Dane County Council Snowmobile Clubs

09/19/2026

The Gateway Unveiling – Where Connections Begin
A First Look & First Crossing of the Wisconsin River Bridge

Join us as we celebrate a major milestone in the Wisconsin River Bridge and Gateway Park project! Be among the first to experience the new 500-foot recreational trail bridge connecting Sauk and Dane counties — a landmark achievement that reflects years of collaboration, partnership, and a shared commitment to bringing this vision to life.

📅 Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: 1200 Block of Water Street, Sauk City, WI 53583 (Future Gateway Park)

What’s Next? Winter, Phase II & the Official Grand Opening in 2027

The completion of Phase I is such an exciting achievement! Thank you to all our project partners and community members who have contributed to its success.

So, what comes next?

Winter! It won’t be long before the snow starts falling and snowmobiles get fired up for the season. However, our beautiful new bridge will not be open for snowmobile traffic during the 2026-2027 season. We appreciate your understanding and can’t wait to welcome your sleds next year. We promise it will be worth the wait.

Phase II also comes next: the completion of the 3-mile rail-to-trail conversion called the Walking Iron Trail will connect the new Wisconsin River bridge to an improved trailhead parking lot on State Highway 78 within the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. When complete, the conjoined projects will be open to hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and yes — snowmobiling — ready for all seasons of adventure in 2027-2028!

Official Grand Opening & Dedication Ceremony - 2027: Finally, a celebration to mark the grand opening and construction completion of these two connected projects will take place mid-summer, 2027. Stay tuned for more information and make plans to join us! This has been a true community effort, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with YOU.

03/14/2026

Our sincere apologies to fellow snowmobile enthusiasts but regardless of snow totals the next couple of days, Dane County Snowmobiles Trails are officially closed for the season. There are many factors playing into this decision.

1) The ground is not frozen enough to maintain snow totals, form a base and protect farmers crops below

2) A significant portion of our trail system has already been removed for our landowners to spread manure and prepare for planting

3) Wetlands and marsh areas are too wet and won’t freeze over adequately for safe travel.

4) Opening trails right now would sever several ties with a lot of landowners and our program would risk existence.

We thank everyone for a great season. Hopefully this type of snow will come again early next winter and it will stay cold enough to last a little longer.

If you disagree with reasons posted above, that’s ok keep those comments to yourself as they will be deleted and you will be blocked from this page. We appreciate your opinions however this post is not your platform to voice those concerns. Please direct those at your local clubs meetings or the county meetings.

12/18/2025

Shout out to CP Riders member Mark Fitzgerald for the awesome aerial photos of the Wisconsin River Bridge Project. Exciting times to have a multiple use trail which will allow snowmobilers to ride from Dane County and connect into Sauk County.

12/15/2025

All Dane County Trails will be closed tomorrow December 16th at 6 am. The hotline has been updated. Pray for colder temperatures and snowfall.

12/14/2025

12/12/2025

Huge thanks to all those who made it to the Christmas party last night hosted at one of our county sponsors Springfield Inn in Dane! Had some amazing food (this pregnant lady was in heaven). We were lucky enough to have County Executive Melissa Agard and Aaron from her office along with Tom Thorsen from County Parks join us for the festivities and our meeting. It was so great to see all th faces there to celebrate the holiday season. Some of us even got to ride there!

We want to wish you all a safe and happy holiday season. Get out and enjoy the trails, visit our sponsors and thank a landowner if you meet one! Stay right and between the blazers!

If you are interested in attending one of our meetings they are hosted at Springfield this season every second Thursday of the month start time of 7!

12/11/2025

Do us a favor, please STAY ON TRAIL. Currently looking for a disrespectful individual in the Springfield Corners area.

If you see someone causing disrespect please report them. We can do a lot with a sled registration number if you can manage to get pictures. This behavior gets trails closed.

12/10/2025

At this current time (6 PM 12/9/2025) NC, NW, SW, SE regions are all open. SE does still have a few sections of closed trail.

At 12 NOON Wednesday 12/10/2025 the NE region will be opening.

Make sure to visit our sponsors and thank our landowners.

12/09/2025

We know that there is some warm weather and rain in the forecast. If unsure whether the trails are open or closed please call the hotline. This page is run by those who also update the hotline which is the most accurate information for trail status in Dane County. Be a responsible rider and check before you go. If the weather is questionable, such as rain or warm temps, then use your best judgement before heading out. These conditions do impact the trail. Closing for just a few hours during warm temps does cause chaos which is why you see at times we remain open. Just use your heads and continue to be respectful!! Thank you

12/08/2025

Reasoning for NE region being closed at this time