Chippewa River State Trail is a 26-mile urban-rural rail trail in western Wisconsin that follows the path of the Chippewa River . The trails runs from the spot of the confluence of the Chippewa with the Eau Claire River , at Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire ( 44°48′48″N 91°30′16″W / 44.81333°N 91.50444°W / 44.81333; -91.50444 ), meeting up with the Red Cedar State Trail near Red Cedar ( 44°42′03″N 91°52′12″W / 44.70083°N 91.87000°W / 44.70083; -91.87000 ), to Durand ( 44°37′53″N 91°57′47″W / 44.63139°N 91.96306°W / 44.63139; -91.96306 ). A former railroad corridor, the trail passes through a variety of habitat including wetlands, prairies and sandstone bluff.
5-644: The Chippewa River State Trail will eventually be part of the greater Chippewa River Trail System which also includes the Red Cedar State Trail and the Old Abe State Trail . Once completed, the system will include almost 70 miles (110 km) of trail and connect the cities of Durand , Menomonie , Chippewa Falls , Eau Claire and Cornell . As of 2022, the Red Cedar and Chippewa River Trails connect Eau Claire and Menomonie, but there
10-532: Is a fee to use the trail, except for walking and hiking. An annual pass costs $ 25.00 and a day pass $ 5.00. Old Abe State Trail Old Abe State Trail is a 19.5-mile (31.4 km) paved multi-use rail trail in Chippewa County , Wisconsin , USA. The name commemorates Old Abe , a bald eagle that was captured in 1861 by Ahgamahwegezhig, a Native American man, near the South Fork of
15-517: Is no trail between Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls. The trail is also connected with several smaller trails within the city of Eau Claire including a walking trail through Putnam Park on the far west side of the park. There is also access to the Farmer's Market in Phoenix Park, which is open on Saturday mornings. Outside of the city limits of Eau Claire (between Interstate 94 and Durand), there
20-709: The Flambeau River . At Jim Falls , which is on the trail, he sold the eagle to tavern keeper Daniel McCann , who in turn sold it to soldiers of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment . Old Abe became their mascot, who accompanied them during many battles of the American Civil War . The reservoir behind the hydroelectric dam in Jim Falls is named "Old Abe Lake", and a 10½ foot statue of Old Abe has been erected near
25-590: The dam. The trail presently runs from the outskirts of Chippewa Falls to Cornell , following an abandoned railroad line on the undeveloped shoreline of the Chippewa River for most of its route. The trail also provides access between Lake Wissota State Park and Brunet Island State Park . Old Abe State Trail is managed cooperatively by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Chippewa County. An extension south to Eau Claire
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