Rock River Trail Initiative

The Mechanics of Establishing and Promoting a System of Recreational Trails

Presentation to 3rd Annual Fox River Summit Burlington, Wisconsin March 20, 2015 The Rock River – 320 miles in length from headwaters in south central Wisconsin to the confluence with the Mississippi River at Rock Island, Ill., through two states, eleven counties and 37 cities and villages. The goal of the Initiative is to establish the Rock River and its communities as a recreational and leisure destination with national reach. This goal will be achieved by developing, maintaining and promoting a system of recreational trails on and along the Rock River through Wisconsin and Illinois in the spirit of the tagline of the Initiative:

“Drive it. Hike it. Bike it. Kayak it. Canoe it.” The Four Legs of the Rock River Trail Stool Timeline:

Presentation of the plans of the Initiative to the Wisconsin Governor’s State Trails Council, Stevens Point, July 2011.

Presentation of the plans of the Initiative to the Illinois Greenways and Trails Council, Springfield, January 2012.

Approval of the Rock River Water Trail Inventory, Analysis and Plan by the Illinois and Wisconsin departments of natural resources, August 2012.

Designation of the Rock River Water Trail into the National Water Trails System by the US Department of the Interior and the National Park Service in March 2013.

State legislative designation of the Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route by the Illinois General Assembly in May 2013 and by the Wisconsin Legislature in July 2013.

Final approval of the alignments of the Rock River Trail Bike Route in February 2015.

Final selection of trails and recreation paths within the river corridor for the Rock River Trail Hiking Route in March 2015.

Rock River Water Trail

Eleven sections of the Rock River Water Trail. Rock River Water Trail -- East Branch

Through Horicon Marsh to Horicon Section B

Rock River Water Trail Access Inventory and Description for each Section

Northern Water Trail Section 7 Miles (Fond du Lac and Dodge counties)

The South Branch of the Rock River flows through Waupun, an easy travel in the City of Statues during normal water levels. The river is narrow and shallow in places. Enjoy the famous End of the Trail statue at Shaler Park near the Waupun Dam and Harris Mill Park. The South Branch joins the West Branch to form the main river stem near STH 49. The river then flows south through rural and wilderness landscapes to the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. Take out at the Wild Goose State Trail bridge near East Waupun Road or return to STH 49 wayside. The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge lies just beyond the Wild Goose State Trail bridge and is closed to the public. After take-out at either the Wild Goose State Trail bridge or at the STH 49 wayside, the water trail can be accessed downstream at two sites: (1) Burnett Ditch boat landing on the west side of the Horicon Marsh near the community of Burnett, and (2) Greenhead Landing on the East Branch of the river at the eastern edge of the Horicon Marsh 4 miles downstream of the Village of Kekoskee. Both access sites enter the state portion of the Horicon Marsh, which is open to paddlers.

Length of Segment Segment Access Sites Segment Skill Level Type Waupun County Park 2 miles Gateway Urban 4 to Harris Mill Park To Hwy 49 Roadside 4 miles Recreational Rural 2 Launch To Federal Wildlife 1 mile Recreational Wilderness 1 Refuge The Rock River Water Trail is the first water trail in Wisconsin and Illinois to be designated into the National Water Trails System by the US Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.

March 11, 2013

Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route

The road route is a total distance of 320 miles from Sunset Marina in Rock Island, Ill. at the Mississippi River to trailheads in the headwaters at Waupun County Park, Waupun, Wis. and Rivers Edge Park, Theresa, Wis. Legislative action by the Wisconsin Legislature and the Illinois General Assembly to establish the Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route Signing into law 2013 Wisconsin Act 30 designating the Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route. Governor’s Office at the State Capitol, July 5, 2013 Signing of the logo sign for the Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route by the Illinois Governor. Illinois State Capitol, Governor’s Office, December 4, 2013 Logo sign of the Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route signed by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

Eleven County Maps of the Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route. The Rock River Trail Bike Route is 300 miles in length on a continuous connected alignment of off-road trails and paths with safe and suitable on-road streets and highways from Sunset Marina at the Mississippi River in Rock Island, Ill. to trailheads at Waupun County Park, Waupun, Wis. and Rivers Edge Park, Theresa, Wis.

Final alignments were approved February 4, 2015. Rock River Trail Bike Route From the Illinois-Wisconsin state line at Beloit, Wis. to Edgerton, Wis. along the River of the Heartland. Mileage - 32.7 miles Cumulative mileage from the Mississippi River - 191.8 miles

GO DIR ON MILES TOTAL Str N-E Water Street Bike Path at Shirland Ave in Beloit, Wis. 0.3 0.3 Str E-N Mill St 0.1 0.4 R E Broad St 0.1 0.5 L N State St 0.1 0.6 Str N Bike Path -near bank and through Riverside Park 1.6 2.2 L SW Henry Ave - cross river bridge 0.3 2.5 Str W Maple Ave 0.0 2.5 R N Shore Dr 1.1 3.6 L W Millar Dr 0.2 3.8 R N S Afton Rd - on-road bike lane 2.4 6.2 R E W Walters Rd 0.7 6.9 L N S Duggan Rd 2.7 9.6 Str W Bass Creek Rd 0.7 10.3 R N Afton Rd (CTH "D") - on-road bike lane 2.5 12.8 R E Tripp Rd 0.2 13.0 L N-NE Peace Trail Bike Path to Janesville, Wis. 4.5 17.5 Str E Riverside St extension of Peace Trail to Ice Age Trail 0.1 17.6 Ice Age Trail - connection with Ice Age National Scenic L NW-N 2.8 20.4 Trail Str N Parkside Dr - R for optional loop through Riverside Park 0.1 20.5 L NW Edge Hill Dr 0.2 20.7 L SW Golf Course Rd 0.1 20.8 R NW N Washington St (CTH "E") 1.8 22.6 R N Hackbarth Rd 0.2 22.8 R E US 14 - caution when crossing river bridge 0.4 23.2 L N-NW N River Rd 3.9 27.1 R E W Miles Rd 0.5 27.6 Cue sheets and GPS maps for L N Becker Rd 0.3 27.9 Str N CTH "F" to Indianford 2.1 30.0 L W CTH "M" - cross river bridge at Indianford Dam 0.2 30.2 each of the eight sections of Travelers continuing to Milton, Wis. and north to Watertown, Wis. should turn right (east) on CTH "M" and use the Edgerton, Wis. to Watertown, Wis. cue sheet. the Rock River Trail Bike R N-NE CTH "F" 1.8 32.0 Str NE S Main St 0.4 32.4 Route. L NE S Main St to Fulton St in downtown Edgerton, Wis.  0.3 32.7

Rock River Trail Hiking Route is a collection of premier off- road hiking trails and paths within the Rock River corridor complete with maps and user information. Promotion and Marketing of the Rock River Trail to establish the Rock River and its communities as a recreation and leisure destination with national reach. “Drive it. Hike it. Bike it. Kayak it. Canoe it.” “A River of Opportunities for All Interests!”

Thank you!

Greg Farnham, Coordinator Rock River Trail Initiative