¬ Wildcat Mountain State Park The Visitor ¬ÊMill Bluff State Park ¬ÊThe Elroy-Sparta StateTrail ¬ÊThe “400” State Trail ¬ÊThe La Crosse River State Trail ¬ÊThe Kickapoo Valley Reserve 400 TRAIL: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS WZDVWKHÀQDOOLQNLQZKDWZRXOGEHFRPHPRUHWKDQ I100 miles of off-road biking stretching from Reeds- burg to north of Trempealeau. In 1993, the rail line between Reedsburg and Elroy had been abandoned for nearly three decades. Weeds and junk accumulated along a path where once sleek and powerful engines raced passengers between Chicago and Minneapolis. Opened in 1873, the Madison extension, as it was known, was the Chicago and Northwestern railway’s rush job to link Chicago to the milling town of Min- QHDSROLVDQGXOWLPDWHO\WRWKHZKHDWÀHOGVRIWKH3ODLQV Eager to beat its competitors, the company was forced WRFKRRVHDURXWHWKURXJK:LVFRQVLQ·VPRVWGLIÀFXOW topography. To traverse a section of line between Elroy and Sparta, the Chicago and Northwestern built three tun- nels. Later, in 1967, that 32-mile section opened as :LVFRQVLQ·VÀUVWUDLOVWRWUDLOVFRQYHUVLRQ7ZRPRUH sections, the La Crosse River Trail and the Great River Trail, were added later. The section from Reedsburg to Elroy was far less FKDOOHQJLQJIRUWKHUDLOEXLOGHUVDQGZDVÀQLVKHGLQ short order, compared with the Elroy-Sparta section. Yet it too was troubled, as tracks that had been installed in winter sank into the spring mush and had to be rebuilt after the seasonal thaw. Ron Nelson, manager at Wildcat Mountain State In the Friends of the 400 Trail photography contest, Audrey Ogden received the $100 grand Park in the 1990s, saw the potential in adding this prize for her photo depicting wildlife on the 400 State Trail. section of trail, which would provide a wide array of opportunities for viewing many species unique to ZHWODQGV,Q-XQHWKH6WDWH7UDLORIÀFLDOO\ From the very beginning, Nelson worked with a riding the trail have a 7-mile, approximately 40-minute opened. group of local residents interested in developing the trail. ride to La Valle) Packed limestone screenings and bridges with That group ultimately formed the Friends of the 400 ²DP — La Valle festivities (those riding SODQNHGÁRRUVSURYLGHDVPRRWKELNe-riding surface. Trail. Two representatives from each town on the trail the trail have a 7-mile, approximately 40-minute ride Wetlands, sandstone bluffs, rolling croplands and pas- sit on the management board and continue to improve to Wonewoc) tures are just a few of the sights that visitors enjoy on and promote the trail, using funds from the sale of trail ²SP — Wonewoc festivities (those rid- the 400 Trail. Characterized by many Baraboo River ing the trail have a 4-mile, approximately 20-minute passes and souvenirs. crossings, the entire length of the trail follows the river ride to Union Center) SSS valley. Snowmobilers use the trail in the winter months, ²SP— Union Center festivities (those plus a unique feature of the 400 Trail is a 7-mile horse 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION riding the trail have a 4-mile, approximately 20-minute trail that parallels the bike trail and stretches from Saturday, June 8 ride to Elroy) Wonewoc to La Valle. ²DP — Reedsburg festivities (those ²SP — Elroy festivities INDEX A message from Wildcat Mountain Wildcat Mountain Wildcat campground map Page 3 State Park Work Unit staff State Park Work Unit Horsetrail campground Page 6 P.O. Box 99 Emergency info (WM) Page 7 E13660 State Hwy. 33 “The Visitor” you are reading aims reference or pass it to a friend. Services and supplies Page 8 Ontario, WI 54651 to answer your most commonly asked The State Park & Trails employees KVR canoe map Page 9 http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/ questions about the park and trails. If are a dedicated bunch! The Wisconsin SDUNVVSHFLÀFZLOGFDW Bike trail maps Page 10 you have other questions or comments, State Parks’ mission is to provide the (608) 337-4775 Wildcat trail map Page 11 ask the staff out in the park, on the highest-quality state-park experience, Wisconsin Explorer Page 13 SSS WUDLORUDWWKHSDUNRIÀFH resource stewardship and service. KVR archeological sites Page 14 THE KICKAPOO VALLEY “The Visitor” is produced and Help us maintain these precious areas Severe-weather info Page 15 RESERVE is jointly managed by distributed free of charge through the for your visits and for the future. Let us KVR horseback riding Page 15 the state Department of Tourism County Line, a community newspaper NQRZKRZZH·UHGRLQJE\ÀOOLQJRXWD and the Ho-Chunk Nation. To learn Exploring rails-to-trails Page 16 serving Norwalk, Ontario, Kendall Guest Comment Card. Your thoughts more about the Kickapoo Valley Mill Bluff State Park Page 17 and Elroy. Please don’t throw away help us make the most of your experi- Reserve, call (608) 625-2960 or go to Emergency info (MB) Page 18 “The Visitor”; take it home for future ence in state parks! http://kvr.state.wi.us/home/. State park fees Page 19 Page 2 THE VISITOR 2013 Wildcat Mountain State Park Work Unit a blanket of bluebells cultural events