Touring - Wisconsin

Does anyone have any recommended riding routes from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to Madison and then points south? I want to visit Madison and then head to Chicago.

Thanks!

I would recommend looking at the touring section of Bicycling Community Page.That will give you several possible trails. The Wisconsin DNR has maps of many trails at reasonable rateswww.danenet.wicip.org/bcp/ (http://www.danenet.wicip.org/bcp/) I could see you coming down on the Great River road (route 35 in WI) then either going along the Wisconsin River thru Spring Green Valley (Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin) to Mazomanie, Cross Plains and Madison and then heading south on the Sugar River Trail. Another group that is active in that area is, Out Spokin.

By linking the Tempablea, Elroy-Sparta, and 401 trail you could trail ride over 120 miles from the WI side of the Mississippi to within 30 miles of Madison.

yes cross the Mississippi and travel along the gtreat river road twords La Crosse near the town orf trempalo you can catch a rail to trails trail and make connections and travel almost to madison on the trails.

A few years ago I ran into the annual Aids ride from mim. to chicago they were using this route of hy 35 and rail to trails and back roads if oyu can contact them they may have the route cue sheets available

when are you planning on this ride? There is all kinds of off the main hy routes in western wisconsin some challenging hills to keep you occupied.
catfish

Catfish and Others,

I will be following AC's Northern Tier route but wanted to make the trip through Madison and Chicago, a section the maps don't cover. I was looking at the Great River road but was concerned about large volumes of traffic. I will be coming through in the middle/late July. I've heard about Wisconsin's array of rails to trails and have requested a booklet from the state. I will definitely look into the trail sections mentioned to get to Madison.

Thanks!

hy 35 the great river road does have some areas of high traffic but there is a good shoulder to ride on for most of it THe A C maps take you along the river on the iowa side I prefer the wisconsin side my self. the route you wil be on after crossing the river near minieapolis and going south on 35 is really nice the river town youLL go through are all friendly and you will find places to camp or cheep motels if that is your choice. There ae some hills on this route butall manageable the scenery is great. You will be able to catch the trail system near Trempalo and Perot state park Once oyu get the trail maps you will see how to get close to madison on them. Madison has a good trail system that connects to another to continue south twords Milwaukee