Wild Goose State Trail: WI State Highway 49 to Fond du Lac
The Wild Goose State Trail from Wisconsin State Highway 49 to Fond du Lac travels 13.6 miles. A section of the trail skirts the northern part of the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. The landscape along the route is mainly farmland, marshes, and wooded lowlands. After crossing under U.S. Highway 151, the scenery becomes increasingly urban as it approaches Fond du Lac. Along its way, the trail passes through Oak Center and Oakfield.
The surface of the the Wild Goose State Trail is predominantly crushed limestone. In several long stretches, the surface is a base of paved asphalt with a thin layer of crushed stone over the top of it. North of County Highway VVV (Rolling Meadows Drive), paved asphalt replaces the crushed limestone surface. The entire trail section is in very good, if not excellent, condition. The trail does rise slightly in elevation for the first half of the ride. The second part sees a decline of more than 100 feet over a distance of seven miles.
The southern trailhead for this segment of the Wild Goose State Trail is located on the north side of Wisconsin State Highway 49, two miles east of U.S. Highway 151 in Waupun. No facilities are there other than a parking lot. However, on the south side of the state highway is a Horicon National Wildlife Refuge visitor site. It has a parking lot and public restrooms. The site also has walking trails and an auto tour route. There are plenty of splendid views of birds, wildlife, and vegetation in the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States.
Marsh Haven Nature Center is a short distance east from the trailhead on Wisconsin State Highway 49. The 46-acre, volunteer-supported center provides visitors an opportunity to explore the unique natural environment of the Horicon Marsh. They have museum exhibits, a variety of nature trails, and educational programs offered throughout the year.
Returning to the Wild Goose State Trail, the path departs the trailhead and runs northeast through Fond du Lac County. For most of the route, a corridor of hardwood trees and dense bushes line the path. In a few places, the trail passes through broader forests. The first mile of the trail moves through a landscape of wetlands. Cattails grow in low marshes dotted with small ponds. Nearly 400 yards down the trail, a boardwalk to the right (east) leads to Marsh Haven Nature Center. The trail continues across a marshy slough where waterfowl are often spotted. They are commonly seen during spring and autumn months.
It is 0.7 mile to Church Road. The path intersects the same road a half mile further. The terrain changes to a mix of farmland, lowland meadows, and hardwood forests. It is another half mile to Oak Center Road. In this section, the trail travels through the northernmost part of the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. Further to the north, though not visible from the trail, is Oakfield Waterfowl Production Area. The federally protected wildlife site is managed as part of the Leopold Wetland Management District. It serves to preserve vital nesting and resting locations for migratory waterfowl and native grassland birds.
From Oak Center Road, it is 2.2 miles to the small community of Oak Center. The trail crosses Elm Road along the way. In Oak Center, the trail runs by several buildings belonging to Wisconsin Building Supply. After crossing Oak Center Road, a parking lot for trail-goers is on the left (north) side of the path. It has no other amenities. To reach the parking lot by car from U.S. Highway 151, go east on County Highway AS. The intersection is 4.5 miles northeast of Waupun. Drive 2.6 miles on the county road, turn right (south) on Oak Center Road, and drive 0.6 mile to the parking lot. It is located on the left (east) side of the road.
Continuing northeast through the corridor of trees and bushes, the Wild Goose State Trail travels three miles from Oak Center to Oakfield. The path crosses County Highway D in this section. The landscape is mainly farmland, but the trail does pass by some marshes and traverse a few small hardwood forests. Upon entering Oakfield, the path advances by a factory belonging to Seneca Foods Corporation, a food processing and distribution company.
A trailhead is located at the path’s junction with Elm Street in Oakfield. It has a parking lot, park benches, and information kiosk. To reach the trailhead by car from the intersection of County Highways Y (Main Street) and D (Church Street) in Oakfield, take Church Street west 0.2 mile. Turn left (south) on Elm Street. The trailhead is another 0.2 mile down Elm Street.
