Discover the
Northwest Sands Auto Trail
Explore the fascinating geology, ecology, history and culture
of the Northwest Sands Ecological Landscape
Welcome to the
Northwest Sands Auto Trail
Click on the map to take an automated digital tour of the Auto Trail.
This is your entry point for exploring the Northwest Sands Auto Trail in northwestern Wisconsin. This "adventure" trail approximately follows a traditional foot path, which briefly became a wagon trail, between La Pointe, on Madeline Island, and St. Croix Falls. The app takes you through 57 points of interest along an auto "trail" of over 200 miles.
Note that when we say “adventure” we’re serious. Not all of the route is along smooth, or even paved roads. In a very few small stretches, 4-wheel or all-wheel drive can be helpful. On the other hand, we've learned that some mountain bikers, and others who revel in rough route conditions, are excited about exploring the NWSAT route.
The trail roughly follows the backbone of what Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources defines as the Northwest Sands Ecological Landscape. Unfathomable amounts of sand were deposited here by glaciers more than 11,000 years ago, and the resulting dry, fire-prone region is a globally rare ecosystem characterized by thousands of acres of oak and pine barrens. Its history is rich and multi-layered. Indigenous people have used the region and its trails for many generations. The fur trade flourished, the 19th Century treaty era brought lumbering and then hardscrabble efforts of farming and community-building. Today much of the region is managed as habitat for sharp-tailed grouse and other species.
Visit "stops" along and near the Auto Trail to learn about:
-
Characteristic geology from which the landscape evolved,
-
Unique "barrens" ecology,
-
History of the people who have lived here the longest and were followed by colonists,
-
Cultures of the people who populated the communities, and
-
Rich and diverse recreation opportunities that the area around the Northwest Sands Auto Trail offers.
The Four Themes of the Auto Trail
Everything about the Northwest Sands starts with its geology. The Sands landscape, as its name suggests, is covered with unfathomable amounts of sand. Upon that sand evolved a unique and fairly rare community of plants and animals. Over many centuries a series of peoples inhabited the Sands and took advantage of its unique resources. And as they did, rich cultures emerged. Some thrived, some did not. Here are brief introductions to the four themes.
Recreation near the Auto Trail
Recreation and exploration opportunities abound along and near the Auto Trail. Many of them can be accessed at specific Auto Trail stops, Spur stops and Museums which you can explore with the interactive map. Others include large wildlife areas, long riverways and trails, and many more. The following summary highlights the many recreation possibilities that directly intersect the Auto Trail.
33 Historic sites
11 State Natural Areas (1 also USFS)
10 museums (satellites)
8 Cemeteries
8 Spur stops
5 DNR and USFS wildlife areas
3 Local parks
2 NPS visitor centers
3 National trails
2 State trails
2 Museums
2 Historic schools
1 Tribal casino
1 DNR fish hatchery
1 Channel crossing
Funding Support
This project is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the terms and conditions of Wisconsin Coastal Management Program Grant Agreement No. AD249145-025.10. | Funded by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Grant # NA24NOSX419C0009.