The route was originally a railway built between Eland and Wausau by the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway. In 1996, the Friends of Mountain-Bay State Trail, the Wisconsin State Parks System, and Marathon County Parks worked together to convert this historic rail bed into a recreational trail. Today, it offers biking, hiking, and, between Weston and Pulaski only, snowmobiling through Wisconsin scenery. During the 1800s, several railroad companies came to Marathon County and laid tracks that inspired the growth of many towns along the way. Migrants to the area made a living working with the railroad, logging, operating sawmills, or farming.