One of our favorite things to do is take our bikes, as in bicycles, not motorcycles, and ride on one of the many beautiful trails we have here in Wisconsin. We wanted to share some of the trials that we enjoy the most. We don't have electric bikes as it seems most people do these days, so we like trails that are relatively flat and easy to ride. As usual we will let you know where the bathrooms are located and where you can find food along these trails.
1. The Glacier Drumlin Trail from Cottage Grove to Waukesha The trail runs 52 miles and has both crushed limestone and paved areas. We have ridden the entire trail but not all at one time. We usually are able to do 20 miles total comfortably. Anything more than that takes the enjoyment out of it for us. I will break this trail down into the segments we have ridden. You will need to pay the state fee to ride this trail. There are pay stations along the route.
Dousman to Waukesha This part of the trail is 25 miles round trip. It is paved the entire way. there is one hill in Dousman but other than that, the trail is very easy. There is a nice parking area in downtown Dousman where there is also a little ice cream shop and nice bathrooms. There are also bathrooms in Wales right along the trail at a little park with a cute train. You enter Waukesha at Prairie Park where there are bathrooms. We like to continue into Waukesha and make our way to Frame Park which is a beautiful park with a trail around the river. It's a beautiful spot for a place to rest before heading back.
Lake Mills to Dousman This section is about 20 miles round trip and is on crushed limestone. It goes through pretty wooded areas; we ate lunch at a cute little restaurant in Sullivan. This was a few years ago, so not sure if that restaurant is still there. Lake Mills is a great little town to explore. The trailhead is right in the city with bathrooms and ample parking. Main St. in Lake Mills had lots of fun eateries and bars. You can also get off the trail at Sandy Beach if you want to take a dip.
Cottage Grove to Lake Mills We parked in Cottage Grove for this segment of the trail. We had lunch at a nice little stop in Deerfield. This area is crushed limestone and easy to ride. You go through wooded areas and farm fields. There are many flushable bathrooms along the route.
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.2. The White River Trail This is one of our favorite trails (19 miles), most likely because it is in Elkhorn and runs near our first home and the hospital where our girls were born. It's like going home for us. We park at the trailhead just outside of Elkhorn and ride to the Cup and Pedal restaurant/gift shop where there are nice bathrooms. At this point, after lunch, we usually head back to Elkhorn and ride around the city for a bit revisiting all of our old haunts. Elkhorn is a very flat city and is very easy to tour on a bike. The trail actually goes farther than the little restaurant if you want to ride on through more farm fields. You will need to pay a fee to ride this state trail.
3. Fox River Trail in Green Bay goes along the Fox River for 25 miles. It is paved and so easy to ride The one end goes through some very awesome art structures. There are numerous parks and even a lock and dam that you can visit. There are many bathrooms and places to eat just off the trail. We have never gone over 10 miles on the trail so I am not sure what you will find beyond that. One note this is a city trail and you do need to pay a fee to ride it. A state pass will not work on this trail. I did have a tire blow out on our last ride and I can tell you that there is a bike shop right there on the path and they were so helpful and got us on our way so quickly with a new tire.
4. Glacier River Trail is located in Fort Atkinson where you can pick it up right downtown. It goes to the Rock County line and may go beyond that by now for a total of 55 miles. It's an easy trail with a covered bridge.on the trail. You do have to leave the trail and go on the road for a short distance, but you also get to go down by the Rock River on that on road part which is pretty. Most of the trail is wooded and runs along Highway 26. The only bathrooms will be in Fort Atkinson so use them before you leave town. It is a free trail.
5. Bugline Trail We have ridden this trail many times and we enjoy it each time. We always hop on in Merton where there is ample parking and bathrooms at a park across the street. It's a fun trail because you go through Sussex where there is a wonderful coffee shop with lots of outdoor seating. We usually ride to Menomonee Falls. There is a beach just a short distance off the trail if you want to take a dip. You pass a huge limestone quarry with the prettiest blue water. The entire trail was just recently paved so the ride is easy, and the scenery is pretty. There are a few parks along the trail with bathrooms and picnic areas. It's about a 30-mile round trip. This is a free trail, so you won't need a state pass to ride on it!
