2001 Wisconsin State Trails Network Plan
Trails Network for Northeast Region

Numbers on this draft map refer to proposed trail segments described below it. Click a number to read the description.

This map is available in PDF format [PDF 383KB] for better printing.

Existing and Approved Trail Network for Northeast Region

Potential Network for Northeast Region

Northeast Region

This region has more than 275 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, additional frontage on Lake Winnebago which is Wisconsin’s largest inland lake and hundreds of miles of river and stream. Besides these dominant water features, the Door County peninsula has five state parks which add to the charm and popularity of this area. Five other state parks exist in the region, as well as Point Beach State Forest, the Nicolet National Forest, numerous county forests and community parks and 224 miles of established state trail.

Existing or authorized state trails in this region are the Ahnapee, Wiouwash, and Mascoutin Valley, portions of the Mountain-Bay and Wild Goose trails, the Friendship Trail (Forest Junction to Brillion), Fox River Trail (Green Bay to Greenleaf) and the Nicolet Trail (Pulaski to Wabeno).

Segment 1 - Northern Door County

The Door County Chamber of Commerce initiated this proposed segment to extend the Ahnapee State Trail off-road from Sturgeon Bay north to the tip of the county. Intended as a safe, scenic travel alternative to busy roads, this long-term objective will become more difficult to accomplish as more of the Door County landscape is developed. As an alternative, and to provide immediate assistance to potential trail users, the Chamber developed a map to help navigate in Northern Door County. State Highway 42 from Egg Harbor to Gills Rock is also listed in the Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan 2020 as a priority linkage, making this highway a good candidate for wider paved shoulders. The DOT, DNR and the Chamber of Commerce will work cooperatively to create this connection.

Segment 2 - Pulaski to Michigan (Northeast Region)

The Nicolet State Trail portion of this corridor passes through a mixture of farmland to mature woods in the Nicolet National Forest. The corridor intersects the Mountain Bay Trail at Pulaski. The potential exists for extending the trail further north into Forest County.

Most of the segments of this potential trail corridor in Shawano County were sold to private interests, but public support exists for conversion to a public trail. The DNR owns a few parcels of the corridor and land acquisition continues. The section of corridor in Oconto County, the Nicolet Trail, is being transferred from DOT ownership to the DNR. Oconto County will remain the operating partner.

Segment 3 - Stiles Junction to Gillett

The Stiles Junction to Gillett Trail would connect the Oconto, Stiles Junction, and Oconto Falls to the Nicolet State Trail described in Segment 2. Part of the corridor from Stiles Junction to the Oconto is DNR-owned and operated by the county. The remaining portion to the Nicolet State Trail connection can be best accomplished by placing signs on roads scheduled for widening and upgrading.

The Oconto to Stiles Junction portion of the trail parallels the Oconto River, a popular water for float trips and fishing. Users can float part of the river and safely hike or bike back on the trail to retrieve vehicles.

Segment 4 - Green Bay to Mississippi River (Northeast Region)

The city of Green Bay could serve as a hub for a number of potential trail routes. This segment is a 65-mile link from Green Bay to the Waupaca-Portage county line. It would connect with the Wiouwash Trail in New London (Outagamie County) and the Tomorrow River Trail west of Scandinavia. It is also an important link in a long-distance east/west corridor across the state. At present, the Waupaca County line to Scandinavia portion is DNR-owned with Waupaca County as the operating partner. The reach from Scandinavia to Manawa is being appraised for purchase, and the railroad owners recently announced the abandonment of the rail from Green Bay to New London. This trail would connect many population concentrations for both recreational and transportation benefits.

Segment 5 - Green Bay to Sturgeon Bay

The Ahnapee State Trail, an existing rail trail from Sturgeon Bay to Casco via Algoma, would complete a Green Bay to Sturgeon Bay link with an extension from Casco to Green Bay. The Ahnapee State Trail was the first state-owned trail in the region and has been greatly enhanced and expanded in the past five years. The trail now extends into the urban centers of Sturgeon Bay and Algoma.

Segment 6 - Green Bay to Sheboygan via Manitowoc (Northeast Region)

This trail corridor boasts of some of the most significant elevation changes in the region, offering beautiful vistas.

This rail trail would extend south from Green Bay to Sheboygan, mostly on abandoned rail corridor. Efforts are now under way to acquire a section from Denmark in Brown County to Rockwood in Manitowoc County that was abandoned several years ago. Recently, rail owners announced the proposed abandonment of the corridor from Manitowoc to Cleveland and efforts are under way to acquire this portion as well.

