This is the Elroy-Sparta bike trail visitor information center at the trail head in Sparta Wisconsin. This is where I started my ride heading mostly east on the trail towards Elroy. You can get your Wisconsin bike trail passes here too.
The information center here has lots of great trail info, camping info, lodging and bike rental info as well as T-shirts, trail souvenirs and maps...
The trail is the crushed stone path is on the right next to the brick walkway which is next to the visitor center at trail head. There is also a good amount of free parking here. My brother and sister-in-law live just outside of Sparta so I have been to Sparta many times. Sparta is a small, friendly town but not as small as some of the other towns in this area so if you need food or supplies that are not available at the visitor center there are plenty of stores and restaurants in town. I would also not worry at all about parking here. It is as safe (or safer) than most places.
Just a little outside of Sparta the trail crosses Interstate 90 at this bridge (This is just before the Sparta Route 27 exit when you are traveling westbound on I90). The town od Sparta is right on the expressway (I90) so this bridge is not very far from the trail head and information center shown above.
Here's a sample of some of the typical rock walls in this part of Wisconsin and along the trail. It is a little like what you see around the Dells or Devil's Lake State Park although this is quite a bit west of that area.
Some typical scenery for this part of the trail... Looking straight down the crushed stone trail in the middle of summer with the trees off on both sides of the trail.
The Elroy-Sparta bike trail photo tour, from Sparta, Wisconsin south and east to Elroy, Wisconsin (July, 2003).
Elroy-Sparta
Trail Photos 1 - Sparta Trail Head, Bridge Over I90 < You are here
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 2 - Past Interstate 90 Bridge to Tunnel #3
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 3 - Entering Deep, Dark Tunnel #3
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 4 - Passing Through Tunnel #3
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 5 - Passing Through Norwalk, Wisconsin
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 6 - Approaching Tunnel Number 2
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 7 - Passing Through Tunnel #2
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 8 - Tunnel #2 and Mossy Rock Walls
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 9 - Through Wilton Wisconsin
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 10 - Scenery and Campgrounds along the Trail
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 11 - Approaching Tunnel #1
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 12 - Tunnel Number One to Kendall Depot
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 13 - Kendall Depot and Wisconsin Bench Wisdom
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 14 - Ironsided Bridges and Elroy
Elroy-Sparta Trail Photos 15 - Wisconsin Scenery