Biking Wisconsin's Eisenbahn State Trail

The Eisenbahn Trail's name is a tribute to the German settlers in this area and translates to "Iron Road." The railroad was completed in 1872 as the North Western Union Railway and soon became the Chicago and North Western's principal route between Green Bay and Chicago. This 25 mile trail extends from the historic city of West Bend into the scenic countryside of eastern Wisconsin past the glacial landscape of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and is operated by Washington and Fond du Lac Counties. The northern 20 miles are crushed stone and the southern 5 miles are paved.

This is one of the newer trails since the rail line wasn't abandoned until 2000 and the trail opened in 2005. The northern section passes through lush farmland, and though it is mostly flat, the trail has slight rises and falls as it bypasses the bigger hills seen in the distance in the photo below...



Supplies are available in Campbellsport, Kewaskum, and West Bend, and you get views of the Milwaukee River in several places...



Other than the 4.5 miles between West Bend and Kewaskum which run alongside Highway 45, the trail offers solitude and quiet. Occasional marshlands intersperse the farmland as seen below, and the 4 sandhill cranes I spotted along the trail were a special treat.



Parking:

Eden: State Highway 45 travels through Eden. Parking is available at the Eden Community Park at the trailhead.

Campbellsport: State Highway 67 and County Highway V travel through Campbellsport. The trail is adjacent to Fireman's Park where parking is available.

Kewaskum: State Highways 28 and 45 pass through Kewaskum. Parking is available next to the trail in downtown Kewaskum between Highway 28 and Second Street. The trail also runs adjacent to River Hills Park where parking is available.

West Bend: State Highways 45 and 33 pass through West Bend. Parking is available in lots near Water and Washington streets and is also allowed along city side streets.

Wisconsin DNR page for the Eisenbahn Trail

Rails-to-Trails page