Wild Goose State Trail: WI State Highway 49 to Fond du Lac
The section of the Wild Goose State Trail from Wisconsin State Highway 49 to Fond du Lac skirts the northern border of the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, passing farmland and wooded lowlands. The trailhead is on Wisconsin State Highway 49, two miles east of U.S. Highway 151 in Waupun. No facilities are found there other than a parking lot.
Several tourist attractions are by the trailhead. A Horicon National Wildlife Refuge visitor site has a parking lot with public restrooms, walking trails, and an auto tour route. It is across the highway from the trailhead. The auto tour and walking trails offer splendid views of birds, wildlife, and vegetation in the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States.
Marsh Haven Nature Center is on Highway 49 a little further east from the trailhead. A boardwalk leads from the nature center to the trail. On Wisconsin State Highway 49 east of Waupun, there are two apple orchards that are popular with local residents in autumn. A wayside park off the highway by the trailhead offers access to the Rock River.
From the trailhead on Wisconsin State Highway 49, the Wild Goose State Trail runs northeast through a corridor of trees and bushes. After passing the boardwalk to Marsh Haven Nature Center, the trail crosses a marshy slough, often filled with various waterfowl. The trail continues through a mixed landscape of farmland and wooded wetlands.
The Wild Goose State Trail passes through multiple sections of the Oakfield Railroad Prairie State Natural Area. Historically, the railroad’s locomotives helped preserve native prairies by occasionally sparking ground fires along the rail line. These unintentional burns kept forests from encroaching and allowed native grasses to re-grow. Today, these remnant prairies are managed by the Department of Natural Resources.
Four miles from the trailhead on Wisconsin State Highway 49, the path passes through the unincorporated community of Oak Center, and by distribution warehouses of a building supply company. The village of Oakfield comes into sight 3 miles from Oak Center. It was settled in 1850, and named for a nearby grove of oak trees. A large warehouse and grain elevator are seen from the trail upon entering the village.
A trailhead is located on Elm Street in Oakfield. It has a parking lot, benches, and information kiosk. From the intersection of County Road Y (N. Main Street) and County Road D (E. Church Street) in downtown Oakfield, take E. Church Street west 0.2 mile and turn left (south) on Elm Street. The trailhead is another 0.2 mile down Elm Street. There are also several local restaurants and gas stations in Oakfield that serve bicyclists’ needs.
Wildlife is abundant in the forests surrounding the trail near Oakfield. White-tail deer, woodchucks, geese, blue jays, and other animals are frequently seen. In the autumn, large flocks of starlings and red-winged blackbirds fill the trees alongside the trail.
This section of the trail bridges several creeks and rivers, including Campground Creek and the East Branch of the Fond du Lac River. After heavy rains, the trail resembles an elevated causeway as it passes low ground, flooded with water.
It is 12.1 miles from the trail section’s start to a tunnel under U.S. Highway 151. The scenery north of the tunnel changes from forests and fields to commercial industry. Nonetheless, views of these businesses are obscured by trees and bushes lining the path.
A trailhead is located at W. Rolling Meadows Drive. It contains a parking lot, benches, information kiosk, and bike rack. To access the trailhead by car, exit south from Interstate Highway 41 onto S. Hickory Street in Fond du Lac. Turn right (west) onto W. Rolling Meadows Drive and drive 0.4 mile past the Love’s Travel Stop to the trailhead. Parking and other conveniences are available at Love’s Travel Stop.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
The Wild Goose State Trail doesn’t end at W. Rolling Meadows Drive. The paved trail continues into Fond du Lac for another 0.5 mile. It crosses over busy Interstate Highway 41, and concludes at W. Pioneer Road near a Kwik Trip convenience store. At that intersection, the trail joins the “Fond du Lac Loop.” It is a 16-mile bike route that encircles the city.
Trail ridden and documented in October, 2020.