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[This is the biking section-- less the photographs-- of a much larger document from the state of Wisconsin called the 1994 Recreation Guide, which you could get for yourself by calling 800-432-TRIP-- these days, they have slightly different publications with similar names. Writing in June, 1998-- some of this information may be stale, since it's four years old. Updates, additions, comments, and flames are solicited; sections that have been updated are marked as such. -Ed.]
Wisconsin and bicycles were made for each other. Our well-developed and maintained roads wind through lush countryside and cool forests, past glacial lakes and historic sites, through major cities as well as quaint communities well off the beaten path.
From the turn of the century, Wisconsin has constantly expanded and improved its extensive system of paved roadways originally constructed to bring the state's milk from farm to market Today, bicycling flourishes on the dairy state's excellent roadways and Wisconsin has emerged as the sport's national leader.
Several Wisconsin companies now offer unique and exciting bicycle tours tailored to the experience levels of a wide variety of riders. Tours can vary in length from a half-day to seven days complete with pre-planned accommodations and meals. From the farm country of the south to the northwoods, a Wisconsin bicycle adventure is one you will long remember!
Lakeshore Peddlers
c/o Manitowoc Chamber of Commerce
1515 Memorial Drive
P.O. Box 903
Manitowoc, WI 54221
Phone 414-684-5575 or 800-262-7892 (US)
A bicycle club that offers year-round rides. Day loops vary in length. Scenic beauty, points of interest, good road surfaces and light auto traffic. For monthly schedule, call 414-684-5674.
Out Spokin' Adventures
409 N. Court St.
Sparta, WI 54656
Phone 608-269-6087
Email: Tom McAnulty
WWW:
http://host.pc.centuryinter.net/outspokin/
One-day, three-day and seven-day worry-free biking vacation packages offered May through October. Tours include inn-to-inn, camping, self-contained and custom vacations; some combined with hiking, canoeing and horseback riding. All tours accompanied by an experienced guide and mechanic. Meals and lodging included. Group rates available. Shuttle and driver service is provided on a space-available basis for the bike trails surrounding Sparta. Mechanical support and communications service for groups.
[Reportedly, Out Spokin' Adventures has expanded to include bicycle rental and shuttle service on the 400, Omaha, Elroy/Sparta, La Crosse River, and Great River State Trails. -Ed.]
Red Cedar Outfitters
910 Hudson Rd.
Menomonie, WI 54751
Phone 715-235-5431
Rental bicycles and equipment for day or extended self-guided tours in the Red Cedar and Chippewa Valleys. Combination canoe and bike trips offered. Guided bike tours for persons with handicaps also available.
TOBRAW-- The Only Bike Ride Across Wisconsin
TOBRAW Bicycle Club
c/o Melvin C. Welch
3632 W. Maple St.
Milwaukee 53215
Phone 414-383-5563
Four rides offered during the bicycle season: June 13-July 2, Bike USA East Milwaukee to Belfast, Maine; July 10-July 16, Lake-to-Lake, Superior to Milwaukee; July 20-Aug 28, Bike USA West, Anacortes, WA to Milwaukee; and Oct. 7-9, Amish & Fall Color Tour, along the Kickapoo River in southwestern Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Bicycle Campers
3267 S. Illinois Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Phone 414-372-0707 or 414-769-9966
Organized as a non-profit committee of the Cream City Cycle Club, Wisconsin Bicycle Campers offers a variety of rides, May through October. Rides are usually 3-day weekend, self-contained tours of Wisconsin's most scenic areas. Some loop tours are offered, along with annual event rides.
Wisconsin Off-Road Adventures
104 Wisconsin Ave.
Montreal, WI 54550
Phone 715-561-5180
Mountain bike and road bike tour information including inn-to-inn tours, local and area trails in the Lake Superior area of northern Wisconsin. Headquartered at The Inn, a traditional Bed & Breakfast located in Montreal, Wisconsin. Explore 2.8 million acres of forest and lakes in Wisconsin's northwoods.
