Mountain-Bay State Trail
The Mountain-Bay State Trail is an 83-mile state-designated rail trail in Brown, Marathon, and Shawano Counties in Wisconsin. The trail is the longest rail trail in the state.[1]
The trail is named for the two geological features at either end of the trail: Green Bay and Rib Mountain.[2]
Route
For much of the route, the trail roughly parallels Wisconsin Highway 29. The trail begins on Lakeview Dr. in Green Bay, Wisconsin (44°33′54″N 88°03′53″W), and travels northwest, where it ends in Weston, Wisconsin (44°54′25″N 89°33′06″W). There is a gap in the trail in Shawano, Wisconsin, where trail users must use local roads in order to cross the Wolf River.[2] The trail is 83 miles long, and is made of crushed stone.[2]
Access
The trail is open to walkers, joggers, bicyclists in the summer, and snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in the winter. Horseback riding is permitted in the Shawano County section, but not in the Brown or Marathon County sections.[2]
The trail is free to walk or run, but a trail pass must be purchased in order to bike the trail, which may be purchased at several self-registration stations along the trail.[3]
History
The trail was first created in 1996.[1] It uses an abandoned rail line from the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company.[1]
References
- Dan Richter (June 4, 2015). "Mountain-Bay State Trail a tour of the outdoors". Wausau Daily Herald. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
- "Mountain-Bay State Trail". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
- "FAQ". Friends of Mountain-Bay State Trail. Retrieved August 15, 2016.