Great Lakes - Looking for a nice bike trail in Wisconsin

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DVC45
04-22-09, 12:16 AM
I have a 3 day weekend coming and I'm thinking of ridding on one of Wisconsin's bike trails and maybe camp out too (if possible).
I saw a couple trails featured online like, Elroy-Sparta trail, Fox river trail, Mountain-Bay Trail... But I still want some recommendations from experienced cyclo-tourers here, who are familiar with Wisconsin's bike trails. I'm looking for the most scenic trail of course.
' looking forward to your suggestions. Thanks in advance!


dannwilliams
04-22-09, 08:11 AM
I have camped at Neshonok Campground, http://www.neshonoclakeside.com/ in West Salem, near La Crosse, and ridden the trails there. There is also a county park near there that has camping and that is where you get on the trails. La Crosse River to the west, and go east and it connects to the Elroy - Sparta. Fantastic. Further north and west is the Red Cedar trail and Chippewa River trails. I have done several times but not sure of camping in the area. There is a state park in Chippewa Falls, and is only a couple mile from the Old Abe Trail. Have you checked the Wi DNR site? http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/LAND/parks/specific/findatrail.html I have also stayed at the Tunnel Trail Campground, which is right on the Elroy - Sparta Trail, when my kids were small. http://www.tunneltrail.com/ If you have kids, there are things to do in the campground. Hope this helps.

DVC45
04-22-09, 09:52 AM
Thanks Dan! No kids, just me on this trip.
Anymore? Please keep 'em coming.


Randy Bosma
04-22-09, 09:13 PM
No personal experience on any WI trails (yet), but that state seems to have it all together for cycling tourists, Here's a few links:
trailsfromrails.com/wisconsin (http://www.trailsfromrails.com/wisconsin.htm)
great-trails.com/wisconsin (http://www.great-trails.com/wisconsin.shtml)
traillink.com/TrailSearch_st=WI (http://www.traillink.com/TrailSearch.aspx?tn=&st=WI&ct=&sp=N)
wisconline.com/attractions/biketrails (http://www.wisconline.com/attractions/biketrails.html)

HTH,

Severian
04-22-09, 10:21 PM
Camp in New Glarus Woods, do the Sugar River trail.

see: www.wiparks.net

when you make a reservation search for nearby landmarks or by campsite. The New Glarus Woods state park is about a mile (ish) from the start of the Sugar River trail. AND New Glarus (the town) has an awesome butcher and some of the best beer in WI. The trail itself is a flat packed dirt trail that runs for about 60 miles.

Sage23
04-22-09, 11:22 PM
Elroy-Sparta is nice, and the fact that it (more-or-less) connects with the River Trail and the 400 trail means lots of potential distance. Plus its not too far off the root river trial in SE Minnesota to add some more distance.

Or you could do Madison and have access to Military Ridge, Badger State and Glacial Drumlin, but these are not a scenic as the others IMHO.

RDW3261
04-23-09, 07:57 AM
I have done most the trails in Wisconsin and the one I like the best is the Elroy-Sparta trail. There is a new one completed last year which is called the Badger trail. It connects to the Sugar River trail or several trails around Madison. It also tuns into the Jane Adams trail when it hits Illinois. You could ride it from Freeport Illinois to Madison. However if I had only one trail to ride it would be the Sparta.

no motor?
04-23-09, 08:52 AM
I've been on a Sugar River, Elroy -Sparta and few other trails there, and they've all been well maintained and scenic. I don't think you'll find a bad one up there.

JohnDThompson
04-23-09, 09:25 AM
The Ahnapee Bike Trail (http://www.about-bicycles.com/ahnapee-bike-trail.htm) is a nice ride, and once you're in Door County there's plenty of camping and interesting parks and such.

dedhed
04-24-09, 10:19 PM
Just be aware when riding on STATE trails you need a trail pass. Either daily or annual.