Wisconsin is a leader in off-road bicycle trail development, topping the nation with 466.3 "rails-to-trails" miles. These abandoned railroad corridors are perfect hard-surface, minimal grade (4%) bike trails that take you through some of the most beautiful forests, hills, dales and meadows in Wisconsin. Bike these popular routes:
From Algoma, the Ahnapee Trail winds 15.3 miles to a trailhead just south of Sturgeon Bay. The 8-foot wide trail is a former railroad bed surfaced with crushed limestone. Rest stop facilities are located at each end of the trail and at the halfway point. The trail follows the beautiful Ahnapee River for several miles. The trail is open year-round and is available for hiking, mountain biking and snowmobil- ing. (The trail is recommended for mountain bikes only-- not touring bikes.) For more information, contact:
Algoma Chamber of Commerce
416 Fremont - City Hall
Algoma, WI 54201
Phone 414-487- 2041
Enjoy the majesty and solitude of the north woods. This unique 18-mile trail leads you from the island city of Minocqua past lakes, bays and towering forests to County Trunk K near its intersection with Hwy 51. Bearskin Creek crosses the trail 10 times on its way from Big Bearskin to Little Bearskin Lake. This area, once the domain of the Indians, loggers and fur traders, retains its wilderness beauty today. The trail was developed in 1973 from an abandoned railroad bed. For more information contact:
Bearskin Trailor:
Trout Lake Forestry Headquarters
4125 Hwy M
Boulder Junction, WI 54512
Phone 715-385-2727
Minocqua Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1006
Minocqua, WI 54548
Phone 715-356-5266; 800-44-NORTH.
This 12-mile trail, developed in 1983, follows the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific right-of-way from Appleton Avenue in Menomonee Falls to Main Street in the Village of Merton. The 8-foot wide trail is surfaced with crushed limestone chips and is used by bikers, hikers, runners and cross-country skiers. Designated portions of the trail west of Menomonee Park can be used by snowmobilers. A separate 2.5 mile bridle path has been constructed near the park. For a map and further information, contact:
Waukesha County Park & Planning Department
500 Riverview Ave.
Waukesha, WI 53188
Phone 414-548-7801
A 47-mile former railroad corridor between Monroe and Mineral Point in southwestern Wisconsin. Allows shared use of ATVs, minibikes, horses, bikers and hikers in summer; snowmobiling in the winter. Trail surface is compacted limestone screenings - not a paved trail. Located in the heart of a three-county area boasting over 30 cheese factories specializing in Swiss, Muenster, Limburger and a variety of Italian cheeses. The trail begins in the southwest corner of Monroe and heads west through Browntown, South Wayne, Gratiot, Darlington, Calamine and Mineral Point. Features include a 440-foot bridge over the Pecatonica River west of Browntown and a historic depot/museum at Darlington. At Calamine, the trail connects with the Pecatonica State Park Trail which puts the biker and hiker in a link with some 200 miles of pathways located in nine southwestern Wisconsin counties. For more information, contact:
Monroe Chamber of Commerce
1516 11th St.
Monroe, WI 53566
Phone 608-325-7648
The "Granddaddy" of them all treats bicyclists to a delightful 33-mile roll through wooded valleys and friendly small towns, dealing with the hills as the railroad did, by tunneling through them. There are three of these century-old short cuts on the trail and numerous campgrounds along the way. For more information write:
Elroy-Sparta State Trailor:
Box 99, Ontario
WI 54651
Phone 608-337-4775
Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce
111 Milwaukee St.
Sparta, WI 54656
Phone 800-354-BIKE, or 608-269-4123
[This section has updates from the original source document, provided by Friends of the 400 State Trail in June, 1998. -Ed.]
This 22-mile state bike trail, said to be the most scenic rail-trail in Wisconsin, runs from Elroy southeast to Reedsburg along a former railroad right-of-way, passing through the charming communities of Union Center, Wonewoc and LaValle. The trail connects with the prestigious Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail. The somewhat hilly terrain features rock outcroppings along the Baraboo River. On the 7-mile stretch from Wonewoc to LaValle, a parallel bridle path is now complete. For more information, contact:
Wildcat Mountain State Parkor
Hwy 33-East
Ontario, WI 54651
Phone: 608-337-4775
The 400 State Trail
Reedsburg Chamber
P. O. Box 142
Reedsburg, WI 53959
Phone: 608-524-2850 or 800-844-3507
Email: Reedsbrg@mwt.net
This 50-mile mountain bike trail runs from St. Croix Falls in Polk County to Danbury in Burnett County along a former Soo Line railbed. The trail traverses Wisconsin's "Indianhead Countr" in the beautiful northwestern corner of the state, linking nine picturesque Wisconsin communities. The trail is used by hikers and bikers in the spring/summer; and by snowmobilers and ATVs in periods of snow cover. One highlight of the trail is a 350-foot bridge over the St Croix River just north of Danbury. Future plans call for the trail to continue north, all the way to Superior. The trail bed is compacted gravel. For more trail information, contact:
Brunett Co. Tourism Departmentor:
P.O. Box 560
Siren, WI 54872
Phone 715-349-7570; or 800-788-0139
Polk Co. Planning Office
Courthouse
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
Phone 715-485-3161
This 47-mile trail, developed in 1986 on an abandoned railroad grade, is located in southern Wisconsin between Waukesha and Cottage Grove. The trail is surfaced with crushed limestone, packed smooth. Near Jefferson a 4-mile stretch is routed along township roads. The western part of the trail runs from Cottage Grove past Hwy 26 north of Jefferson. The eastern part of the trail begins three miles east of Jefferson and runs to Waukesha. For a trail map and more information contact:
Glacial Drumlin Trail-Eastor:
