Wisconsin Rails to Trails
08-20-07 | 05:17 PM
#26
Bike Assimilator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Eau Claire, WI
Bikes: too many...
Woo. Within 3 hours of madison? Well, if you're willing to drive further...go to the Chippewa trail! If you come up let us know, we'll try to bike with you (if thats okay with ya 
)
Its actually good at the end and beggining, but in the middle its rather boring and the asphalt has been resurfaced making for a sucky ride (pavement wise.) Its good, I liked it. Once you hit town (short street coming from durand - where I'd start) you'll quickly get lost without good directions.
)Its actually good at the end and beggining, but in the middle its rather boring and the asphalt has been resurfaced making for a sucky ride (pavement wise.) Its good, I liked it. Once you hit town (short street coming from durand - where I'd start) you'll quickly get lost without good directions.
08-20-07 | 05:29 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 234
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
Bikes: Trek 1000, Trek Pilot 5.2 and Trek 7100
In northern Boone county in Illinois, north of Belvidere about 5 miles south of the Wisconsin state line is the Long Prairie trail. It is paved for about 15 miles in Boone county and lime stone for maybe 8 miles in Illinois. The Illinois part is called the Stone Bridge trail I beleive. About 60 minutes from Madison at most.
08-20-07 | 07:01 PM
#28
Keep on, keepin on
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: La Crescent, MN
Bikes: IRO Jamie Roy Custom build, Giant Sedona, '06 Trek Madone 5.2
Wiswell, Check out the Root River trail starting in Houston, MN. That's right around the 3 hr limit your willing to drive. We're having a little less than ideal weather right now...with the Root flooding and all, but as they say "this too will pass"
08-21-07 | 07:24 PM
#31
Keep on, keepin on
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: La Crescent, MN
Bikes: IRO Jamie Roy Custom build, Giant Sedona, '06 Trek Madone 5.2
(Sorry to get off topic) National Guardsmen are all over SE Minnesota. Luckily the Mississippi was low to begin with. No real flooding there. Lots of mudslides. Rushford, Houston, and money creek are totally swamped. It just seemed like it went from bad to worse really fast and alot people lost everything. The news keeps predicting more rain over the next day or so. People are really crossing their fingers that it passes by.
05-03-08 | 06:40 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 446
Likes: 0
So, reviving an old thread, we've settled on the Ozaukee Interurban Trail for Memorial Day weekend. Coming from Madison, where do you suggest we park? We are tentatively planning to the do the entire out and back length, unless there is a fierce north or south wind. Is it difficult to navigate the on road portions of the trail (ie, are they well-marked)?
For next year, perhaps the Chippewa Trail or Root River, but the gas prices are really constricting travel.
For next year, perhaps the Chippewa Trail or Root River, but the gas prices are really constricting travel.
05-13-08 | 07:52 PM
#33
JimBob
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: WI
Elroy-Sparta not so great
Hello,
I thought this would be a good subject for people who are seeking a good rails to trails bike trail.
I have a couple of places that I enjoy riding.
1. Wild Goose State Trail. I grew up near the trail near Waupun. I can remember it being a railroad when I was a little boy and converted into a bike trail during the late 1980’s. One thing that is really cool about this trail is the Horicon Marsh. You can stop by the Marsh Haven on HWY 49 (there use to be a bike trail that went into the Marsh Haven area, not sure if it’s still there). Anyway, the trail starts in Fond du Lac and ends past Juneau. Around the Juneau area is a camping site where you can camp for the night.
2. Fox River Trail Green Bay Wisconsin. I like this trail because you can ride in Green Bay, Allouez, De Pere (an assume city with some interesting stops), Rockland, Wrightstown, Holland and soon to connect with the CE Trail (I think).
3. One more trail… the Sparta Trail. The only cool thing about this trail is going through the old train tunnels (it’s really nice during the summer).
Let me know other cool rails to trails out there and why.
I thought this would be a good subject for people who are seeking a good rails to trails bike trail.
