Wild Goose State Trail
Wild Goose State Trail is a 34-mile long trail in Fond du Lac County. The trail starts at the head of Wild Cat Den Road, 2 miles northwest of Campbellsport and ends near Manitowoc in Alvin Township, 1 mile northeast of New Holstein.
Overall, this trail provides a pleasant experience for walkers, joggers, bikers and cross-country skiers, especially during the fall when nature paints the woodlands with seasonal colors. There are also several access points spaced about every mile where users can park their vehicles at local businesses or public parking lots all provided
The Wild Goose Trail is part of the Wisconsin State Trails System managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It was built on an abandoned C&NW RR line originally built in 1905 between Campbellsport and Reedsville plus with branch lines to Stiles Junction in Fond du Lac County and to Swan Creek which connected back to Green Bay via Smalley's Switch (a switchback). Railroad service ended here in 1985 when Union Pacific abandoned the tracks and removed their ties from this area.
The Wild Goose Trail is open to all non-motorized uses including hiking, biking, cross country skiing (winter), and snowshoeing (winter). The surface of the trail is crushed limestone from Campbellsport to north of Winer Road south of Reedsville. In Fond du Lac County it is routed on an old railroad bed that has been converted into a gravel surfaced multi-use path. From North Winer Rd., the trail surface continues as an unpaved dirt surface in northern Fond du Lac County.
Overall, this trail provides a pleasant experience for walkers, joggers, bikers and cross-country skiers, especially during the fall when nature paints the woodlands with seasonal colors. There are also several access points spaced about every mile where users can park their vehicles at local businesses or public parking lots all provided
The Wild Goose Trail is part of the Wisconsin State Trails System managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It was built on an abandoned C&NW RR line originally built in 1905 between Campbellsport and Reedsville plus with branch lines to Stiles Junction in Fond du Lac County and to Swan Creek which connected back to Green Bay via Smalley's Switch (a switchback). Railroad service ended here in 1985 when Union Pacific abandoned the tracks and removed their ties from this area.
The Wild Goose Trail is open to all non-motorized uses including hiking, biking, cross country skiing (winter), and snowshoeing (winter). The surface of the trail is crushed limestone from Campbellsport to north of Winer Road south of Reedsville. In Fond du Lac County it is routed on an old railroad bed that has been converted into a gravel surfaced multi-use path. From North Winer Rd., the trail surface continues as an unpaved dirt surface in northern Fond du Lac County.