Running between St. Croix Falls and Danbury, the mile Gandy Dancer State Trail Southern Section commemorates gandy dancers—those hardworking section crews who manually restored the railroad tracks in alignment to prevent train derailments.
While "dancer" likely referred to their rhythmic motion of working in unison to tamp down ties or adjust rails, "gandy" comes from the fact that the tools were made by the Gandy Tool Company of Chicago according to the website for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Combined with the northern section , the rail-trail rolls for 98 miles from St. Croix Falls north to Superior. Along the way, it crosses into Minnesota for 32 miles and then returns to Wisconsin.
The crushed-limestone trail follows an old route of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, which became the Soo Line Railroad after a merger. Wisconsin Central Ltd. The states of Wisconsin and Minnesota acquired the right-of-way, and Wisconsin surfaced the southern section with limestone in Beginning in St.
With 15 trails for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing, the town on the St. The trail passes through Veterans Park, in the heart of Siren. More services are available in Webster in 6 miles, after which the final leg to the trailhead in Danbury is the longest, about 10 miles. The trail crosses the St. Croix River on a foot trestle into Minnesota here. Snowmobiles are allowed along the entire length of the trail when there is a 4-inch groomed snow base.
A state trail pass is not required for hiking and running. Parking is available at numerous locations along the trail. Visit the TrailLink map for all options and detailed directions. A connector trail that leaves the information center heading southeast meets and then follows little-used Old Highway 8 for a short distance to Industrial Parkway.
