Wild Goose State Trail: WI State Highway 60 to Burnett
The Wild Goose State Trail offers a delightful ride for 11.6 miles through the rural farm country of east central Wisconsin. It begins 2.2 miles north of the village of Clyman, on Wisconsin State Highway 60. The trailhead there is 1.7 miles east of the intersection of Wisconsin State Highways 16, 26, and 60. It is 5.7 miles west of the Hustisford. Signs clearly mark the trailhead on the north side of the highway.
Amenities are primitive at the trailhead. It has a parking lot, picnic tables, garbage cans, information kiosk, and portable toilet. The crushed limestone trail runs north between a low ridge on the west and Dead Creek to the east. The creek turns away from the trail after 350 yards, but the ridge continues along the trail for 2.5 miles. Meadows and farm fields cover the ridge, while low marshes, filled with cattails and small clusters of trees, grow to the east.
Within the first half mile of the trail, yellow signs inform bicyclists of an upcoming shooting range. The range is on the ridge to the left of the trail, and 0.8 mile from the trailhead. There is no threat to trail-goers, but gunfire is often heard on weekends, especially in autumn.
Paralleling the bicycle trail is a horse path. It travels next to the trail, occasionally intersecting it. The two paths converge to cross over roads and bridge streams. The 14-mile horse path runs from the trailhead, past the town of Burnett, to Pautsch Road.
After a slight uphill climb for 4.5 miles, the Wild Goose State Trail arrives in Juneau. The trail winds past the large factory complex of Sensient Technologies Corporation. Sensient makes colors, flavors, and fragrances used in food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.
After crossing County Highway S in Juneau, an information kiosk is found. The trail surface is paved from that intersection for a half mile north. Bicyclists may want to stop at Juneau’s Wild Goose Park. It has a picnic shelter, drinking water, flush toilets, playground, and athletic fields. One of the interesting features of Wild Goose Park is that it offers overnight camping for hikers and bikers on the trail. Campers may pick from designated campsites, with self-registration and payment located at the picnic shelter. The cost is $10 per night. Campsites do not have an electrical outlet or water supply, and garbage must be carried out.
Wild Goose Park in Juneau serves as a trailhead. In addition to camping and a shelter, it has a playground, soccer fields, and open green spaces. The park’s address is 401 N. Hyland Street in Juneau. To reach it by car, turn east from Wisconsin State Highway 26 in Juneau (N. Main Street) onto County Highway S (E. Center Street). Drive 0.3 mile and turn left (north) on N. Hyland Street. The park entrance is on the left (east) after 0.3 mile.
Named “Victory” by settlers in 1845, Dodge County’s seat of government was later renamed for Paul Juneau, the son of Solomon Juneau. The elder Juneau was a French-Canadian fur trader who founded Milwaukee. His son, Paul Juneau, was born in 1822 near Milwaukee, and later settled in Dodge County. Along with his father, who settled in Theresa, the two pioneerss served as liaisons between local Native Americans and white American and European settlers. Paul Juneau died at age 36 in 1858, and his grave is in the Juneau Cemetery. Juneau was incorporated as a village in 1865 and as a city in 1879.
The small city of Juneau is the county seat of Dodge County. In addition to Wild Goose Park, Juneau City Park is another place to relax. It is close to the trail near the Sensient Flavors factory. Juneau has a few gas stations and convenient stores not far from the path. A variety of taverns in the downtown area serve drinks and pub fare.
Leaving Juneau, the Wild Goose Trail runs congruent to Wisconsin State Highway 26 for three miles. While the highway is not always visible, traffic can easily be heard. After passing the Dodge County Airport, a trailhead appears at the intersection of Wisconsin State Highways 26 and 33. An information kiosk, self-registration station, and picnic tables are found there. Bicyclists should use caution when crossing Wisconsin State Highway 33.
Three miles north of Juneau, the Wild Goose Trail runs through Minnesota Junction. This small community was named for the place where an east-west Milwaukee Road line, expected to extend to Minnesota, intersected a north–south Chicago and Northwestern Railroad line. The north–south line was abandoned in 1984, and is now the Wild Goose State Trail. The trail still crosses the operational east–west Wisconsin and Southern Railroad line. Bicyclists should exercise care when crossing these tracks.
While the trail is surrounded by trees and bushes, the landscape becomes more agricultural in the 3.5 miles from Minnesota Junction to Burnett. When crossing County Highway E, bicyclists may want to diverge from the trail and bike 350 yards west to Nitschke County Park. Park lands include 39 preserved animal effigy, conical, and linear mounds believed to have been constructed between 800-1100 AD.
Back on the Wild Goose State Trail, the path’s entrance into Burnett is marked by old railroad cars left on a side rail by the grain elevator. The trail then swerves onto Depot Street. To reach Burnett Town Hall Park, cyclists turn left (west) from the trail at the intersection of Depot and Main Street. Bike 0.3 mile to the small town park, located off Main Street next to the town hall and volunteer fire department.
Burnett Town Hall Park has ample amenities. A covered picnic shelter, flush toilets, playground, and athletic field are found next to babbling Spring Brook. Burnett was named for Ellsworth Burnett, a government surveyor who was killed nearby in 1836. The unincorporated community is home to several taverns, including one pub and grill.
To reach Burnett by car, take County Highway B east from U.S. Highway 151 in Beaver Dam and drive 5.5 miles to Wisconsin State Highway 26. Turn left (north) and proceed 0.6 miles to Main Street in Burnett. Turn left (west) on Main Street to reach the town park.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
The Wild Goose State Trail journeys for 11.6 miles from the trailhead on Wisconsin State Highway 60 north to the community of Burnett. Along the way, it passes through Juneau and Minnesota Junction. About half of the route travels next to Wisconsin State Highway 26. The surface of the path is crushed limestone, in good condition. It’s gradient is fairly level. These factors allow for a pleasant ride through Dodge County and its agricultural landscape.
Trail last ridden and documented in August, 2020.