Rustic Road (Wisconsin)

Highway system in Wisconsin, United States

Rustic Roads
Standard Rustic Road marker
Highway names
InterstatesInterstate X (I-X)
US HighwaysU.S. Highway X (US X)
State(State Trunk) Highway X (STH-X or WIS X)
County Highway(County Trunk) Highway X (CTH-X)
Rustic RoadRustic Road X (RX)
System links

The Rustic Road system is a system of scenic roads in the US state of Wisconsin. They differ from the main trunkline highway system in that they are not meant to be major through routes, but lightly traveled local access,[1] and are to meet minimum standards for natural features. Rustic roads have lower speed limits than those on other highway systems.[2] Each route is marked by brown and yellow signs, with the route number on a small placard below the sign.[3] The letter "R" prefix is followed by the number designation. Wisconsin is the only state to have a system of rustic roads.[4] Wisconsin has a separate system of scenic byways following the development of a national system in the 1990s.[5]

System description

Rustic Road 26 in autumn
Rustic Road 1, north of Medford

The Rustic Road concept was conceived in 1973.[1] The Wisconsin State Legislature established the program to help preserve lightly traveled scenic rural roads. There are a few requirements that a road must have in order to be designated as a rustic road, such as having outstanding natural features or areas that set the road apart from other roads, be a lightly traveled road, not be scheduled for a major improvement which would change its rustic characteristics, and preferably be at least two miles (3.2 km) with a loop, completed closure, or connection to a major highway at both ends of the route.[6] The maximum speed limit established by law is 45 miles per hour (72 km/h), but can be set lower by a local government if desired.[6] Rustic roads may be dirt, gravel, or paved.[6] They can be one- or two-way and can have accommodations for bicycles and hiking adjacent to or incorporated into the road or surrounding area.[2] The designation process is initiated by application for designation by a local government.[1]

History

The effort to identify rustic roads began in order to help local government and citizens preserve Wisconsin's scenic routes. The Rustic Roads system was established by the 1973 Wisconsin State Legislature.[3] The law created the Wisconsin Rustic Roads Board.[7] The first road was designated in 1975 in Taylor County in the Town of Rib Lake.[1] The application requires the reasons why a road should be designated, photographs, and a resolution of support from the local government.[1] A 10-member volunteer board develops the rules and standards for the roads, and enacts the final approval for each designation.[3] Before approving, two members of the board separately drive and personally assess the proposed route.[1] As of 2014, the system has 115 Rustic Roads for a total length of 665 miles (1,070 km) in 59 of the state's 72 counties.[1] At that time, the roads varied in length from 2 to 37 miles (3.2 to 59.5 km).[1]

