Who we are
What we build
Why it matters
Building Community
Vernon Trails is a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to providing outdoor recreation for the communities we serve. What began as a small group of outdoor enthusiasts has grown into a productive, organized movement—while the core mission remains unchanged after 19 years. We are a 501(c)(3) organization guided by a Board of Directors, including an executive director, and powered by more than 8,500 hours of volunteer service each year. Vernon Trails works to promote, create, and maintain shared-use outdoor recreation spaces that strengthen community and support future generations.
On the Road
Vernon Trails has a long history of improving access and safety for people traveling by bike and on foot. Over the years, we’ve helped develop and promote safe roadway routes for riders of all abilities
Over the last 2 decades we have created, participated in and executed 100’s of community events. Events like Viroqua Community Bike Ride and Syttende Mai Bike Tour. Currently, the Dairy Roubaix gravel ride is our biggest fundraiser offering 3 different routes highlights the beauty of the Driftless Region.
One of our most significant contributions was advocating to bring the Viroqua Westby Trail (formerly Coon Prairie Trail) to life. Completed in 2011, this five-mile paved, multi-use path connects the communities of Viroqua and Westby. Vernon Trails served as a co-funder for the original construction and continues to financially support its long-term maintenance.
Off the Road
When Vernon Trails began its outdoor recreation initiative there wasn’t a single mile of shared use, natural service trails in Vernon County. As of today, Vernon Trails has advocated, collaborated, built, and maintained over 60 miles of shared use trails on 7 different properties both public and private lands throughout Vernon County, properties like, Sidie Hollow County Park, Hubbard Hills, Rusty Ridge.
We are a long-standing supporter of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, where we participate in the Adopt-A-Trail program.
We organize annual trail clean-up days for all our properties. Events like Sidiefest illustrates that stewardship doesn’t end when a trail opens—maintenance, care, and respect for the land are central to our mission.
These trails exist because of strong partnerships with public and private landowners and the dedication of volunteers from across our community.
Expanding Access
Vernon Trails continues to expand outdoor recreation. In 2013, we began investing our time and effort in the construction and creation of an 18 hole disc golf course in Viroqua, called Veteran Hills, located on the VFW land. In addition to the course on this property, we developed recreation for all seasons, disc golf, hiking, winter fat biking, snowshoeing, and Nordic skiing. We have dedicated thousands of volunteer hours and acquired sponsorships from dozens of local businesses and community members to build and maintain the course. This course is ranked in the top ten in the state of Wisconsin. This property is a well-known tourist draw, recording more than 2000 visitors in the last year.
The Future
Vernon Trails believes that outdoor spaces to explore and play in are essential for our children and our community.
To illustrate this commitment, we offer opportunities for youth to engage and participate in outdoor fun and land stewardship through our Youth Mountain Bike Team VTAC (Vernon Trails Area Composite Team) and our continued sponsorship of Camp Bluedog- A Midwest Mountain Bike Adventure. Both programs teach youth the sport of mountain biking and the importance of land stewardship through trail building and maintenance of the land. These principles are directly built into the curriculum.