of the Glacial Drumlin State Trail), this side-by-side solution was implemented.
Since the railroad right of way was 100 feet wide and the embankment took up only a part of that, there was sufficient space to put the snowmobile route alongside the paved trail.
Immediately after departure, riders will notice a huge hill just a mile to the north. This is Lapham Peak, the highest point in the county. Descending from the peak is the Ice Age Trail, which joins the Glacial Drumlin Trail for just over a mile before splitting off and heading toward the southern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.
The first several miles are over gently rolling terrain, with some short segments alongside US 18, which parallels the trail. At Henrietta Lake, the trail detours north, bypassing the main campus of Lad Lake School before rejoining the original railroad route on the outskirts of Dousman, where it crosses state Hwy. 67. A gas station there with a large parking lot is another good starting spot where sledders are welcome.
The ride through town is alongside the paved trail, which is customarily plowed clean to keep sleds off it. At Main Street, there are several nearby places to eat and drink, making this a popular stop. At Utica Road on the west edge of town, the pavement ends and sleds are routed onto the main trail, which is surfaced with crushed limestone beneath the snow.
West of Dousman, the trail passes the Badger Kart Club's racetrack, which is dormant in the winter but abuzz every Sunday in summer. From here westward, most of the terrain is gently rolling agricultural land. The 6-mile stretch between Dousman and Sullivan is a long, mostly straight segment with just a couple of bends and two road crossings, making for fast running. After Dousman, the trail goes across and along the Bark River before that waterway veers to the south just before the Drumlin Trail enters Jefferson County.
Sullivan welcomes snowmobilers with several establishments near the trail offering food, beverages and fuel. Trails north and south out of town offer the first options for wider exploration, giving way to the full statewide network. The southern route to Palmyra provides access to the Kettle Moraine State Forest's southern unit and is a particularly nice ride.
Continuing west to Helenville, the trail parallels and then crosses US 18 before reaching that sleepy little burg. Here, there are additional trails to the north and south, and more alternatives, including the possibility of loops. For those who are hungry, the Wingin' It Bar & Grill provides a convenient and friendly place to stop for grub.
At Jefferson, the marked snowmobile route deviates from the railbed to bypass a still-active railroad interchange, crossing some farm fields and road ditches before returning to the abandoned railroad grade. Then the trail crosses the Rock River on an elevated bridge, with the approach on the eastern shore offering access to the river. Some winters, the Rock freezes solid and offers a frozen highway all the way north to Watertown, about a dozen miles away - other years it does not. Be careful!
Just two and a half miles further west, another impressive former railroad bridge greets riders, this one spanning the Crawfish River. A mid-bridge marker explains the history of the ancient peoples who once inhabited the area - a group that left behind scores of burial mounds, typified by those at nearby Aztalan State Park.
After another half dozen miles, the trail passes through the town of Lake Mills, with its well-preserved depot that is now a trail office. On the town's western edge, the Drumlin Trail passes Rock Lake and a scenic section with portions of the lake on each side. A "turtle crossing" sign warns trail users to be on the lookout for those reptiles, who like to cross the trail in May and June, but not in winter.
Just beyond, a 200-yard long bridge helps riders over a large wetland before sending them off through agricultural land. This segment is in Dane County, with several trail junctions offering options, both north and south. During my own explorations, I was able to take a nice excursion southwest to Lake Koshkonong, a large lake off the Rock River.
The final trail segment is the last 15 miles through the hamlet of London and the town of Deerfield, ending with the run into Cottage Grove, the western terminus of the trail at milepost 52. Cottage Grove is a bedroom community for Madison, the state capital, and its growth is evident by the number of new homes on each side of the trail on the way into town. The trailhead and parking area is in the midst of the modest downtown, with two restaurant-taverns in proximity to refill empty stomachs. With enough space for loading and unloading trailers, it's a good place to start or end a ride.
The snowmobilers' 44-mile portion of the Glacial Drumlin Trail is an easy but interesting ride, made even better by the trail grooming of several clubs. Besides being a good east-west snowmobile thoroughfare, the trail offers access to many other routes in Waukesha, Jefferson and Dane Counties, making it an invaluable part of the regional network. Best of all, it's only one of many such trails that crisscross the Badger State, enhancing a rider's snowmobiling explorations.
For a Glacial Drumlin trail map, go online to
www.glacialdrumlin.com/maps/bigmainmap.pdf.