Segment 7 - Green Bay to Kiel (Northeast Region)

The northern portions of this corridor offers spectacular views of the Fox River, then continues on for many miles in the shadow of the Niagara Escarpment. Besides significant recreational opportunities, it will serve as a major non-motorized transportation corridor for workers in the Green Bay -Allouez-DePere metro area.

This first section of this trail to come into DNR ownership extends from Green Bay to Greenleaf. Recently, rail owners announced the proposed abandonment of the rail corridor from Greenleaf to Forest Junction. A multi-use trail between New Holstein and Kiel is under construction in the State Highway 57/32 right-of-way at the south end of the corridor. This trail could continue from Kiel south on rail corridor (see Segment 7 in the Southeast Region).

Segment 8 - Manitowoc to Fremont

This corridor includes an approved state trail segment between Brillion and Forest Junction, known as the Friendship Trail; a pending purchase in Menasha known as the Little Lake Butte des Morts connection; and a highway corridor trail from the town of Menasha to Fremont along newly reconstructed U.S. Highway 10. This trail connects with Segment 7 at Forest Junction. From Manitowoc to Brillion abandoned rail corridor exists as well as a potential roadway connection. From Forest Junction west to Menasha, the trail will consist of a mixture of abandoned rail, local roads and local public trail systems that are part of the Fox Valley Green Way Program. Moving through large, congested, urban areas is always a challenge and this trail's goal is to accomplish that in a safe and scenic manner.

Segment 9 - Oshkosh via Ripon to Oxford

Beginning in Oshkosh, this trail would connect to Ripon, Brandon, Markesan and Oxford. It would make use of a combination of rail corridor and local roads. This trail would connect or bisect the Wiouwash and Mascoutin Valley state trails. Several small urban centers exist that this trail can connect to as well as affording key junctions with two other state trails.

Segment 10 - Oshkosh to Fond du Lac

This trail would connect the Wiouwash Trail, which now ends in Oshkosh, to the Wild Goose and Mascoutin Valley trails near Fond du Lac. The rail corridor between Oshkosh and Fond du Lac went through abandonment several years ago, only to be reclaimed by the owners. Other possible connections might include old trolley right-of-ways and utility right-of-ways. This trail would become a significant alternative transportation corridor for workers in this part of the state.

Segment 11 - Berlin to Sheboygan (Northeast Region)

This segment on State Highway 23 right-of-way from Sheboygan to Greenbush is known as the Old Plank Road Trail. The DNR owns the Mascoutin Valley Trail portion, between Berlin and Fond du Lac, which is operated by county government. All but seven miles of this trail runs through abandoned rail corridor. The gap between Fond du Lac and Greenbush will probably be best accomplished along various roadways. This trail bisects key DNR wildlife areas and takes advantage of large highway right-of-way expanses.

Segment 27 - Kewaunee to Luxemburg

This segment will link with the trail from Green Bay to Sturgeon Bay. The owners have abandoned the rail corridor and the DNR is in the process of negotiating for the purchase of the land. This trail is considered to be one of the most scenic in the state.

Segment 54 - Green Bay to Marinette

This segment would connect Green Bay to Marinette and bisect Segment 3 in Oconto.

Segment 55 - Green Bay to Iron Mt., Michigan

This segment would connect Green Bay to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan near Iron Mountain, Michigan and bisect Segment 3 near Stiles Junction.

Segment 56 - Shawano to Crandon

The owners recently announced intentions to abandon this rail corridor. A key portion of the rail line, just outside of Shawano, was withheld from the current abandonment proposal. Much of the corridor proposed for abandonment lies within the Menominee Indian Reservation. As yet, no efforts have been made to determine if this corridor is of interest as a trail to the Menominee Nation.

Segment 57 - Fox Valley to Hortonville

This segment would connect the existing portion of the Wiouwash State Trail to the Fox Valley communities, including an important link over Little Lake Butte de Mortes.

Segment 58 - Appleton to Plover (Green Circle Trail)

This 60-mile-long segment will connect Appleton to the Green Circle Trail in Plover. From Appleton, this route would follow a rail corridor northwest through New London, south of Manawa, then to Odgensburg, Amherst Junction, then to Plover where it connects with the Green Circle Trail.

Segment 60 - Ripon to Oxford

Beginning in Ripon, this trail would follow rail corridor and roadways to Oxford. Heading south out of Ripon, the trail follows the rail line through Markesan, then west to Kingston, to northwest through Glen Oak and Packwaukee to end up in Oxford.

Segment 61 - Fond du Lac to Washington County

This segment of rail corridor would connect Fond du Lac with Washington County via the Fond du Lac area communities of Eden and Campbellsport. Currently, the portion of rail corridor between Eden and West Bend in Washington County has been abandoned and is being appraised for DNR purchase following significant public interest in the project.

2001 Wisconsin State Trails Network Plan

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