Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter Binder1

The Chamber Ambassador April 2019
Spring is here and state trail use has quickly transformed from snowmobiling to running and dog
walking - and soon to bicycling. As the Bicycling Capital of America, many local businesses depend on
tourism in general and specifically biking, so the condition of our flagship trail, the Elroy-Sparta State Trail,
is important. When the trail tunnels open on May 1, some of the E-S Trail and much of the 400 Trail will
remain closed due to the extensive damage caused by last summer’s record flooding. Last fall the trail
reopened from Norwalk to Sparta. Several additional miles of trail east of Norwalk are expected to be
open in early spring. Repairs on the remainder of the trail will take longer. The most current information
on trail conditions will be found on the DNR site: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/conditions/elroysparta.html
The good news is that we are located at the center of over 100 miles of excellent bike trails. This
spring we will be giving the La Crosse River State Trail some long overdue extra attention. It features
some excellent natural prairie, woodlands, and wetlands - and connects to the Great River Trail. For our
annual spring trail celebration on Saturday, May 4, bikers can opt for a free shuttle west to experience the
La Crosse River State Trail. Look for the Trails and Trout Celebration poster at the end of this newsletter
for more information.