We Did the Research, This Is Officially the Funniest Hiking Trail Name in Wisconsin

The folks in charge of trail names in the Badger State show a wide range of creativity when coming up with monikers for the hundreds of miles of stunning hikes in Wisconsin. Some are pretty straightforward, like Loop the Little Lake Trail or the Lakeshore Trail. You see the name, and you have a pretty good idea what you're in for on the hike. Others, like the Ice Age National Scenic Trail—which rose from humble state trail beginnings—offer a nod to the state's history. Falling into this this latter category is a Wisconsin trail with what I think is the funniest sounding name: the Gandy Dancer State Trail.

The Gandy Dancer State Trail is a multi-use pathway that stretches 98 miles from Superior, Wisconsin, through Pine County, Minnesota, and southward to St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. The northern segment from Danbury, Wisconsin, to Superior—which includes the 30-mile Minnesota section—is open to motorized use by ATVs, so hiking or biking is not recommended. The 48-mile southern section, however, which runs between Danbury and St. Croix Falls, over the bluffs above the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway valley, is closed to motorized vehicles. This makes it a wonderful destination for hiking and cycling in western Wisconsin.

From the St. Croix River towns of Danbury or St. Croix Falls, the trail winds its way across bluff-top prairies and through stands of native forest along its north-south route. You'll find that the trail is fairly level, as well, gaining only around 1,350 feet of elevation over its almost-50-mile course. Along the way, it passes through several charming small towns in Wisconsin, including Webster, Siren, Frederic, Luck, Milltown, and Centuria. Most of these towns have parks that serve as trailheads and break up the trail into shorter segments for day hiking.

But what about that name—Gandy Dancer? The name is a nod to the trail's history. The trail follows a series of former railway beds and rights of way. The workers who built the railroads in this part of the state often used tools made by the Gandy Manufacturing Company of Chicago, and they tended to work harmoniously when laying ties and track, as if they were dancing. It's believed this is the reason such workers were called Gandy Dancers. After a trail-naming contest in 1990, Gandy Dancer was selected in honor of the workers who built the railway that used to lay along its course. Despite the nod to history, it's still a funny name—and even more fun to say.

Regardless of whether saying "Gandy Dancer" puts a smile on your face like it does on mine, this trail should definitely be on your Badger State hiking list. Im fact, I think it's one of the best long trails in Wisconsin.

Have you spent any time on the Gandy Dancer Trail in Wisconsin? Do you know of any other Badger State trails with funny, quirky, or unusual names? If you do, we'd love to hear about them.