Wisconsin State Touring Bike Trails
Wisconsin's many miles of trails and varied terrain make it an ideal place for bicycle touring. The League of American Bicyclists [exit DNR] ranked Wisconsin #2 in the nation and #1 in the Midwest for bicycling.
Enjoy blue skies and wide vistas from the Military Ridge State Trail.
DNR Photo by Bob Queen
Whether you're out for a short ride with the children or on a coast-to-coast tour, you'll find trails here to meet your needs. All of the trails are free of motor vehicle traffic. Most have limestone surfaces which pack down to make for good riding for skinny-tired as well as mountain bikes.
The following list includes state trails and trails 2 or more miles long in state parks, forests, and wildlife areas. Some additional parks and forests have shorter connecting trails, and many have low-traffic roads which also are good for bicycling. Click on the park, forest, or trail name for more information.
| Park, Forest, or Trail Name | Miles | Fee | Surface | Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "400" State Trail | 23.0 | State trail pass | Limestone (7.5 miles have parallel horse trail) | Easy |
| Ahnapee State Trail [exit DNR] | 32.4 | None | Limestone | Easy |
| Badger State Trail | 34 | State trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| Bearskin-Hiawatha State Trail | 18.3 | State trail pass | Granite | Easy |
| Browntown-Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area | 9.5 | Vehicle admission sticker | Various | Easy to difficult |
| Capital City State Trail | 34.4 | State trail pass | Asphalt | Easy to intermediate |
| Chippewa River State Trail | 20.0 | State trail pass | Asphalt 10 miles, sealcoat 10 miles | Easy |
| Council Grounds State Park | 1.9 | Vehicle admission sticker | Soil or grass | Easy |
| Elroy-Sparta State Trail | 32.5 | State trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| Fox River State Trail [exit DNR] | 14.0 | State trail pass | Asphalt 5.4 miles, limestone 8.6 miles | Easy |
| Gandy Dancer State Trail | 47.3 | State trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| Glacial Drumlin State Trail | 49.0 | State trail pass | Asphalt 7.5 miles, limestone 41.5 miles | Easy |
| Governor Dodge State Park | 2.0 | Vehicle admission sticker | Asphalt | Intermediate |
| Great River State Trail | 24.0 | State trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| Green Circle State Trail [exit DNR] | 21.8 | None | Asphalt and granite | Easy |
| Hank Aaron State Trail | 12.2 | None | Asphalt | Easy to intermediate |
| Hillsboro State Trail | 4.0 | State trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| La Crosse River State Trail | 21.5 | State trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| Military Ridge State Trail | 41.0 | State trail pass | Asphalt 3 miles, limestone 38 miles | Easy |
| Mountain-Bay State Trail [exit DNR] | 80.5 | State trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| Oconto River State Trail | 8.0 | None | Limestone | Easy |
| Old Abe State Trail | 15.9 | State trail pass | Asphalt | Easy |
| Pecatonica State Trail | 10.0 | State trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| Peninsula State Park | 5.8 | Vehicle admission sticker | Limestone | Easy |
| Point Beach State Forest | 5.0 (links to 8 mi. outside forest) | Vehicle admission sticker | Limestone | Easy |
| Red Cedar State Trail | 14.5 | State trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| Sandhill Wildlife Area | 11.0 | None | Various | Easy to intermediate |
| Sugar River State Trail | 23.5 | State trail pass | Asphalt 1 mile, limestone 22.5 miles | Easy |
| Sugar River to New Glarus Woods Trail | 2.1 | State trail pass | Asphalt | Easy to difficult |
| Tomorrow River State Trail [exit DNR] | 14.0 | State or county trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| White River State Trail | 11.0 | State trail pass | Limestone | Easy |
| Wild Goose State Trail [exit DNR] | 32.0 | None | Limestone (4.1 miles have parallel horse trail) | Easy |
| Wiouwash State Trail | 51.0 | State trail pass (Shawano County only) | Limestone | Easy |
For more information, ask Wisconsin State Parks, (608) 266-2181.
RSS