I have a couple of places that I enjoy riding.
1. Wild Goose State Trail. I grew up near the trail near Waupun. I can remember it being a railroad when I was a little boy and converted into a bike trail during the late 1980’s. One thing that is really cool about this trail is the Horicon Marsh. You can stop by the Marsh Haven on HWY 49 (there use to be a bike trail that went into the Marsh Haven area, not sure if it’s still there). Anyway, the trail starts in Fond du Lac and ends past Juneau. Around the Juneau area is a camping site where you can camp for the night.
2. Fox River Trail Green Bay Wisconsin. I like this trail because you can ride in Green Bay, Allouez, De Pere (an assume city with some interesting stops), Rockland, Wrightstown, Holland and soon to connect with the CE Trail (I think).
3. One more trail… the Sparta Trail. The only cool thing about this trail is going through the old train tunnels (it’s really nice during the summer).
Let me know other cool rails to trails out there and why.
05-13-08 | 07:55 PM
#34
JimBob
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: WI
Root River: YES!
Ever since I rode this several years ago, I've been dying to get back and do it again. Besides being a great trail that is paved with interesting towns along the way, it is almost across the river from LaCrosse and the other trails there.
05-13-08 | 10:43 PM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,917
Likes: 1
From: Milwaukee
So, reviving an old thread, we've settled on the Ozaukee Interurban Trail for Memorial Day weekend. Coming from Madison, where do you suggest we park? We are tentatively planning to the do the entire out and back length, unless there is a fierce north or south wind. Is it difficult to navigate the on road portions of the trail (ie, are they well-marked)?
For next year, perhaps the Chippewa Trail or Root River, but the gas prices are really constricting travel.
For next year, perhaps the Chippewa Trail or Root River, but the gas prices are really constricting travel.
This map has parking marked: https://www.interurbantrail.us/BikeMaps/TrailMaps.pdf
I like to start on the far south end and park at the Lilly Lane Nature Preserve (small parking lot on a dead end road just west of the trail), even better is "River Barn Park" which is on 57 (1/2 mile east of the trail) but has water and restrooms. FYI: The trail is not paved south of the county line, but paved the rest of the way.
05-14-08 | 03:16 AM
#36
Travelin' Pat
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Racine, WI
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/milbtw/message/5258
05-14-08 | 04:54 AM
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,917
Likes: 1
From: Milwaukee
According to this post on the Milwaukee Bikes to Work yahoo group some or all of it has been paved last year.
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/milbtw/message/5258
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/milbtw/message/5258
05-14-08 | 03:19 PM
#38
Travelin' Pat
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Racine, WI
It looks like the extension to the Oak Leaf Trail is going to be started this year.
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/milbtw/message/5599
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/milbtw/message/5571
Last edited by patgolem; 05-14-08 at 03:30 PM.
05-19-08 | 01:39 AM
#39
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Bikes: Surly LHT; Surly Ogre; Sekai 1970s classic; Old Trek Hard-tail Mountain Bike; Trek 7200
I have marked a lot of Wisconsin trails at https://www.gpsies.com, including the Elroy-Sparta network. You can download from there to a Garmin, to Google Earth, or to most any GPS unit.
The site is set up for Microsoft Virtual Earth, which is good in some places, spotty in others. When it's good, it lets you fly right over the trails and see them for yourself.
Howard
The site is set up for Microsoft Virtual Earth, which is good in some places, spotty in others. When it's good, it lets you fly right over the trails and see them for yourself.
Howard
05-19-08 | 01:42 AM
#40
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Bikes: Surly LHT; Surly Ogre; Sekai 1970s classic; Old Trek Hard-tail Mountain Bike; Trek 7200
In northern Boone county in Illinois, north of Belvidere about 5 miles south of the Wisconsin state line is the Long Prairie trail. It is paved for about 15 miles in Boone county and lime stone for maybe 8 miles in Illinois. The Illinois part is called the Stone Bridge trail I beleive. About 60 minutes from Madison at most.
Howard