List

Number Length (mi)[8] Length (km) Southern or western terminus Northern or eastern terminus Counties Formed Removed Notes
R1 5.0 8.0 CTH-D in Town of Rib Lake WIS 102 in Town of Rib Lake Taylor 01975-01-011975 current Unpaved
R2 7.9 12.7 Center and Grove Streets in Burlington WIS 83 in Waterford Racine Paved; three segments along Honey Lake and Maple roads, Heritage Road and Maple Road, connected by CTH-FF and CTH-D
R3 3.6 5.8 CTH-E in Springfield WIS 128 in Glenwood St. Croix Paved
R4 4.6 7.4 CTH-W in Springfield WIS 128 in Glenwood St. Croix Unpaved; has a spur to CTH-W
R5 3.1 5.0 WIS 164 in Waterford WIS 36 in Wind Lake Racine Paved; follows Loomis Road and Fries Lane
R6 13.3 21.4 WIS 64 in Cleveland CTH-E at Rusk County line Chippewa Paved; follows CTH-E
R7 3.5 5.6 CTH-AB in FranklinMontpelier WIS 29 in Montpelier Kewaunee Paved; follows Pine Grove, Sleepy Hollow, Cherneyville and Hrabik roads
R8 3.0 4.8 Loop including CTH-IR, Sunrise Road, Pine Lane, and Westview Road in Suamico Brown Paved; loop route
R9 6.7 10.8 CTH-T & Brauer Road in SevastopolSturgeon Bay CTH-T & Whitefish Bay Road in Sevastopol Door Paved; follows CTH-T
R10 2.5 4.0 Main Street in Summit CTH-P in Summit Waukesha Paved; follows Mill Road and CTH-B; Main Street connects to R-115
R11 10.3 16.6 WIS 50 in Lyons R-11 (South Road) in Lyons Walworth Paved; loop route along South, Spring Valley, Knob and Steele roads; Spring Valley Road connects to R-12, and Steele Road intersects R-36
R12 5.7 9.2 WIS 50 in Lyons WIS 36 in Lyons Walworth Paved; follows Black, Spring Valley and Sheridan Springs roads and Church Street; Spring Valley Road connects to R-11
R13 3.0 4.8 Baer Drive in Town of Hudson River Road in St. Joseph St. Croix Paved; follows Trout Brook Road
R14 2.0 3.2 CTH-A in Easton CTH-B in New Chester–Easton Adams Unpaved; follows Ember Drive
R15 5.4 8.7 Fish Lake Road in Town of Grantsburg Hickerson Road in Town of Grantsburg Burnett Paved; follows West River and Skog roads
R16 5.2 8.4 CTH-O at city limits of Two Rivers CTH-V in Two Rivers Manitowoc Paved; follows CTH-O through Point Beach State Forest
R17 2.7 4.3 CTH-T in Lanark US 10 in Lanark Portage Paved; follows Morgan and Otto roads
R18 6.8 10.9 CTH-M & 18th Avenue
CTH-M & 25th Street
CTH-M & 15+34 Avenue
CTH-M & 17+14 Avenue
Barron Paved; two segments with CTH-M as a connecting highway; follows 23rd Street and 15+34 Avenue plus 25th Street and 17+14 Avenue
R19 2.3 3.7 CTH-B in Dunn Goodland Park Road in Dunn Dane Paved; follows Lalor Road next to the Waubesa Wetlands State Natural Area
R20 2.9 4.7 Schneider Road in McFarland CTH-AB in Stoughton Dane Paved; follows Dreyson Road
R21 8.6 13.8 Sauk Paved and unpaved; follows Slotty Road and Orchard Drive with spurs along Schara Drive and Ruff Road
R22 5.5 8.9 CTH-D in Neshkoro Big Island Road in Neshkoro Green Lake Paved and unpaved portions; follows White River Road through the White River Marsh State Wilderness Area
R23 3.6 5.8 Hartman Creek Road in Hartman Creek State Park CTH-QQ in Rural Waupaca Paved; follows Rural Road
R24 2.7 4.3 Emmons Creek Road at Portage County line R-23 (Rural Road) near Rural Waupaca Paved and unpaved; follows Emmons Creek Road
R25 2.6 4.2 CTH-DD CTH-D Racine Paved; follows Oak Knoll Road; connects to R-2 via CTH-D (Washington Avenue)
R26 5.3 8.5 US 14/US 61 in La Crosse US 14/US 61 east of La Crosse La Crosse Paved; follows CTH-MM
R27 4.3 6.9 CTH-F CTH-F Green Paved; follows Park Road
R28 5.2 8.4 CTH-H CTH-D south of Range Polk Paved and unpaved; follows Mains Crossing (Old US 8
R29 2.7 4.3 WIS 50 in Town of Geneva WIS 50 in Lake Geneva Walworth Paved; follows Snake Road
R30 2.3 3.7 CTH-K WIS 36 Racine Paved; follows Hillcrest, Hanson, Division and Malchine roads
R31 2.6 4.2 I-90 in West Salem
WIS 16 at Swarthout Lakeside Park
WIS 16 in West Salem
