9 minute read
Take The Long Way: Wisconsin's State Trails Are Perfect For Putting In Some Major Biking Miles
Andrea Zani
Andrea Zani is managing editor of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.
Scenic Wisconsin state trails make for beautiful biking opportunities as summer blends into autumn. Tree-lined routes turn so many shades of burgundy, yellow, red and orange it can be like pedaling through a Bob Ross painting.
Short rides are fun for sure, but longer rides offer an added element of two-wheeled workout and extended adventure to go with the picturesque scenery.
Our friends from the Wisconsin Bike Fed know a thing or two about lengthier cycling trips. They bring us the annual Ride Across Wisconsin and programs such as Cycling Without Age and Wisconsin Bike Week.
We asked the Bike Fed folks to help with some longer-haul ride planning for fall, and they had plenty of tips for routes and preparation. Plus, we tapped into the DNR’s own Wisconsin State Park System resources to put together a few suggestions for taking the long way, bike-wise, this fall.
Capital Cities Connect
Dave Schlabowske, former executive director for Bike Fed, loves to continue sharing his passion for cycling through blog posts, social media and other means. A few years ago, he wrote about biking from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan (Potosi to Milwaukee).
We’ve modified that route here, taking about half of it and using Schlabowske’s insights to create a ride from Wisconsin’s first capital city, Belmont, to the current capital of Madison.
Start: At Belmont, in Lafayette County, you can hit the Pecatonica State Trail at Bond Park (South Park Street).
Pedal: Bike 10 miles through the picturesque Bonner Branch Valley along the old Milwaukee Road railroad corridor and link to the Cheese Country Trail in Calamine for a ride of 35 miles or so through Darlington and the villages of Gratiot, South Wayne and Browntown to Monroe. From there, connect to the Badger State Trail (West 21st Street) for the trip up to Madison.
Travel tip: Schlabowske noted that because both the Pecatonica State Trail and Cheese Country Trail allow year-round ATV use, they might present a bit rougher surface than trails that don’t permit motorized traffic. Bikes with wide tires and lower air pressure for better stability are the equipment of choice, he suggested.
End: At Madison, you’ll find a host of other trail options, including the Capital City State Trail and the Southwest Bike Path. Or if you really want to keep rolling, hit the Military Ridge State Trail (parking at old PB and East Verona Avenue in Verona), which goes west about 40 miles to Dodgeville.
Added Spin: Start in Platteville on the Mound View State Trail (near East Mineral Street and Valley Road at Rountree Branch Trail) and head the 7 miles to Belmont, then start the above journey. Or join the Badger State Trail at Monticello after biking over on the Sugar River State Trail from either New Glarus (parking at 418 Railroad Street) or downtown Brodhead.
Ready To Ride
Planning a long bike trip involves more than just choosing the right route.
Extend your mileage gradually to build up to a longer ride.
Pick the right bike. A road bike is fine for paved surfaces and smoother trails, while mountain or gravel bikes are best for more rugged rides.
Decide if you will need to stay overnight along the way and plan accordingly. You can reserve hotels and similar accommodations or try bikepacking — cycling’s version of hiking and camping. The Wisconsin State Park System offers plenty of terrific camping options close to bike trails.
Gear up as needed for whatever way you choose to go. A tent, sleeping bags and sleeping pads can be carried with panniers (bags attached to a rear rack on a bike), while handlebar bags, frame bags and seat packs can carry smaller items such as bike tools, water bottles, first-aid kits and cell phones.
Hydrate and pack snacks to keep up your energy levels.
Wear a helmet for safety and plan for weather conditions you might encounter along the way by packing appropriate clothing.
Alert others to your plans and arrange rides or “sag wagon” support for supplies and other help if needed.
Urban Launch
The Bike Fed’s annual Ride Guide is a great resource for all things Wisconsin cycling, and the 2024 issue included a nice tale from Jeremy Ault, an educator at Escuela Verde charter school in Milwaukee and a Bike Fed supporter.
Ault recounted a trip he took with Anthony Casagrande, education instructor and lead mechanic for Bike Fed, and 10 students from Ault’s high school.
