MADISON, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) – Across Wisconsin, miles and miles of railroad track go unused or sit abandoned.

State lawmakers want to figure out a way to help communities turn those tracks into trails for everyone to use.

Along Lake Superior's South Shore, you' will find the Tri-County Corridor Trail.

Mary McPhetridge with the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce says it's something that sets rural Northern Wisconsin apart from other places.

“It really virtually links Ashland to Iron River and to Washburn,” McPhetridge said.

What was once a railroad is now nearly 60 miles of trail paved with limestone gravel.

“We don't have the infrastructure that urban areas have and so for people that want to, for example, if you want to take your horse out and horseback ride you use the trail,” McPhetridge said. “If you want to do motorized for snowmobiling, ATVing, you've got a lot of trail uses.”

For the last 22 years, one of the biggest uses is the Whistle Stop Marathon.

A point-to-point race starting in Iron River and ending in Ashland.

It happens every October and makes for a beautiful fall run.

A fast enough time could even qualify you for the Boston Marathon.

Lawmakers in Madison are now exploring the idea of creating a state legislative caucus for trails.

State Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) says it's tough to know where to begin when trying to take on a new project.

“Do I call the Department of Transportation or is it an issue with the Department of Natural Resources? Is funding available here or is it there? And what we found is there isn't really any clearinghouse or organized agency to call,” Goyke said.

Right now, Southeast Wisconsin has 303 miles of existing trails which could be improved upon with a small investment.

The Route of the Badger trail offers a plan to link up to 700 miles worth of trails connecting cities, towns, and counties.

Lawmakers and staff gathered Wednesday morning to hear how the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy can help a state legislative caucus.

“I think a lot of folks know what a trail is, but don't understand how they can essentially revitalize a community,” Brian Housh, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Midwest Policy Director, said. “My own Village of Yellow Springs in Ohio, where I am council president, we have a trail that runs right through our community and its the reason why we still have a thriving downtown.”

And it's a reason the Chequamegon Bay area is thriving too.

“I can literally start in Ashland and end up in Superior and along the way I can stop in Iron River and spending money, I can stay overnight, I can access the trail, so I think it's really beneficial for rural communities,” McPhetridge said.

The Whistle Stop Half-Marathon and Marathon in Northern Wisconsin is coming up on October 12.

If you want to sign up for the race, you can register here.