WIS 16 at Swarthout Lakeside Park
La Crosse Paved; southern section follows village streets and CTH-C in West Salem; northern section loops around Swarthout Lakeside Park
R32 37.1 59.7 CTH-W
CTH-C
CTH-C
US 8
Marinette Paved and unpaved; souther segment follows Parkway Road; northern segment follows CTH-I; branch from northern segment follows Goodman Park Road to Benson Lake Road
R33 12.1 19.5 CTH-Q at the Waukesha County line WIS 167 & CTH-CC Washington Paved; follows Monches and St. Augustine roads with branches along Emerald Drive, Shamrock Lane and Donegal Road to CTH-K
R34 8.8 14.2 WIS 70 WIS 55 on Alvin Forest Paved and unpaved; follows Fisher and Cary Dam roads and Lakeview Drive
R35 2.7 4.3 John Paul Road in Milton CTH-N Rock Paved; follows Sterns Road
R36 3.6 5.8 WIS 50 45th Road at Kenosha County line Walworth County Paved; follows Cranberry Road with a branch along Berndt Road to R-11
R37 1.8 2.9 108th Street CTH-U (80th Street) Racine Paved; follows Three Mile Road
R38 2.5 4.0 CTH-Q Cana Island Door Paved; follows Cana Island Road
R39 2.5 4.0 WIS 57 Point Drive Door Paved; follows Ridges Road
R40 4.6 7.4 CHT-J CTH-FF Brown Paved; follows Trout Creek Drive, North Pine Tree Road, Centennial Centre Boulevard, Forest Road and Hill Drive
R41 2.3 3.7 70th & CTH-G CTH-E Polk Paved and gravel sections; follows Clara Lake Drive
R42 5.7 9.2 CTH-JB southeast of Burlington WIS 142 east of Burlington Racine Paved; follows Hoosier Creek Road, but discontinuous across the railroad tracks; branches to CTH-JB along Wheatland Road and to WIS 142 along Brever Road
R43 3.7 6.0 WIS 142 WIS 11 Kenosha, Racine Paved; follows CTH-B
R44 6.5 10.5 Panske Road CTH-X Marinette Paved; follows Right-of-Way Road with a branch to Sumac Lane
R45 2.7 4.3 Coon Fork Lake CTH-H Eau Claire Unpaved; follows Goat Ranch Road
R46 1.3 2.1 WIS 32/WIS 57 in DePere WIS 32/WIS 57 in DePere Brown Paved; follows Old Plank Road
R47 14.0 22.5 US 45 in Tigerton CTH-Q in Wittenberg Shawano Paved, follows CTH-M
R48 2.1 3.4 CTH-H southeast of Saxeville CTH-W & R-117 south of Saxeville Waushara Paved; follows 26th Road
R49 9.8 15.8 CTH-T in Sauk County WIS 33 in Portage Sauk, Columbia Paved; follows Levee Road
R50 4.6 7.4 8th Drive 4th Avenue Adams Unpaved; follows Cottonville Avenue (Old State Road)
R51 4.3 6.9 CTH-AA southeast of Maiden Rock CTH-CC Pierce Unpaved, closed in winter; follows 20th Avenue, 197th Street, and 50th Avenue
R52 6.7 10.8 CTH-Y at county line Knollwood Drive at county line Washington, Ozaukee Paved and unpaved; follows Paradise and Washington drives plus Wausaukee, St. Augustine, Blue Goose and Knollwood roads; branch along Paradise Drive connects to CTH-M
R53 4.1 6.6 I-41/US 41 frontage road west of Wrightstown I-41/US 41 frontage road at Wrightstown Outagamie Paved; follows Bodde, Greiner, McCabe, and Garrity roads
R54 12.3 19.8 CTH-O WIS 54 Jackson Paved; follows North Settlement Road through Black River State Forest
R55 2.8 4.5 CTH-SS WIS 131 southeast of LaFarge Vernon Paved and unpaved; follows Tunnelville Road
R56 8.6 13.8 WIS 131 south of Ontario WIS 131 in Ontario Vernon Paved; follows Dutch Hollow, Sand Hill, Hoff Valley and Lower Ridge roads
R57 4.1 6.6 WIS 54 US 10 Waupaca Paved; follows Town Line and Foley roads; follows the Ice Age National Scenic Trail
R58 9.6 15.4 WIS 70 US 51 Oneida Paved; follows Blue Lake and Mercer Lake roads
R59 4.5 7.2 R-58 (Blue Lake Road) WIS 70 Oneida Unpaved and paved; follows Sutton and Camp Pinemere roads
R60 11.7 18.8 CTH-M CTH-N Vilas Paved; follows CTH-K
R61 3.3 5.3 CTH-M in Hortonville WIS 76 near Stephensville Outagamie Paved; follows CTH-MM
R62 2.0 3.2 CHT-C WIS 86 Price Paved; follows CTH-RR
R63 2.4 3.9 WIS 23 south of Glenbeulah CTH-S in Glenbeulah Sheboygan Paved and unpaved; follows CHT-S
R64 2.7 4.3 US 53/WIS 93 US 53/WIS 93 La Crosse Paved; follows Old 93 and Amsterdam Prairie roads
