The “400” State Trail: La Valle to Union Center
The “400” State Trail passes through the small Sauk County village of La Valle. Located on the Baraboo River, it was incorporated in 1856. LaValle’s name comes from the French word for “the valley”. Native Americans had a settlement there on lands surrounding the confluence of the Big and Little Baraboo Rivers. First white American settlers arrived around 1849, drawn by the river’s potential for good waterpower. Several mills and industries soon developed, and the railroad arrived in 1872.
The trailhead in La Valle is on Trail Street, and can be accessed in the center of town from Wisconsin State Highway 58 via North Street. Next to the parking lot, an informational kiosk presents the history of La Valle and the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. Restrooms (with running water) and a self-registration station are there too. A bit further north is another large parking area for vehicles with horse trailers. Gas and food are available in La Valle.
The “400” State Trail runs 9.9 miles from the village of La Valle to Union Center. A horse trail runs adjacent to the bicycle path for 7 miles from La Valle to Wonewoc. The two paths converge at all bridges, and bicyclists should yield to horses at those places.
Heading northeast out of La Valle, the trail moves past Hemlock Slough and Hemlock County Park. This low and swampy ground continues beyond the park boundary. In the distance, bluffs rise on the edge of the Baraboo River valley. Occasionally, the trail veers near a bluff or bisects a hill, offering a notable view of rocky outcroppings. The trail is fairly shaded, but on still summer days, horseflies may pester bicyclists who stop along the route. Google Maps indicates a sharp rise and fall in elevation near Hemock Slough, but it is not noticeable, and bicyclists observe a gentle rise in elevation from La Valle to Union Center.
After 6 miles, Wayside Park appears at the intersection of Wisconsin State Highway 33 and Strawbridge Road. After crossing the Baraboo River, the park greets bicyclists with a picnic shelter, restrooms, and ample parking lot. It is a good place to begin or end a bicycle trip, or just pause for a break along the journey. Less than a mile from Wayside Park, the trail moves into Juneau County and then into the village of Wonewoc.
To reach the trailhead in Wonewoc, turn west on Gordon Street off Wisconsin State Highway 33. A parking lot, flush toilets, covered picnic shelter, and information kiosk are located here. The 7-mile horse trail ends at Wonewoc. A short distance north on the trail (within the village) is a designated camping area named Baker’s Field Campground. No facilities are present; bicyclists who overnight there must carry in what they need and pack out their refuse. There is no fee to use the campsites.
Wonewoc has several downtown establishments that offer food and beverages. A coffee shop, restaurant, and several taverns are located on Center Street one block off the trail. Beyond Boundaries Canoe, Kayak, and Bike Adventures can’t be missed. Located on the trail, this company offers rentals for a variety of outdoor activities. It also features shuttles services.
Wonewoc’s name is interpreted as “howling hills” in the Ho Chunk language. Another version offers a little more levity. Wonį́wąk has also been understood to mean “naughty or foolish thinking” in Ho Chunk. According to a local legend, a settler asked a native resident what the place was named, and the Native American replied that the man was a fool.
American settlers arrived in 1851, and by 1878 the village of Wonewoc was incorporated. Population increased with the advent of the railroad. But when the days of the railroad subsided, the village’s growth diminished.
After continuing one mile northeast from Wonewoc, the trail passes through the Wonewoc-Center Outdoor Leaning Area. This 97-acre tract of land was obtained in 1993 by the Wonewoc and Union Center School District for use as an outdoor classroom. Hiking trails, picnic areas, observation platforms, and a classroom facility are found here amidst the sloughs, bluffs, marshes, and meadows of the Baraboo River valley. A natural rocky feature called Castles Rocks appear to the west of the trail among the bluffs.
Just south of the village of Union Center, and next to a large dairy factory, the Hillsboro State Trail juts west from the “400” State Trail. It heads west to the city that shares the same name as the trail. An information kiosk is located at this junction. After carefully crossing Wisconsin State Highway 33, bicyclists arrive in Union Center. At Eagle Parkway, parking is available along with flush toilets, covered picnic facilities, and a playground. Access the parkway by car on High Street by turning north off Wisconsin State Highway 33.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
Union Center (originally called “Union”) was incorporated as a village in 1859. Earliest white settlers came in the 1850s to the “union” of the two upper branches of the Baraboo River. The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad arrived in 1872. In 1902, the Hillsboro & Northeastern Railroad connected with the C&NW in Union Center and ran its line west to Hillsboro.
Trail last ridden and documented in July, 2020.