La Crosse River State Trail: Rockland to West Salem
The La Crosse River State Trail travels 8.1 miles from Rockland to West Salem. As it heads through La Crosse County, cyclists enjoy scenic views of the river valley farmland and pass through the quaint villages of Bangor and West Salem. The crushed limestone surface is in good condition, rising then falling in elevation.
The Rockland trailhead is adjacent to Commercial Street. By car, it is accessed from Interstate Highway 90 by taking exit 25 near Sparta, and going south on Wisconsin State Highway 27. Drive a half mile and turn right (west) on Icon Avenue. Proceed for 1.2 miles and turn right (north) onto Icebox Road. After a short distance turn left (west) onto Iberia Avenue. Drive 3.5 miles and continue onto Rock Street for 0.5 mile. Then turn left (south) onto Commercial Street, driving 0.3 mile to the trailhead.
At the trailhead, roadside parking is available along Commercial Street. There are two interpretive kiosks, a bike rack, water fountain, and picnic tables. No restrooms are available. Two interpretive markers under a covered shelter present the history of local prairies and the railroad’s role in preserving them. A third marker conveys the history of Rockland. Named for a large rock in the village, the community developed along the railroad line and was issued a post office in 1873.
Cyclists seeking more facilities may want to visit Gaylord Memorial Park on Rock Street, a half mile from the trailhead. This village park has restrooms, a portable toilet, vending machine, and covered picnic shelter. It also has a ball diamond, athletic fields and courts, and a playground. There are no convenience stores or restaurants in Rockland.
Departing the trailhead and heading west across Commercial Street, the La Crosse River State Trail then turns to the southwest. It travels alongside dual railroad tracks to the north, a line used by the Canadian Pacific Railway and Amtrack. Interstate Highway 90 runs near the trail to the south. The path cuts through farm fields, and is lined with trees and bushes.
Nearly 1.5 miles from Rockland, the path passes industries and a large farm. Afterwards, it crosses Manke Hesselberg Road. Over the next mile, the path moves past fields and into the neighborhoods of Bangor. After passing Bangor High School, the trail arrives at 14th Avenue.
A trailhead parking lot is located at this intersection in Bangor. No other facilities are available there. Veterans Memorial Park, a short distance to the west, has many facilities and may serve as a better trailhead. It is 350 yards further down the path. After crossing through a large culvert over 16th Avenue, a paved path on the right leads to the park.
Veterans Memorial Park is next to Dutch Creek. It has restrooms, picnic shelters, playground, and ball diamond. Two large pieces of military equipment are also found there. One is a M60A3 Patton Tank, used by the U.S. Army during the cold war era. The other is a Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopter, used during the Vietnam War and through the 1990s.
To reach the park by car from Interstate Highway 90, take exit 15 north on Wisconsin State Highway 162. Follow the highway for a mile through the village. Where the highway turns left (north), continue straight on Pearl Street for one block. Turn right (south) on 16th Avenue and go 0.2 mile. Turn right (west) on James Street and drive 0.2 mile into the park. To reach the trailhead, turn left (east) from 16th Avenue onto James Street. The trailhead parking lot will appear after taking a right turn (south) on 14th Avenue.
The village of Bangor was named after a city in Wales, as many of its settlers were natives of Wales. The area had long been home to members of the Ho Chunk tribe before European Americans moved into the area in the mid-1850s. Population grew in 1873 with the advent of the railroad, and the settlement incorporated in 1899. Today, the village has a gas station and grocery store, and several places to eat.
Departing Bangor, trail-goers cross Dutch Creek over a 1913 iron truss bridge. This 150-foot bridge was built by the American Bridge Company for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and is a main feature of the trail. On the bridge, sandstone cliffs to the south are visible along the bank of the creek. It’s definitely worth pausing to enjoy the view.
After Bangor, the La Crosse River State Trail crosses Wisconsin State Highway 162. This is a busy highway that requires extreme caution when crossing, especially because the crossing has no flashing lights. For enhanced visibility, wearing fluorescent clothing and using headlights/taillights is recommended.
One mile west of the state highway, Interstate Highway 90 moves closer into view on the trail’s south side. Traffic becomes visible and is easily heard. The path continues west past fields and light industry, crossing three roads along the way. After more than 4 miles, the trail heads underneath County Highway C and enters the village of West Salem. From the underpass, it is 0.3 mile to the trailhead.
The West Salem trailhead is on Jefferson Street between Mill and Leonard Streets. It has a parking lot, covered shelter, bike rack, self-service bicycle station, information kiosk, park benches, and picnic tables. There are no restrooms. Nearby, West Salem Village Park has ample facilities with restrooms, picnic shelter, playground, ball diamond, and tennis courts.
By car, the West Salem trailhead may be accessed from Interstate Highway 90 by going north on County Road C at exit 12. After 0.2 mile, turn left (west) on City Loop. Then turn left again (west) on Jefferson Street, and right (north) on Mill Street. The trailhead parking lot is immediately to the left (west). Continue north on Mill Street to reach the Village Park, which has roadside parking.
West Salem takes its name from the Arabic and Hebrew word Salem, which means “peace.” At first the village was named Salem, but West was later added due to confusion with mail delivery to another town of the same name. In the early 1850s, New Englanders began settling in the area. The village of Neshonoc developed a mile northeast of West Salem. The two villages were rivals until the railroad arrived and placed tracks through West Salem. West Salem prospered and Neshonoc soon disappeared.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
One of West Salem’s renowned residents is Hamlin Garland, a Pulitzer Prize winning author. Garland was born in West Salem in 1860m returned in 1893, and spent summers there from 1893 to 1915. After passing away in California in 1940, his ashes were returned to West Salem and interred in the Neshonoc Cemetery. Historical markers in West Salem convey Garland’s story, as well as that of the village of Neshonoc.
West Salem is a large village offering many amenities to visiting trail-goers. It has hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations. There are also two campgrounds in West Salem. Veterans Memorial County Campground is easily accessible from the La Crosse River State Trail. A spur trail two miles west of the village leads to the campground. It has over 100 sites, with flush toilets, showers, drinking water, firewood for sale, electric hook-ups, a dump station, and a camp store.
Trail last ridden and documented in October, 2022.