Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System
White River State Trail

Eleven miles of this new state trail between Elkhorn and Spring Valley Road near the Walworth-Racine county line just west of Burlington. are open to walking, biking, and snowmobiling. The 2-mile stretch between Springfield and Lyons is open to horseback riding.

White River State Trail Map [PDF 310KB]

A broad valley seen from trail

A scene from the White River State Trail.
DNR Photo by Bonnie Gruber

The trail goes past numerous bridges, scenic vistas, quaint towns, farmlands, and wetlands. It goes through the historic village of Lyons and within 5 miles of Lake Geneva and Big Foot Beach State Park. The trail is operated by Walworth County and has a crushed limestone surface.

The trail follows a former railroad bed and is part of a potential future 45-mile trail between the City of Racine and the Village of Darien in Walworth County.

Bicyclists and horseback riders age 16 and older must have a state trail pass.

Things to See in the Area

Old grain elevator
An old grain elevator near the trail in Springfield.
DNR Photo by Bonnie Gruber

Lyons Town Hall, Downtown Lyons, a restored historical building built in 1877.

Webster House, Elkhorn. (262) 723-4248 or (262) 723-5788, a Greek-revival style cottage built in 1836. It served as the federal land grant office before Wisconsin became a state. Open May 1 - September 30, daily Thursday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

How to Get There

The western end of trail is at County Highway H south of the Interstate 43 and US Highway 12 interchange in Elkhorn. From Highway 12, take the County Highway NN exit west and then turn left (south) on Highway H. Go about .6 mile south to the trailhead parking lot.

The City of Elkhorn has provided a connector trail between Babe Mann Park and the state trail.

Parking also is available in downtown Lyons and a parking lot off of Highway 120 in the village of Springfield. The Springfield lot accommodates horse and snowmobile trailers. It is about a block east of Highway 120 on Signal Street, a half block south of the trail.

Weather [exit DNR]

Find a State Trail

For more information, ask:

Walworth Department of Public Works
W4097 County Road NN
Elkhorn, WI 53121
(262) 741-3114

Last Revised: Friday May 29 2009