white river state trail - Elkhorn to dover, wi

White River State Trail is a 19-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail that follows a former rail corridor from Elkhorn (Walworth County), to Dover (Racine County), with a short gap in Burlington. There are 5 access points along the trail, which includes 12 miles of easy, level, crushed limestone. The section from Lyons to Springfield is open for horseback riding as well. Snowmobiling is a trail option in winter.
​
Highlights along the trail include scenic vistas, quaint towns, railroad trestles and bridges, farmlands, wetlands, wildflowers, and the dappled shade of trees lining the trail. ​

​My first visit to the trail was a quick walk through a portion of the trail beginning at Pedal & Cup, at 1722 WI-Hwy 120 (just north of Hwy 36). Here you will find the parking lot for the trail. Pedal & Cup has special weekend hours during the summer only. Be sure to check their Facebook page for more details. Short on time, I walked about a mile of the trail. But it was lovely!  The quickest way to see all of the trail is definitely on a bicycle, which those who wheeled past me on  my walk could attest. Though walking the trail can draw your attention to little seen details, like the scenic Ore Creek streaming by.  I hope to visit other sections of the trail in the months to come. In the meantime, photos from the Springfield access are featured below.
A peaceful scene along Ore Creek
​
​The trail is operated by Walworth and Racine counties and is within five miles of Lake Geneva and Big Foot Beach State Park.
Fees: Bicycles, Horseback, and Snowmobiles require a State Trail Pass ($5 per day, $25 per year), ages 16 and up.
Pedestrians do not require a trail pass.
​
Access Locations 

1) Trailhead across from AmeriGas
700 County Hwy H
Elkhorn, WI

2) Trailhead near intersection of County Hwy NN and Hunt Ridge Drive
County Road NN
Elkhorn, WI

3) Pedal & Cup Parking Lot
​1722 WI-120
Town of Springfield, WI

4) Town of Lyons
Trailhead located just south of Hwy 36
Lyons, WI

5) Spring Valley road
Trailhead located just south of Hwy 11 on Spring Valley Road
Burlington, WI
​
​For more information, click here and here and here.
Town of Springfield (1722 WI-120) Trailhead (at Pedal & Cup parking lot)