Lapharn Peak Unit-KMSF
N846-W329, CTH C
Delafield, WI 53018
Phone 414-646-3025
Glacial Drumlin Trail-West
1213 S. Main St.
Lake Mills, WI 53551
Phone 414-648-8774
Following the shore of the mighty Mississippi River, this trail traces a 22.5-mile path from Onalaska north through Trempealeau and Perrot State Park to the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge. The park's 500-foot bluffs offer breathtaking views of the river while the 6,000-acre refuge is the home of a wide variety of waterfowl and wildlife, including the American Bald Eagle. For more information, contact:
Perrot State Park
Route 1, Box 407
Trempealeau, WI 54661
Phone 608-534-6409
[I've ridden this trail, and I can't say enough good about the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, which makes this the rare trail that has a genuine destination at the end of it. In our case, we parked at a lot along the trail just outside of Trempealeau, making for about a six-mile ride to the TNWR, a five-mile loop within it, and then the six-mile ride back to the lot. We encountered turtles, frogs, waterfowl of many kinds, bluebirds, and lots of birds I couldn't identify-- but almost no automobiles. The south end of the trail meets up with the La Crosse River State Trail, which in turns ties in with the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. -Ed.]
Follows the abandoned Milwaukee Road railway bed north from the City of Tomahawk 6.6 miles to the Lincoln/Oneida County line near Lake Nokomis. The trail travels through some of northern Wisconsin's most scenic terrain, crossing the Wisconsin River and passing Half Moon, Clear and Crystal Lakes. Eventually, the trail will join the Bearskin Trail that comes south from Minocqua on the same rail bed. The trail is surfaced with screened rotten granite, compacted for excellent hiking and biking. For more information, contact:
Tomahawk Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 412
Tomahawk, WI 54487
Phone 715-453-5334
Developed from an abandoned rail line, this 21.5-mile trail is a delightful ride along the La Crosse River. The trail runs from Onalaska on the west to Sparta on the east. Prairie remnants, farmlands, trout streams, hardwood forests and wetlands are found along the trail. Packed limestone screenings provide a smooth riding surface and the railroad bridges have been rebuilt for biking and hiking. The La Crosse River Trail is an important middle link between the Great River State Trail and the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. Together the three trails offer 75 miles of biking adventure through beautiful southwestern Wisconsin. For further information and a trail map, contact:
http://www.lacrosseriverstatetrail.orgor:
La Crosse Convention & Visitor Bureau
Riverside Park, Box 1895
La Crosse, WI 54602-1895
Phone 608-782-2366
Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce
III Milwaukee St.
Sparta, WI 54656
Phone 800-354-BIKE; or 608-269-4123
Military Ridge Trail winds through the rolling terrain of Dane and Iowa Counties tracing the path of the original military road built in 1835. The trail roughly follows Hwy 151 from Dodgeville to just east of Verona, but wanders away from the highway through farm lands, prairie remnants and woods. The ridge offers sweeping vistas of southwest Wisconsin's hilly driftless area. For more information write:
Governor Dodge State Park
Route 1, Box 42
Dodgeville, WI 53533
Phone: 608-935-2315.
This 6-mile, limestone chip trail on a WEPCO right-of-way was first opened in 1984. It is located between South 124th Street at the Milwaukee/Waukesha County Line and Springdale Road in Waukesha. It is used by bikers, runners, hikers and cross-country skiers. It connects with the Milwaukee County 1976 Bike Trail in Greenfield Park. To the west it can be linked with the Glacial Drumlin State Trail by travelling the city streets of Waukesha. For a trail map and more information, contact:
