Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System
Wild Rivers State Trail

• A Multi-use Trail
• Other Trails in the Area
• How to Get There

The Wild Rivers State Trail stretches 104 miles through Douglas, Washburn and Barron counties in northwest Wisconsin. The Wild Rivers trail is maintained and managed by each of the three counties it passes through.

Near Trego, the trail runs side-by-side with a tourist railway which sometimes has steam engines.
DNR Photo by Bonnie Gruber

The trail, following a former railroad corridor, begins just south of Superior, near the intersection of County Highway C and County Highway A, and passes through the communities of Solon Springs, Gordon, Minong, Trego, Spooner and Haugen, ending in Rice Lake.

Wild Rivers State Trail Map [PDF 1.8MB]. This map prints on 8.5 by 11-inch paper, courtesy of Northwest Regional Planning Commission.

The area surrounding the Wild Rivers trail is rich in natural resources and wildlife habitat. The trail crosses numerous rivers and streams, including the Namakagon River, a federally designated river which is part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway [exit DNR].

A Multi-use Trail

The Wild Rivers trail is surfaced with highway grade compacted gravel in Barron and Washburn counties and with rough railroad ballast in Douglas County, allowing for the trail to be open year-round to a wide-variety of uses.

Walking, jogging, bird watching, bicycling, horseback riding, all-terrain vehicle use, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are all recreation opportunities visitors to the Wild Rivers trail will find. Contact the county operators with any questions on availability or dates for the different trail uses.

As a multi-use trail, the Wild Rivers State Trail may bring a number of different users to the trail at the same time. It is important to use good trail etiquette to ensure the enjoyment and safety of all trail users.

Wisconsin Trail Etiquette and Safety Guidelines [PDF 2MB]

Other Trails in the Area

Both the North Country National Scenic Trail [exit DNR] and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail are near the Wild Rivers trail.

Just north of Rice Lake, the trail connects to the Tuscobia State Trail [exit DNR]. The segment of the Tuscobia trail nearest its junction with the Wild Rivers trail, from Highway SS to the Barron/Washburn county line (near Angus), is designated as part of the Ice Age Trail and is limited to non-motorized use, with the exception of snowmobiling in winter.

The Wild Rivers trail also provides access to hundreds of miles of local and county trails as well as connections to other snowmobile club trail systems.

Barron County Trails [exit DNR]
Douglas County Trails [exit DNR]
Washburn County Trails [exit DNR]

How to Get There

Traveling north from Rice Lake, the Wild Rivers trail follows the route of State Highway 53. Barron County has access points to the trail with parking and pit toilets available at both the Tuscobia trail junction on Highway SS and at the junction of Highway SS and State Highway 53.

Washburn County has parking and trail access points available in the communities of Sarona, Spooner, Trego, and Minong. In Douglas County there are access points in the town of Gordon and at the northern trailhead just south of Superior.

More Information

Northwest Wisconsin [exit DNR]
Snow Report [exit DNR]
Washburn County Tourism Association [exit DNR]

Contacts

Barron County Forestry Department
127 South 4th Street
Barron, WI 54812
(715) 537-6295

Douglas County Forestry Department
P.O. Box 211
Solon Springs, WI 54873
(715) 378-2219

Washburn County Forestry Department
850 W Beaver Brook Ave. #4
Spooner, WI 54801
(715) 635-4490