Winston Tunnel Hike

The winter hiking contingent of the Dubuque Bicycle Club traveled to the Winston Tunnel State Natural Area south of Galena today. We found a beautiful, well-maintained trail with some exposed wooden rails still visible despite the train track abandoned in 1971. Wikipedia tells us that the tunnel was built in 1888, used by the Chicago Great Western Railway, and was 2,493 feet in length. Although the tunnel is not accessbile, the trail followed the railbed in places and traversed some wooded hills. The remnants of a stone building and other structural features were explored along the trail.