Ho-Chunk Nation members pe- riodically offer cultural events at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. The State of Wisconsin and Ho-Chunk Nation jointly man- In the spring, expanses of bluebells are a visual treat at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. age the property. Wagon In Your Ont We are tch ari Hi o the Gateway to the Kickapoo Valley Join us all summer for: Ë Canoeing Ë Biking Celebrate in Ontario Ë Hiking ËFishing July 3-5 ËHorseback Riding Tractor Pull June 30 Wildcat Mountain State Park and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Horse & Pony Pull May 25 are in our backyard For more information: h! p://ontariowi.com Village of Ontario P.O. Box 66 Ontario, WI 54651 Phone (608) 337-4381, Fax (608) 337-4328 E-mail: [email protected] Thank you for visiting Wisconsin State Parks! Wildcat Mountain State Park Work Unit THE VISITOR 2013 Page 3 HUNTING AND TRAPPING IN WISCONSIN STATE PARKS The Sporting Heritage Act (Act 168) was under water may be used in state parks. added in April 2012. It included a variety of Act 168 encourages involvement with state Hunters and trappers can enter a state measures to encourage more people to be- park one hour prior to the daily hunting come involved with Wisconsin’s longstanding WUDGLWLRQVRIKXQWLQJÀVKLQJDQGWUDSSLQJ and trapping starting times. traditions of huntingÀVKLQJDQGWUDSSLQJ grounds, beaches and certain designated The Natural Resources Board re- Before passage of Act 168, many state Among other things, Act 168 provided trails. The act authorized the State Natural stricted hunting and trapping on state park properties were already open for deer first-time hunters, anglers and trappers Resources Board to close additional areas park properties from Nov. 15 through hunting seasons, and some also were open for discounts on licenses; provided incentives for safety reasons or to protect unique Dec. 15 and from April 1 through the spring turkey hunting. The DNR has an ex- for people who recruit others into buying ecosystems. The hunting time frame for Tuesday nearest May 3 for the open tensive hunter safety program, and there has licenses; and increased safety education op- state parks established by the Natural seasons established for different game been an excellent safety record for the hunts portunities. It also expanded hunting oppor- Resources Board coincides with periods species. In addition, hunting with legal that have previously taken place on state park WXQLWLHVDQGDOORZHGWUDSSLQJIRUWKHÀUVWWLPH of lower visitor use of state parks. archery methods is allowed from Dec. 15 properties. During open hunting seasons, all on Wisconsin state park system properties. Maps indicating which areas of each through the Sunday nearest Jan. 6. visitors are encouraged to wear blaze orange The act allowed the Department of park are open and closed to hunting will Trapping is allowed in all areas open or other brightly colored clothing. Natural Resources to prohibit hunting and be posted at the parks, will be available at to hunting, but it is not allowed within 100 For more information, visit the DNR trapping within 100 yards of designated- WKHSDUNRIÀFHDQGDUHDYDLODEOHRQOLQHDW yards of any designated trail. Only traps website (dnr.wi.gov) and search keywords use areas, such as picnic areas, camp- http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/hunt/. incapable of catching pets or those placed “hunting state parks.” :LOGFDWKDVGLYHUVHÁRUDDQGIDXQD WILDCAT MOUNTAIN STATE PARK FAMILY CAMPGROUND A picnic area at Wildcat Mountain’s upper park is a relaxing spot to watch wildlife. Wildcat Mountain State Park provides bluebird houses. Bluebirds begin taking habitat for a variety of animals, birds and residence in March and may raise two plants. Trails and overlooks give visitors sets of young over the summer. the opportunity to enter their habitat and Wildcat Mountain, along with the possibly spot a few. Kickapoo Valley Reserve, has been Mammals recognized as a National Audubon White tail deer, squirrels, raccoons, Society Important Bird Area. An Im- skunks and opossum are common. You portant Bird Area is a site that provides may also see thirteen-lined ground squir- essential habitat to one or more species rels, red and grey foxes, coyotes and of breeding or non-breeding birds. The mink. River otters and muskrats make site provides habitat for more than 100 their homes along the river banks. species of breeding birds. Among them Amphibians & Reptiles are species considered either threatened Northern spring peepers are one of or endangered, such as the Kentucky WKHÀUVWIURJVWREHJLQVLQJLQJLQVSULQJ warbler, Louisiana waterthrush, acadian Along with chorus and bullfrogs, they Á\FDWFKHUZRRGWKUXVKFHUXOHDQZDUEOHU put on their annual spring symphony in and the worm-eating warbler. Thousands low-lying areas. All frogs require water of landbirds migrate through in both for breeding. Other common species are fall and spring, and about 25 percent of the tree frog, leopard frog, wood frog and the state’s over-wintering population of American toad.