Property name Bicycling (off-road) Cross-country skiing Horseback riding In-line skating
Black River State Forest Yes Yes Yes
Blue Mound State Park Yes Yes
Brule River State Forest Yes
Flambeau River State Forest No Yes
Governor Dodge State Park Yes No Yes
Governor Knowles State Forest Yes Yes
Hartman Creek State Park Yes Yes Yes
Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area Yes
Lake Wissota State Park No No Yes
Lapham Peak Unit – Kettle Moraine State Forest Yes Yes Yes
Mirror Lake State Park No Yes
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest Yes Yes
Northern Unit – Kettle Moraine State Forest Yes Yes Yes
Peninsula State Park Yes Yes
Perrot State Park Yes
Richard Bong State Recreation Area Yes No Yes
Southern Unit – Kettle Moraine State Forest Yes Yes Yes
Wildcat Mountain State Park No Yes

 

Not all State Trails require a trail pass to use the trail. The State Trails that require a pass are:

Trail name Bicycling Cross-country skiing Horseback riding In-line skating
400 State Trail Yes No Yes
Badger State Trail Yes No Yes
Bearskin State Trail Yes No
Buffalo River State Trail Yes No Yes
Capital City State Trail Yes No Yes
Chippewa River State Trail Yes No Yes
Elroy-Sparta State Trail Yes No
Fox River State Trail Yes No Yes Yes
Gandy Dancer State Trail Yes No
Glacial Drumlin State Trail Yes No Yes
Great River State Trail Yes No
Great Sauk State Trail Yes No Yes
Hillsboro State Trail Yes No
La Crosse River State Trail Yes No
Military Ridge State Trail Yes No Yes
Mound View State Trail Yes No Yes
Mountain-Bay State Trail Yes No
Old Abe State Trail Yes No Yes Yes
Pecatonica State Trail Yes No Yes
Red Cedar State Trail Yes Yes
Stower Seven Lakes State Trail Yes Yes
Sugar River State Trail Yes No Yes
Tomorrow River State Trail Yes No Yes
White River State Trail Yes No Yes

WHY DO THESE TRAILS REQUIRE A STATE TRAIL PASS?

They were selected by DNR staff for a variety of reasons, including the quality of experience they offer, their popularity, their maintenance costs and the DNR’s ability to enforce the requirement in these locations.

WHERE DOES THE STATE TRAIL PASS MONEY GO?

Money from the sale of state trail passes is deposited into the parks segregated account of the state Conservation Fund. The trail fee revenues are used for maintaining and operating state trails, parks and recreation areas. For trails, these costs include such things as dealing with erosion, trash removal, maintaining safe surfaces, trimming brush, removing fallen trees and law enforcement. Additional funds, which come from ATV and snowmobile registration fees, are allotted to trails that allow ATVs and snowmobiles.

In 2019 the state collected a total of about $1.4 million for state trail passes (previous recent years have ranged from $1.3 to $1.5 million in revenues with about 80 percent coming from annual passes and 20 percent from daily passes). The revenue generated by the state trail pass does not cover expenses for the trails for which it is charged. For example, the average revenue for state-operated state trails was $29,711 in 2014. At the same time, the average expenses for each trail were $69,811. The difference in the amount required to operate a state trail and the money received from the sale of state trail passes is covered by monies from the separate Wisconsin State Park System account which includes funds from state park admission stickers and camping fees.

WHY DON’T SNOWMOBILERS, ATV RIDERS, OFF-HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLES AND HIKERS NEED STATE TRAIL PASSES?

Snowmobilers, all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycle riders pay for their trails through registration fees and gasoline taxes. Every state trail that allows ATV or snowmobile use receives some of this money. Wisconsin law requires those who use Wisconsin ATV, OHM or snowmobile trails to display either Wisconsin registration or an ATV or snowmobile trail pass. ATV and snowmobile trail passes are different from the state trail pass and are available through the DNR’s licensing system.

In general, bike, ski and horse trails are more expensive to maintain than hiking trails. Also, the exemption for pedestrians (which include snowshoers) enables everyone access to Wisconsin trails.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A STATE TRAIL PASS?

Trail users must purchase their state trail pass before using the trail. Self-registration stations are available for payment of fees when the office is closed. There is a $5 fee (in addition to the cost of the state trail pass) for anyone who fails to pay for a pass before using the trail. If a trail user refuses to buy a pass or self-register, a citation can be issued.