West Salem: Trails, Motorsport, and Literary History

West Salem offers different points of interest for a trip: recreational trails, motorsport, and historical connections. If you are planning a stay, you can weigh these themes according to your interests and decide whether trails, racing, or local history is your priority. Each theme offers a different focus and can be considered on its own.

Landscape and Location

West Salem is located within Wisconsin’s Western Upland, which is part of the Driftless Area. The town is also located along Interstate 90. The landscape classification provides the regional context, while the interstate offers an additional road connection.

Trails and a Rest Stop

The La Crosse River State Trail is unpaved and 21.5 miles long. From La Crosse, it runs east through and beyond West Salem to Sparta. Cyclists and hikers use it for recreation. Its route makes West Salem a reference point on a trail that continues beyond the town to Sparta.

The West Salem Veteran’s Park Trail is an 8-foot-wide paved path connecting Veteran’s Park to the road network on Heritage Lane. Compared with the La Crosse River State Trail, the paved surface and park connection are the main features here. If you are choosing between the two, you can consider the surface and route: the trail from La Crosse through and beyond West Salem to Sparta, or the park’s connection to the road network.

In downtown West Salem, a bike shelter and kiosk provide cyclists with a shaded rest stop and water. Check the condition of the facilities locally before your visit.

Motorsport and Events

LaCrosse Speedway in West Salem has two paved oval tracks for stock car racing and a dragstrip for Friday night Street Drags. It also hosts the historic short-track Oktoberfest Race Weekend. This travel connection differs from the trails: the focus is on a named motorsport venue, several types of tracks, and a specific historic race. If you would like to include Oktoberfest Race Weekend in your travel plans, check the event dates in advance, as they may change.

Literary History

During Garland’s summer stays at a house in West Salem before 1916, much of the first draft of the “Middle Border” series was written. The connection is specific in both time and subject: it relates to the summer stays and the creation of the first draft. For travelers interested in literary history, this is a particular cultural connection to consider when choosing a destination.

Historic Designation

A house in West Salem was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1973. This designation adds a preservation-related aspect to the town’s history.

Discover more destinations: La Crosse, Onalaska, Bangor.

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