6. Wild Goose Trail This trail is a long one (34 miles). It runs from Clyman to Fond du lac. You can get a nice ride through Horicon Marsh from this trail. The beginning of it between Clyman and Juneau has lots of ruts in the trail and I don't enjoy riding on that type of trail. We have not ridden it for a few years so maybe that part of the trail has been improved. It is a peaceful trail with many shaded areas and grasslands. You can park and get on the trail at many areas. There is a big parking lot at the junction of Highways 33 and 26. There is a nice gas station at that corner for snacks and a bathroom break. You do need to pay the state trail fee to ride this trail. There is a sign along a portion of the trail that you should wear blaze orange if riding during hunting season.
7. Woiuwash Trail This trail starts on the riverwalk in Oshkosh near the campus. We love the portion in Oshkosh that also goes over Lake Butte de Morte on the Highway 41 bridge which has lots of signage about the Indian tribes from this area. From the bridge you can continue on the trail out of town, or you can do as we do and ride back in through the cemeteries. At times we do continue a few miles up the trail out of town to the Bare Bones Brewery, a fun stop along the way. The city portion of the trail is free, but you do need to pay as you proceed out of town. Oshkosh is our favorite city for biking because it is so flat and rideable. There are plenty of bathrooms everywhere and Menomonee Park is a wonderful place to bike alongside Lake Winnebago. If you are a senior looking to bike the Woiuwash, I would suggest just ride the city portion and then tour around Oshkosh to finish your ride.
8. Rawley Point and Mariner Bike Trails Rawley Point is our favorite trail. You can read about it in detail in a previous post. We hop on at Neshota Park in Two Rivers where there is ample parking and very nice bathrooms. It's about 5 miles from there to the shores of Lake Michigan where you will find a concession stand and lighthouse. walking the beautiful beach is always a treat. The trail itself winds through gorgeous woods. The trail has curves that require a slow ride. It's a great trail for seniors and families alike. This trail hitches up with the Mariner Trail as you travel through Two Rivers. The Mariner trail runs to Manitowoc and goes along Lake Michigan. There are bathrooms along the path. Once in Manitowoc you can explore that city by bike, too. If you ever want to meet us we ride this trail every Memorial Day weekend.
9. Interurban Bike Trail is 30 miles long in its entirety. We have ridden it from Grafton where there is parking and bathrooms to Port Washington. It is paved and you are on road at times. Once in Port Washington we love to park our bikes and just walk around the beautiful parks along Lake Michigan. As you know from previous posts we love the city of Port Washington. It is a fun trail but it has challenges in some hills. It is a free trail. We have also ridden from Port Washington to Cedarburg which is always a fun city to explore.
10. Military Ridge Trail is 40 miles long and runs from Fitchburg to Dodgeville. We have never ridden the entire trail but have ridden from Mount Horeb which is a beautiful, fun city full of trolls to Ridgeway. There are stops at Blue Mounds State Park and Barneveld where there's a memorial to all those affected by a tornado. The trail is limestone and flat. There is a fee since it is a state trail.
11. 400 Trail is a 22 mile trail running between Reedsburg and Elroy. It runs along the Baraboo River and is a very scenic and easy trail. There is a fee to ride this state trail. The famous Elroy/Sparta Bike trail connects with the 400 but we split that ride into two days since it was too much for one day for us.