“We took advantage of Escuela Verde’s location right along the Hank Aaron State Trail and pieced together a course to Delafield that went through Waukesha, hooking up with the Glacial Drumlin State Trail,” Ault wrote.
Here’s similar riding that uses both of those trails.
Start: Join the Hank Aaron State Trail at Milwaukee’s Lakeshore State Park on Lake Michigan.
Pedal: Take the Hank Aaron about 12 miles west to Dearbourn Park in Wauwatosa and connect with the Oak Leaf Trail. Go south to Greenfield Park, where you’ll find the New Berlin Recreation Trail to take you west to Waukesha. Use local trails and roads to reach the trailhead for the Glacial Drumlin State Trail at Waukesha’s Fox River Sanctuary (North Prairie and West College avenues), and head west.
Travel tip: When heading out with riders of different experience levels as Ault was, he noted the importance of “being mindful of the various riding abilities.” He and his group took a “slow and deliberate pace on the trail,” stopping frequently for rest and hydration breaks.
End: From Waukesha, the Glacial Drumlin State Trail goes all the way to its western terminus at Cottage Grove, a 52-mile stretch.
Added spin: The Oak Leaf Trail is a great way to get around the Milwaukee metro area. It features more than 135 miles of paved pathways for biking, running, hiking and roller-blading, with many access points and connections to other area trails.
Classic Excursion
No discussion of biking on Wisconsin’s beautiful state trails would be complete without mentioning the granddaddy of them all, the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, established in the 1960s and considered the nation’s first rail-trail.
Start: In Elroy, in Juneau County, hop on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail (Main Street and State Highway 80).
Pedal: Ride 32 miles northwest through scenic prairies, wetlands and farmlands, passing through the villages of Kendall, Wilton and Norwalk. A restored railroad depot in Kendall serves as trail headquarters and includes a railroad history museum.
Travel tip: While three rock tunnels along the route make this ride even more fun, it can be a bit tricky to navigate them because of the dark and possibly wet, slippery conditions. Walking bikes through the tunnels is recommended, and bring a flashlight or headlamp.
End: Sparta, the county seat of Monroe County, is the western terminus of the Elroy-Sparta State Trail — or the start of the trail, if you head west to east.
Added spin: For a longer ride, catch the 400 State Trail at its headquarters in Reedsburg (Railroad and South Walnut streets) and bike 22 miles northwest to Elroy for the start of the Elroy-Sparta ride.
The Long Of It
Some state trails take you a long way in and of themselves. Here are four of the state’s longest trails to try.
Mountain-Bay State Trail: This rail-trail runs 83 miles between Rib Mountain near Wausau and Green Bay — the geologic features that give the trail its name — traveling through Marathon, Shawano and Brown counties.
Nicolet State Trail: Northeastern Wisconsin is home to this county-operated trail (Oconto, Forest and Florence counties), which meanders more than 89 miles through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest from Gillett to the Michigan border. It follows the original 1800s rail corridor that served the timber industry in the state’s pine and hardwood forests.
Tuscobia State Trail: This 74-mile trail travels from Park Falls to just north of Rice Lake, passing through part of the Flambeau River State Forest along the way. It connects seven small communities in Price, Sawyer, Washburn and Barron counties and meets up with the next trail on the list for even more riding.
Wild Rivers State Trail: Connecting to the Tuscobia near Rice Lake, this especially scenic northwest Wisconsin trail stretches 104 miles in Barron, Washburn and Douglas counties. It runs through areas of rich wildlife habitat, lush forests and striking waterways that include the Namekagon River, part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, before ending near Superior.
Learn More
Here are several resources to help you plan a long-haul biking trip.
The Wisconsin Bike Fed is a great source for all things cycling in Wisconsin.
Local bike shops are excellent places for everyone from beginners to expert riders to find information and equipment.
To locate a state trail or other state property for your next ride or bikepacking adventure, use the DNR’s Find a Park tool.
A state trail pass is required for riders age 16 and up on most state trails.
Regarding electric bikes, they are allowed on many bicycle trails in Wisconsin but must observe a 15-mph speed limit when the motor is engaged. See the DNR’s Bicycle Trails webpage for more.
Wisconsin has hundreds of miles of state trails, including 39 rail-trails. Visit the DNR's State Trails webpage for more information.
