Justin Trails

Sparta, Wisconsin’s transportation corridor includes I-90 near the county seat of Monroe County, home of 8,900 residents. Tourists come from all over the world to ride the first rail-trail conversion project. The 32 mile Elroy-Sparta Bicycle Trail sneaks through three tunnels. For great photos and information go to about-bicycles.com. The longest tunnel is ¾ of mile long with huge doors that are closed through the winter. Agriculture in the surrounding area includes growing: corn, alfalfa, cranberries, Holstein cows, Black Angus, Charolais and Semintal beef cattle. Fort Mc Coy Military installation and the Veterans Administration Hospital are major employers in the area. Manufacturing includes Matthews Bow Co., Mc Pherson Guitar Co, Northern Engraving, Century Foods, and Fiberglass Animals Shapes & Trademarks.

Most of Monroe County was not covered with ice during the Wisconsin glacier, thus known as the Driftless Region. Northeast Monroe County was covered by glacial Lake Wisconsin. The flat land and sandy sedimentary soil remaining make ideal growing conditions for cranberry marshes. Most of Monroe County is very hilly, much of it covered with hardwood and pine forests. The La Crosse and Black Rivers provide excellent canoeing and kayaking.

Explore Things To Do:

• Hunting and Fishing: There are many rich opportunities near Justin Trails Resort for anyone who enjoys hunting and fishing.   Matt Wagner, www.driftlessangler.com, has a great website and a full service fly shop located on the historic Main Street of Viroqua, Wisconsin. ...
• Shopping: Shops of Handcrafted Wisconsin Products: Shopping in the Coulee Region is an adventure driving winding roads from one craft person’s shop to the next. Most of these shops are located in a shop on the farm where the craft person resides. Strip malls have not found their way into the rural...
• Canoe and Kayak: If your muscles need a change of pace, spend a day floating on your choice of rivers. The Kickapoo River in southwest Wisconsin is the world’s "crookedest" river. It is shallow and recommended for all ages and all levels. In drought years, it may ...
• Nature: Mississippi River Lock and Dam A trip to the Lock and Dam at Dresbach, MN, Genoa or Trempealeau, WI will yield an engineering miracle/nightmare depending on your environmental view operated by the Army Corps of Engineers to move barge traffic up...
• Bike: Bike the famous Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail complete with three tunnels, one tunnel is 3/4 mile long requiring walking a bike through the tunnel with a flashlight.  The other two tunnels are 1/4 mile one.  Are you ready for a longer ride? Add the 21-mil...
• Horseback Riding Facilities : Redrock Trail Rides ~ Kathie Sullivan 13597 Katydid Avenue Sparta, Wisconsin 54656 (608) 823-7865 Located high atop a scenic ridge in central Monroe County, the "Redrock" and surrounding land has been in the Sullivan family for four generatio...
• Arts & Leisure: Such activities in the area include: indoor concerts, community theater, and museums of historic nature, ethnic people, famous people and a museum for children. Museum of famous astronaut Deke Slayton, Cranberry Expo, and Brush Trophy Museum range...
• Hike: Hiking in west central Wisconsin is abundant in public lands. There are four major blocks of land with thousands of acres all with specific geological interest: Black River Falls State Forest in Jackson County, Wildcat Mountain State Park in Verno...
• Tour Amish Country: Welcome to Down A Country Road Amish Gift Shops and Tour Service. At Down a Country Road, deep in the heart of scenic south west Wisconsin, you’ll find a unique and very special treasure.  The village of gift shops owned by Chuck and Kathy Kuder...