12. Elroy-Sparta Trail is 32 miles long and runs between Elroy and Sparta. There are three tunnels on the trail which makes it a fun adventure. We split our ride into two days, doing the first two tunnels the first day and then the longer tunnel the next day. You need to walk your bikes through the tunnels, and you cannot see the light at the other end through at least one. You will need a flashlight. I have no desire to do this trail again because of the dark tunnels, my eyes don't like that much darkness anymore so if you are a senior just bear that in mind. It also has some inclines and steep climbs as you approach the tunnels so not so easy for us seniors without an electric bike. There is a fee for this trail.
13. Badger State Trail runs from Belleville to Monticello. We rode the trail a few years ago when the Stewart tunnel was open. It is under repair at this time but will open again. Since the tunnel is built on a curve you cannot see the light at the other end. At this time there are detours around the tunnel. We found Monticello to be a very nice little town with restaurants and bathrooms. Belleville is also a great town to explore and ride around. This trail runs along the Sugar River and there is the Sugar River trail in this same area. We have never ridden that trail but I am sure it is very nice, too. This trail can get bumpy especially in the springtime when it gets wet and ruts form. The service is limestone.
14. Oakleaf Trail in and around Milwaukee has over 135 miles of trails to ride. We have ridden on different portions of this trail. We rode if from Humboldt Park in Milwaukee to Grant Park in South Milwaukee. This is a beautiful trail running along the bluffs of Lake Michigan. There are numerous parks along the way with bathrooms and beaches. Ending at Grant Park Beach is a perfect time for a snack and a rest on the beach. There is a public golf course where you can get a bite to eat. As you near Milwaukee again you will see the beautiful skyline. It is a free trail. We have also ridden a portion of the trail from Brown Deer to Wauwatosa. This also is a very scenic stretch winding through wooded areas along the Milwaukee River through parks and residential areas. Some of it is on road. Once in Wauwatosa there are many restaurants and places of interest.
15. Hank Aaron Trail is a 15 mile trail It runs from the shores of Lake Michigan to the Milwaukee/Waukesha County line. It runs right by the former Miller Park now American Family Stadium where the Brewers play, and you can ride it right into the Domes at Mitchell Park as well as into Lakeshore State Park. It's an easy trail with lots to see and nice stops along the way.
16. New Berlin Trail This is a short 7-mile trail, flat, paved, and very easy to ride. We usually park at Frame Park in Waukesha and ride to the start of the trail. We ride it to Greenfield Park in West Allis where it connects to the Oakleaf trail. It also connects to the Glacier Drumlin by going on city streets in Waukesha. If you are at Frame Park, there is a great map of these trails near the bathrooms and playground. This portion is free.
17. Sunset Trail is located in Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek Door County. This is a beautiful trail that winds through the gorgeous scenery in Peninsula State Park. It can be a bit challenging at times with inclines, but the views are so worth it. Door County has many areas where you can bike if you don't mind a bit of traffic.
18. Lake Country Trail runs from Oconomowoc to Pewaukee although we have only ridden the portion from Oconomowoc to Delafield and back. We hop on the trail at Roosevelt Park in Oconomowoc where there is ample parking, bathrooms, and a wonderful playground. It is an easy, flat, paved trail that goes past subdivisions, corn fields and parks. We ride the 8 miles to Delafield and then enjoy time at Cushing Park. Delafield has many cute shops and eateries. You can also take the trail from Cushing Park to connect to the Glacier Drumlin trail. Oconomowoc also had many areas to bike and explore around its lakes. It is a free trail.
19. Watertown/Oconomowoc Interurban trail This is a brand-new bike trail located in Watertown with a trailhead on Clark St. There are bathrooms at this trailhead. So far, the trail has 7 miles of paved path completed. Eventually it will connect to the bike trail in Oconomowoc.
We have also enjoyed trails in Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota as well as a few in Northern Wisconsin but for now we are keeping it to more local ones. We found it best to buy an annual pass for these trails so you aren't nickel and diming it each time you ride one. You can find out lots of information on these and other trails just by googling, but I am hoping that we at least gave you some help in choosing which ones to pursue.
Happy Biking to you!
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