R65 2.0 3.2 Granville Road WIS 181 Ozaukee Paved and unpaved; follows Hawthorne Road
R66 7.5 12.1 Buncombe Road at Grant County line CTH-W Lafayette Paved; follows sections of Buncombe, Kennedy, Beebe and Ensche roads branching out in different directions to CTH-W and the Illinois state line
R67 4.6 7.4 US 8/US 63 in Turtle Lake US 63 north of Turtle Lake Barron, Polk Paved and unpaved; follows Pine Street, West Town Line Road, Barron–Polk Street and 16th Avenue
R68 5.7 9.2 US 14 Stebbinsville Road at Dane County line Rock Paved; follows Riley Road
R69 0.75 1.21 East Albert Street End of Old Agency House Road Columbia Paved; follows Old Agency House Road
R70 10.1 16.3 US 61 southwest of Stitzer CTH-E in Stitzer Grant 01995-01-011995[9] current Paved and unpaved; follows Liberty Ridge Road with a branch along Hill, Ridge, Sleepy Hollow and Scenic roads
R71 2.2 3.5 WIS 70 southwest of Stone Lake CTH-A Washburn Paved; follows Lake and Little Stone roads
R72 3.1 5.0 CTH-M CTH-M Winnebago Paved and unpaved; follows Mountain Road
R73 2.5 4.0 CTH-P south of Atwood CTH-N east of Atwood Clark Unpaved; follows Cloverdale Road and Robin Avenue
R74 32.5 52.3 WIS 139 WIS 101 & CTH-C Florence Paved and unpaved; follows Morgan Lake Road with a loop along Twin Rivers, Newald, Newald Tower and Rock Creek roads
R75 3.7 6.0 CTH-G south of Rewey CTH-A east of Rewey Iowa Paved; follows Turnbull, Bromley and Ogden roads
R76 9.0 14.5 CTH-B in Town of Hewett US 10 in Twon of Hewett Clark Unpaved; follows Bruce Mound Avenue, Sand Road, Fisher Avenue, Middle Road and Columbia Avenue; branch along Fisher Avenue connects to Poertner Road
R77 3.5 5.6 CTH-TT CTH-TT Door Paved; follows Lake Forest Park Drive along CTH-TT
R78 4.0 6.4 CTH-E CTH-E Lincoln Paved and unpaved; follows Tesch Road
R79 1.2 1.9 CTH-F WIS 35 Burnett Paved; follows Glendenning Road
R80 2.1 3.4 CTH-A Tokash Road Burnett Paved; follows CTH-E
R81 2.9 4.7 WIS 39 near New Glarus CTH-H near New Glarus Green Paved; follows Marty Road
R82 9.4 15.1 WIS 67 west of Campbellsport WIS 67 west of Campbellsport Fond du Lac Paved; follows Katzenburg, Cloverland, Rolling, Spring and River drives with branches connecting between WIS 67 and CTH-W
R83 4.6 7.4 CTH-V southwest of Haugen 30th Avenue at Washburn County line Barron Unpaved; follows 13+34-16th Street (Narrow Gauge Road)
R84 2.2 3.5 Rock River Road near Fort Atkinson CTH-N near Fort Atkinson Jefferson Paved; follows Bark River Road
R85 2.5 4.0 CTH-DD near Burlington CTH-DD near Burlington Walworth Paved; loop route along Potter and Kearney roads
R86 7.3 11.7 WIS 59 in North Prairie US 18 & R-115 near Dousman Waukesha Paved; follows sections of Piper Road, CTH-ZZ and Waterville Road
R87 6.7 10.8 WIS 26 near Fort Atkinson US 12 near Fort Atkinson Jefferson Paved; follows Pond, Poeppel, McIntyre and Creamery roads
R88 3.5 5.6 Main Street in Whitewater Carnes Road Walworth, Jefferson Paved; follows Cold Spring Road
R89 4.7 7.6 370th Avenue CTH-P in Menomonie Dunn Paved; follows 410th and 420th streets and CTH-D
R90 3.2 5.1 CTH-OK CTH-G Green Unpaved; follows Preston, Mill, and Kaderly roads
R91 5.0 8.0 WIS 54 WIS 54 Trempealeau Paved and unpaved; follows River Drive
R92 4.1 6.6 WIS 29/WIS 35 & CTH-FF south of River Falls CTH-O Pierce Paved; follows Happy Valley Road
R93 2.8 4.5 145th Street in Luck CTH-GG east of Luck Polk Unpaved; follows Chippewa Trail
R94 4.6 7.4 WIS 81 CTH-J Green Paved; follows Skinner Hollow Road
R95 16.4 26.4 WIS 77 in Town of Spider Lake CTH-M in Town of Namakagon Sawyer, Bayfield Unpaved and paved; follows FR-203 and Lake Land Lake Road with a loop on FR-622 and FR-206
R96 3.6 5.8 CTH-N near Cottage Grove Jargo Road near Cottage Grove Dane Paved; follows Nora Road
R97 5.0 8.0 CTH-X near Middle Inlet CTH-C Marinette Paved and unpaved; follows Sweetheart City and Creek roads