Waukesha County Park and Planning Department
500 Riverview Ave.
Waukesha. WI 53188
Phone 414-548-7801
Sheboygan County's popular 17-mile multi-purpose recreation trail parallels Highway 23 from Sheboygan, past Kohler, Sheboygan Falls and Plymouth, to Greenbush connecting with the Ice Age Trail in the magnificent Kettle Moraine State Forest Construction continues with the first eleven miles now completed.. This unique trail accommodates walkers, runners, bicyclists, nordic skiers, rollerbladers, horseback riders and snowmobilers on 8-feet of asphalt and 8-feet of turf. Another multi-use trail in Sheboygan, the North Point Recreation Trail, runs more than a mile along the Lake Michigan shoreline, from the Sheboygan YMCA to North Point. The 10-foot wide, asphalt trail includes a scenic overlook and several sets of stairs leading to the beachfront. For more information and a trail map, contact:
Sheboygan Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
631 New York Ave.
P.O. Box 687
Sheboygan, WI 53081-0687
Phone 414-457-9495
This 12.5-mile, sealcoated trail travels very scenic country from Elroy to Camp Douglas near Interstate 94. The highlight of the trail is an 875-foot tunnel near the center of the trail. The Omaha Trail connects with the Elroy-Sparta Trail and the 400 Trail at a central "commons" in Elroy. The sealcoated surface provides an excellent surface for bikers and hikers. In winter, the trail is used for snowmobiling. For more information, contact:
Land, Forestry and Parks Department
Room 16, Courthouse Annex
Mauston, WI 53948
Phone 608-847-9389
This 20.5-mile trail on an abandoned railroad bed runs south from Hortonville to Oshkosh. It is a delightful tour through meadows, woodlands and marshes. The 14.5-mile Winnebago County section from Oshkosh to the county line is resurfaced for bicyclists; that portion begins on Westwind Road in the Sunset Point area of Oshkosh just off of Highway I 10. For information and a trail map, contact:
Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureauor:
110 Fox River Dr.
Appleton, WI 54915
Phone 414-734-3358
Winnebago County Parks Department
500 East County Road Y
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Phone 414-424-0042
A 28-mile former Wisconsin Central Railroad bed from Medford to Prentice in north-central Wisconsin. Multi-purpose trail still under development. All bridges and trestles along the route have been converted for trail use. Five miles of the trail have been surfaced with limestone screenings with more work anticipated. For more information, contact:
Medford Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 172
Medford, WI 54451
Phone 715-748-4729
When the wealth of the land was lumber, the Red Cedar River was one of the great water highways that carried logs to a growing nation. This 14-mile trail parallels the river from Menomonie through the historic lumber town of Downsviile, to the great Chippewa River Valley. For more information contact:
Red Cedar State Trail
Route 6, Box 1
Menomonie, WI 54751 Phone 715-232-2631
Anchored on the north by New Glarus, Wisconsin's "Little Switzerland," and on the south by Brodhead, this 23-mile route traces the gentle meanders of the Sugar River, crossing the river and its tributaries 14 times. The entire trail is part of the 1,000-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Nearby, New Glarus Woods State Park as well as numerous private campgrounds cater to camping bicyclists. Area ethnic festivals pack the summer calendar. For more information write:
Sugar River State Trail
Box 256, Monroe, WI 53566
Phone 608-527-2334 (summer) and 608-325-4844 (winter)
A 34-mile trail skirting the western edge of the vast and beautiful Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area. The entire trail is now surfaced except for a 2-3/4 mile stretch between Pautsch Road and Island Road in Dodge County and two small segments in Fond du Lac County. Bypass routes are open for all unsurfaced portions. The trail takes riders through fertile farmlands, glacial moraines and marsh areas teeming with wildlife and waterfowl. Access, parking and picnic facilities are available at Marsh Haven Nature Center on Highway 49 and at the Juneau City Park located on Mill Street in the City of Juneau. In Dodge County, a 3.5-mile parallel horse trail was developed in 1991 and goes north from Highway 60 to Kindt Street. Dodge County is currently working on developing adequate parking facilities for trailers. For a map and more information about Dodge County, contact:
Dodge County Planning and Development Departmentor:
Administration Building
Juneau, WI 53039
Phone 414-386-3700
Friends of the Recreational TrailFor a map and further information about Fond du Lac County, contact:
P.O. Box 72
Juneau, WI 53039
Phone 414-485-2917-2311
Fond du Lac County Planning and Parks Department
City/County Government Center
160 S. Macy St.
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
Phone 414-929-3135.
Maps and Guides. See our touring section for updated listings on state bike maps and biking guides.
The Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) publication Biking Wisconsin's State Park Trails, a 32-page booklet with detailed maps of eight state biking trails, is available for $4.15 including tax and postage. The DNR also details mountain bike opportunities in state and county parks in a free brochure titled Wisconsin Off-Road Bicycle Trails Guide. Both publications are available by contacting:
Bureau of Parks and Recreation
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Phone 608-266-2181
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