Explore Nature & Neighborhoods on the Wheelchair-Accessible Great Sauk Wisconsin State Trail

The 10.5-mile fully ADA accessible paved Great Sauk State Trail is a Wisconsin gem available for all to enjoy. Whether you're walking with family or biking with besties, you will find a blend of small-town charm and natural beauty as you explore two Wisconsin River communities and enjoy views of the river and the distant bluffs of Devil’s Lake.

The trail begins at mile marker 0, at the south side of Sauk City where a rail trestle once crossed the river. The path curves slowly to the north, crossing Highway 12 and continuing through charming residential neighborhoods. Just east of the trail, you and your crew can visit Sauk City’s downtown area that’s home to antique shops, pubs, restaurants, and some riverside viewing areas. Stop in Vintage Brewing Co. for a tasty riverside meal on the patio that overlooks the scenic river.

Self-activated crossing lights will help you cross Business Hwy 12 and pass Sauk City Riverfront Park that slopes down towards the water. The trail descends below road level and runs closer to the river as it enters Prairie du Sac.

At the 2-mile marker, you’ll find a public bike repair station, a trail map and a ramp up to the heart of downtown Prairie du Sac. The public parking lot features an eagle watching platform where you and the fam can look through a spotting scope for majestic bald eagles and other birds soaring above the treetops. Visit this spot in January to join the fun at Bald Eagle Watching Days.

Another 500 feet down the trail, look for the mural of an eagle catching a fish before you pass under the Wisconsin Hwy 60 bridge and the trail becomes a corridor of trees. Veteran’s Memorial Park comes up on your right as does a road down to the dam, another area popular with eagle watchers.

At 3.9 miles, the trail leaves shade behind, crosses Hwy 78, and passes through open fields, offering clear views of the dramatic bluffs of Devil’s Lake to the north. Read the interpretive signs to learn more about the history, geology and wildlife of the area. Along the east side of the trail is Sauk Prairie Recreation Area, with its own system of trails, while much of the land to the west has been returned to the Ho-Chunk Nation. Trees and brush close in at about mile marker 5 and provide partial shade early or late in the day, and make for perfect picnic spots.

The End of the Trail – Time to Turn Around!

That’s the end of the trail– for now, anyway. Plans are in the works to connect the trail into Devil’s Lake State Park and farther on to the 400 Trail. Until then, this is your turnaround point. When planning your outing, be sure to remember that this is 10.5 miles one-way! If you and your group aren’t interested in the longer distance, you have plenty to see and do if you turn around early in the route and stick to the river area.

Trail access is free for pedestrians, but a state trail pass is required for all bikers and roller bladers 16 years of age and older, and may be purchased on the trail at a self-serve station near the Ruth Culver Library, the Sauk Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Prairie du Sac Village Hall, Sauk County Clerk's Office, or Sauk County Parks and Recreation Office.

Looking for more accessible adventures? Visit these wheelchair-accessible state parks in Wisconsin perfect for enjoying with your favorite people.