R98 8.0 12.9 WIS 35 in Town of Oakland WIS 35 in Town of Oakland Burnett Paved; follows Old 35, CCC, and Hayden Lake roads; crosses into Town of Swiss
R99 3.4 5.5 WIS 133 in Potosi WIS 33 in Potosi Grant Paved; follows River Lane, Slazing and Brewery Hollow roads along a section of the Mississippi River
R100 13.5 21.7 CTH-J near Mercer CR 519 at Michigan state line Iron Paved; follows CTH-H and CTH-G
R101 4.3 6.9 WIS 35 in Osceola WIS 35 in Dresser Polk Paved; follows CTH-S
R102 2.2 3.5 WIS 21 & CTH-GG WIS 21 & 9th Avenue Waushara Paved and unpaved; follows 7th Drive and Cumberland Avenue
R103 2.8 4.5 40th Street & 230th Avenue Polk–St. Croix Road & 280th Street Polk, Sawyer Paved and unpaved; follows 230th Avenue, Marine Road, County Line Avenue and Polk–St. Croix Road
R104 2.8 4.5 CTH-CM on Columbia–Marquette county line CTH-O Columbia, Marquette Paved; follows Barry and 14th roads
R105 13.0 20.9 WIS 70 & FR-148 WIS 70 & FR-144 Price Paved and unpaved; follows FR-148 (Smith Rapids Road) and FR-144 (Shady Knoll Road); branches along FR-535 (Lodging Dam Road, Boat Landing Road)
R106 7.2 11.6 CTH-Z in Town of Leroy Center Line Road in Town of Leroy Dodge Paved and unpaved; follows Ledge, North Point, South Point and West Point roads; several branches all south of WIS 49
R107 6.7 10.8 CTH-M in Town of Peru CTH-O in Town of Peru Dunn Paved and unpaved; follows 50th Avenue, 650th Street and 160th Avenue
R108 3.4 5.5 CTH-OO in Town of Lenroot CTH-OO in Town of Lenroot Sawyer Paved and unpaved; follows Northern Lights, Bedecked and Janet roads; crosses into Town of Spider Lake
R109 2.3 3.7 CTH-S in Oconto Maple Grove School Road Oconto Paved; follows North Park Avenue Road
R110 5.9 9.5 WIS 60 (Lower Wisconsin River Road) WIS 11 near Lodi Columbia Paved; follows O'Connor, Van Ness and Chrislaw roads
R111 25.5 41.0 WIS 77 & CTH-S CTH-GG Sawyer, Ashland Paved and unpaved; follows CTH-S, Moose Lake Road and FR-164 with a branch along FR-174
R112 2.8 4.5 CTH-G Dutch Hollow Road Sauk Paved; follows Bundy Hollow Road
R113 9.4 15.1 CTH-W in Mountain CTH-F Oconto Paved; follows Old 32 Road
R114 13.1 21.1 CTH-F CHT-O Rusk Unpaved; follows North Buck's Lake, Perch Lake and Firelane roads with a branch along South Buck's Lake Road
R115 2.9 4.7 US 18 & R-86 in Summit CTH-DR in Summit Waukesha Paved; follows Waterville Road; CTH-DR connects to R-10; roadway continues south as R-86
R116 2.2 3.5 CTH-A in Boardman 120th St in Town of Richmond St. Croix Paved; follows 140th Avenue
R117 1.8 2.9 CTH-A near Saxeville CTH-W & R-48 (26th Road) near Saxeville Waushara Paved and unpaved; follows Portage Road, Portage Street and CTH-W plus a spur along Covered Bridge Road
R118 26.3 42.3 WIS 32 in Waubeno R-118 (CTH-C) Forest Paved and unpaved; follows Indian Market, Kuffner, Camp 1 and Bay Shore roads forming a loop
R119 27.0 43.5 Loop around Washington Island Door Paved; follows CTH-W and shoreline roads on the island
R120 2.0 3.2 CTH-ES in Town of Lafayette CTH-A in Town of Lafayette Walworth Paved; follows Peck Station Road
R121 2.9 4.7 WIS 80 CTH-S Juneau Paved; follows Lee Road
R122 2.7 4.3 CTH-D in Town of Waubeek CTH-ZX in Town of Waterville Pepin Paved; follows Semple Road
R123 3.2 5.1 Fairview Road Fairview Road Winnebago 02022-01-012022[10] current Paved and unpaved; follows Medina Junction and Pioneer roads
R124 4.8 7.7 WIS 48 northwest of Mount Vernon CTH-S northeast of Mount Horeb Dane 02023-01-012023[11] current Paved; follows Town Hall Road
R125 9.4 15.1 CTH-OO and Clear Lake Road CTH-M Bayfield, Saywer 02024-01-012024[12] current Paved and unpaved; follows Telemark Road in Sawyer County and Spider Lake Fire Lane in Bayfield County
R126 3.6 5.8 WIS 20 near East Troy WIS 20 Walworth 02024-01-012024[12] current Paved; follows Hillburn Mill and Bell School roads