Oakfield was settled by white Americans during the 1840s. The area was first home to the Menominee and Ho-Chunk Nations. The settlement was named Avoca, but wehn the railroad arrived, it by-passed the community. Settlers started to move closer to the railroad, and Avoca was eventually abandoned for a new village on the rail line. It was named Oakfield for a nearby grove of oak trees, and incorporated as a village in 1903. In July of 1996, an outbreak of 12 different tornadoes ravaged the village of Oakfield. No deaths occurred, but several people were injured and there was much property damage.
Today, Oakfield has two restaurants and a gas station to serve visiting bicyclists. They are located near the Wild Goose State Trail. At the corner of Main and Church Streets, the path moves by the tall grain mills of Oakfield Elevator Company. At this same junction is a trailside memorial, dedicated to a local resident. It offers trail-goers a place to relax on several adirondack chairs. After crossing Church Street, the trail departs Oakfield.
From Oakfield, it is 1.7 miles to another crossing of County Highway D. The trail also crosses High Bridge Road and bridges Campground Creek in this section. The scenery along the route is eye-catching. Wildlife is abundant in the forests surrounding the trail. White-tail deer, woodchucks, Canadian Geese, blue jays, and other animals are frequently seen. In the autumn, large flocks of starlings and red-winged blackbirds fill the trees. In warm summer months, wild flowers grow next to the trail, including black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) and wild bergamot or bee balm (Monarda fistulosa).
After crossing County Highway D, the Wild Goose State Trail travels straight northeast for three miles to U.S. Highway 151. The section is also quite picturesque. The path bridges several creeks and rivers, including 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.
Northeast of County Highway D, the trail passes through two 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 and praire plants to re-grow. Today, these remnant prairies are managed by the Department of Natural Resources.
It is 12.1 miles from the trailhead on Wisconsin State Highway 49 to the tunnel under U.S. Highway 151. The scenery north of the tunnel changes from forests and fields to commercial industry. In the ensuing mile, the path crosses Willow Lawn Road and travels through a corridor of trees and bushes that obscure the view of neighboring businesses.
A trailhead is located at W. Rolling Meadows Drive. It contains a parking lot, benches, information kiosk, and bike rack. It also serves as a park and ride. 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 also available at Love’s Travel Stop.
The Wild Goose State Trail crosses Roling Meadows Drive, and continues into Fond du Lac for another half mile on a surface of paved asphalt. It travels 350 yards, crosses Interstate Highway 41, and ends at Pioneer Road another 350 yards down the path. North of the bridge over the interstate, a spur trail to the right (south) leads to a nearby Kwik Trip convenience store. Bicyclists may use the store’s parking lot as a trailhead, or continue on the main trail to Pioneer Road and the Fond du Lac Loop. It is a 16-mile bike route that encircles the city.
Trail-goers may want to explore Fond du Lac. The city’s name reflects its geographic location at the southern point of Lake Winnebago. It is French for “bottom of the lake.” First inhabitants were Ho-Chunk, Menominee, and Potawatomi peoples. The community grew from a French trading post into a major 19th-century lumber and railroad hub. Several of its city streets are named for U.S. Army officers stationed at Fort Howard in Green Bay during the 1830s. During that time, soldiers from the fort constructed a military road through what would become Fond du Lac. Street names include Brooke, Satterlee, and Scott.
Fond du Lac has many attractions for trail-goers to visit. The Fond du Lac Loop takes bicyclists throughout the city using several different paved trails. The route goes through scenic Lakeside Park. History enthusiasts may want to tour Historic Galloway House and Village. There are many great places to eat in Fond du Lac, including Gilles Frozen Custard. It is Wisconsin’s oldest frozen custard stand, dating back to 1938. Patrons enjoy drive-in style burgers, sandwiches, sides, and an assortment of frozen custard treats.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
The northern section of the Wild Goose State Trail advances 13.6 miles from a trailhead on Wisconsin State Highway 49 to the city of Fond du Lac. The ride is scenic and enjoyable. The route travels along the northern border of Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, and passes through Oak Center and Oakfield. The landscape is rural, and trail-goers may expect to see farm fields, forests, and wetlands. The last few miles become more urban. The tunnel under U.S. Highway 151 marks this transition from rural to an industrial, urban environment.
Trail ridden and documented in July 2026.