Wild Goose State Trail: Burnett to WI State Highway 49
It is 9.8 miles on the Wild Goose State Trail from Burnett to Wisconsin State Highway 49. In Burnett, trail parking is available at the town park on Main Street. It is only 0.3 mile to the trail. The park has a covered picnic shelter, flush toilets, playground, and athletic field. The small babbling Spring Brook runs through the park.
To reach the park by car, take County Road B east from U.S. Highway 151 in Beaver Dam, and drive 5.5 miles to Wisconsin State Highway 26. Turn left (north) and go 0.6 miles to Main Street in Burnett. Turn left (west) on Main Street, and drive 175 yards to the park.
The park is next to the town hall and volunteer fire department. A few taverns in Burnett serve beverages and food. This small farming community was named for Ellsworth Burnett, a government surveyor who was killed nearby in 1836.
When biking from the town park to the trail, go east on Main Street toward the large grain elevator. The trail appears after crossing Depot Street. After turning left (north) onto the trail, watch for a railroad crossing. Bicyclists should exercise caution at these tracks because they run diagonally across the trail, and a bike tire may get caught in the groove of the track.
The Wild Goose State Trail descends in elevation during this section. The crushed limestone surface is generally in good condition. From Burnett, the trail heads north for nearly 7 miles before turning northeastwardly. A corridor of trees and bushes line the trail as it passes farmland, marshes, and wetlands. To the east lies the vast Horicon National Wildlife Refuge.
Upon departing Burnett, the trail crosses Spring Brook. Wisconsin State Highway 26 runs next to the trail on its west side. Main Dike Road crosses the trail after 1.4 miles. This gravel road bisects Horicon Marsh, offering beautiful views of the refuge. The road is not open to vehicles, but bicyclists may want to digress from the trail and head east into the marsh.
The Wild Goose State Trail continues north through farm country, crossing Mill Creek along its way. The horseback riding path next to the bike trail ends at Pautsch Road. A free library box and bench are by the trail before the bridge over Plum Creek. This rest stop, another in Burnett, and third at the Rock River are the only benches on this section of the trail.
While the trail continues through farmland, occasional residential neighborhoods pop up nearby. In other places, the landscape is full of marshes, ponds, and wetlands. In autumn, the sound of waterfowl calling to each other within the Horicon Marsh is heard.
At the trail’s intersection with Shamrock Road, the route gets a bit confusing. The trail’s surface turns to a grassy path on the north side of the road. It is unclear if the route continues overland on this path or it detours onto Shamrock Road. Waupun Road crosses the grassy path after 0.3 miles, and a detour sign there directs trail-users heading south to use Waupun and Shamrock Roads to circumvent the grassy portion of the trail.
At the South Branch of the Rock River, it’s worth taking time to pause at the rest stop and bridge. This river begins in the Horicon Marsh where three branches converge, and then travels 300 miles to the Mississippi River. The Fox and Sauk Indians called it the Sinnissippi River, or “rocky waters.” The slow moving river and lush forest provide a peaceful environment, although mosquitoes are plentiful in summer and early fall!
Before crossing Wisconsin State Highway 49, a paved spur trail on the right (east) goes to the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. This trail leads to a parking area with restrooms. It may serve as a potential trailhead when biking the Wild Goose State Trail.
The Horicon Marsh is worth exploring. It is a site of international importance for birds and wildlife, and a destination for tourists, cyclists, hikers, and birdwatchers. Hiking trails and a 3-mile auto tour take visitors through part of the Horicon Marsh. A boardwalk leading to a raised viewing station offers amazing views of the landscape and waterfowl.
Back on the Wild Goose State Trail, caution is needed when crossing busy Wisconsin State Highway 49. A short distance after this intersection, a short spur trail on the right (east) leads to a parking lot. There are no facilities at this trailhead.
The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and the trailhead for the Wild Goose State Trail are reached by car from Waupun. Exit U.S. Highway 151 and drive east on Wisconsin State Highway 49 for 2 miles. The trailhead is on the north side of the highway, and the entrance to the Horicon Marsh is on the south side. Also, a wayside park is located nearby where the highway crosses the Rock River.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
Additional attractions are in close proximity to the trailhead. Several apple orchards are found along Wisconsin State Highway 49 east of Waupun. Also, visitors learn more about the history and wildlife of the Horicon Marsh area at Marsh Haven Nature Center. It is located a short distance west of the trailhead on Wisconsin State Highway 49.
Trail ridden and documented in September, 2020.