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Woldt, Jennifer K. (October 23, 2014). "Waushara County Road Seeking Rustic Designation". The Post Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. p. A11.
  2. ^ a b Rustic Roads Board (June 1, 1981). "Chapter Trans-RR 1" (PDF). State of Wisconsin. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c Logan, Ben; Vukelich, George; Feraca, Jean; Blei, Norbert; Stokes, Bill (1995). Wisconsin's Rustic Roads: A Road Less Travelled. Boulder Junction, Wisconsin: Lost River Press. pp. 101+. ISBN 978-1-883755-02-7.
  4. ^ "Wisconsin Rustic Roads". PBS Wisconsin Documentaries. Green Bay, Wisconsin. January 15, 2010. Wisconsin Public Television. WPNE-TV.
  5. ^ "Designated byways". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c Logan et al. (1995), p. 103
  7. ^ Logan et al. (1995), p. 105
  8. ^ Wisconsin Department of Transportation (2025). Wisconsin Rustic Roads (PDF) (2025 ed.). Madison: Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  9. ^ "Wisconsin's Rustic Roads". PBS Wisconsin Documentaries. PBS Wisconsin. April 30, 1996. 2:00. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  10. ^ Hurley, Scott (June 17, 2022). "Winnebago County Road Named a Rustic Road". FOX 11 News. Green Bay, Wisconsin: WLUK-TV. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  11. ^ "Gov. Evers Announces New Rustic Roads Guide with 124 Routes". La Crosse Tribune. July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Office of the Governor (April 15, 2024). "Gov. Evers, WisDOT Announce Two New Rustic Roads" (Press release). Madison: Office of the Governor. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  • Rustic Roads at Wisconsin Highways
  • Rustic Roads at WisDOT
    • Current WisDOT guide to all Rustic Roads
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