Download - Wisconsin Department of Tourism

Biking TrailsThe League of American Bicyclists ranks Wisconsin as one ofthe top bicycle friendly states in the nation. That’s invitingenough on its own, now factor in the 80-some rails-to-trailsofferings including the Top 100 Elroy-Sparta State Trail, andyou have a state that is clearly big on biking as a way tokeep visitors healthy and happy.Northwest1. CHIPPEWA RIVER STATE TRAIL888/523-3866dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/chiprivertrail/Running from Eau Claire to Durand, this30-mile rail bed trail of asphalt andasphalt emulsion winds through the bottomlandalong the Chippewa River connectingto the Red Cedar State Trail.2. GANDY DANCER STATE TRAIL800/222-7655 or 800/788-3164dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/gandydancer/Another “rail to trail” bicycling path, this47-mile crushed stone trail is named forthe workmen who laid the tracks withrhythmic precision using tools fromChicago’s Gandy Tool Company. It cutsacross the northwest corner of the statefrom St. Croix Falls to Danbury.3. OLD ABE STATE TRAIL888/723-0024dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/oldabe/Old Abe, a tame bald eagle and mascotof Wisconsin’s 8th Regiment during theCivil War, is the namesake of this 20-mile asphalt trail connecting LakeWissota and Brunet Island State Parksin Cornell. Part of the developingChippewa Valley Trail System, this trailfeatures rich natural beauty and manyhistorical sites along the way.2476831414354. OSAUGIE TRAIL800/942-5313www.traillink.com/trail/osaugie-trail.aspxNamed for the great Ojibwe Chief, this5-mile asphalt trail passes by some ofthe most popular attractions alongSuperior’s busy harbor.5. PINE LINE RECREATION TRAIL800/269-4505medfordwis.com/Lined with majestic pine trees alongmost of its route, this trail betweenMedford and Prentice has a crushedgravel surface for 21 of its 26 miles,with the remainder being limestonescreenings.6. RED CEDAR STATE TRAIL888/523-3866dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/redcedar/Highlighted by a ¾-mile iron bridge overthe Chippewa River, this 15-milecrushed limestone trail runs fromMenomonie south to its junction withthe Chippewa River State Trail nearDurand.7. STOWER SEVEN LAKES STATETRAIL800/222-7655dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/stower7lakes/Fourteen miles of crushed stone on thisformer railroad corridor traverse lakecountry from Amery to Dresser. Formerstate legislator and Amery Mayor HarveyStower is remembered for his exceptionalpublic service and leadership.91410 1621Travel Green Wisconsin Certified121323 24 11192217402018424434262931 2537 38 27 30283335 3239 36158. WILD RIVERS STATE TRAIL715/378-2219dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/wildrivers/Highway-grade compacted gravel andrailroad ballast provide the surface forthis 104-mile trail running through threecounties from Superior on the north toRice Lake on the south. A portion of thetrail passes through the St CroixNational Scenic Riverway.Northeast9. BATS-CRYSTAL LAKE TRAIL800/466-8759 or 888/722-3789www.vilaswi.com/crystal-lake-trail/Prime Northwoods lake and forestscenery line this 16-mile asphalt routebetween Boulder Junction and Saynerin Vilas County, passing Trout Lake andfive different state forest campgrounds.10. BEARSKIN/ HIAWATHA TRAILS800/446-6784 or 800/569-2160dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/bearskin/Oneida and Vilas counties boast morelakes per square mile than any otherspot in the world and the Bearskin StateTrail crosses thirteen of them! Thiscompacted granite trail runs 18 milesfrom Minocqua south to Harshaw.Nearby, on another segment of thesame rail bed, the Hiawatha Trail runs 6miles from Heafford Junction toTomahawk.11. FOX RIVER STATE TRAIL920/448-6242dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/foxriver/Originally a footpath among NativeAmerican villages, the path evolved tobe a link between French trading postsbefore eventually becoming a railroadline. The historical route is now a 25-mile bike trail running from the northtrailhead in Green Bay south to Hilbert.The northern half of the trail is asphaltwhile the southern half is limestonescreenings.The bike touring trails listed are lineartraffic-free, paved with asphalt orcrushed limestone. For a complete listof biking opportunities in Wisconsin,visit travelwisconsin.com.Above: Three Eagle Trail.12. NICOLET STATE TRAIL920/834-6995dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/nicolet/Meandering 89 miles through theNicolet National Forest, this compactedgravel trail begins in Gillett and runsnorth all the way to the Michigan stateline.13. OCONTO RIVER STATE TRAIL920/834-6995dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/oconto/Eight miles of crushed limestonebetween Stiles and Oconto wind pastCopper Culture State Park, site of thefamous Copper Culture Burial Grounds,oldest cemetery site in Wisconsin andpossibly the oldest site in eastern NorthAmerica.14. ST. GERMAIN BIKE & HIKETRAIL800/727-7203www.st-germain.com/Perfect for families with young children,this easy, paved trail runs 8 miles westand then north along Highway 70 in St.Germain to Highway C near KurzweilRoad.15. SUNSET TRAIL IN DOORCOUNTY920/868-3258Hugging the cedar lined shores of GreenBay in the popular Peninsula State Parkof Fish Creek, this 4.4-mile limestonesurfaced trail provides spectacularscenery as well as the opportunity toenjoy a lighthouse tour.16. THREE EAGLE TRAIL715/546-3316www.3eagletrail.com/One of the state’s newest trails, this oneis the result of a non-profit, communitybased effort to connect the towns ofThree Lakes and Eagle River. The southerntrail head is in Don Burnside Park indowntown Three Lakes. Crushed limestonecovers the 8.4 miles of trail endingat a small parking lot on SundsteinRoad. Phase two will connect the southernsegment the rest of the way north toEagle River.continued...Find more fun at travelwisconsin.com or call 1-800/432-8747. 29GLENN SANDERSON