Touring Tuesday - Wisconsin Trails

Ed Pope & David Kennedy riding a trail in Wisconsin

If you prefer to ride bicycle trails instead of roads, you might want to consider visiting Wisconsin. They have extensive system of trails, including the Elroy-Sparta trail, one of the first in the nation constructed on a former rail line. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism has an 84-page Official Biking Guide on their website.

I went with a group of friends on a week-long Wisconsin cycling trip in 2006. We started in Baraboo in the center of the state. Our route included the Elroy-Sparta Trail, which has three railroad tunnels on it. Continuing west, we reached the Mississippi River at La Crosse. We saw some eagles as we headed south along the river before turning east towards Baraboo. On some of the trails we saw sandhill cranes. I really enjoyed biking through the rural areas of Wisconsin. The farms and natural areas are very pretty.