Explore the best rated trails in Ladysmith, WI, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Wild Rivers State Trail and Duncan Creek Trail . With more than 10 trails covering 295 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
We rode this trail early July 2025 starting from Eau Claire with intentions to go south to Durand and back. The trail starts in Eau Claire and is great with mostly new pavement until you hit the city limits at which time the trail degrades rapidly with cracks, bumps, foot tall weeds/grass growing up through cracks, holes, roots, overgrown grass and weeds on each side of the trail so as to render it single wide, etc. We made it about halfway and turned around in disgust as this trail was not worth our time and aching lower back. Clearly biking and/or this trail, is not a priority for the state of Wisconsin and has consequently been abandoned. shame, it’s beautiful country.
We rode the trail south from Eau Claire about 10 miles. I'm sure at one time this was a nice trail, but it hasn't been maintained and it's very rough. Make sure your bike has shock absorbers! The trail in Eau Claire is much better.
I rode the Duncan Creek trail in early June 2025. It was very enjoyable. I wasn’t watching my map closely and I ended up on the Old Abe trail that connects to it. Overall really good 5 star trail. Traveling cyclist Facebook
I rode the length of this trail from Phoenix Park in Eau Claire to the endpoint in Durand and back in early June 2025. The trail was closed at Owen park but it was easy to get around it. Further down the trail there was a sign that about a mile or two of trail was to be closed from 6-9-25 to 7-2-25 which was after I was on it. At about 11 miles just north of Caryville the blacktop surface deteriorates and the trail becomes more adventurous. Just SW of Meridean the trail is closed for an impassable short flooded section. Traveling cyclist Facebook
I rode the entire trail in late May 2025 from Phoenix Park in Eau Claire north to Brunet Island State park and back. Just north of Eau Claire there are quite a few tarred cracks running across the trail for a mile or two of not so pleasant riding. Just south of Cornell there are some well marked frost heaves that are easily negotiated. Overall great trail that I rate 4.9999 stars. Traveling cyclist Facebook
So yes, the gravel isn’t the greatest, the bigger the tire the better. It’s a bit chunky and loose..gets chunkier in Price county, seems to be kept up though? It’s so worth the extra effort come Fall. I had very little issues with my gravel bike. It’s super peaceful. No ATVs allowed, but horses are ¿. Seen quite a few grouse and there’s all new bridges throughout! It’s quite the beautiful trail and worth enduring the subpar gravel.
We started in Almena on a gorgeous Tuesday in September. We were on a two up ATV. Went to Amery and back. Then did part of the extension in Barron Co to the 40 acre ATV Playground. Nice conditions on trail and groomed alongside. Pleasant varied scenery with several bridges. Lakes, rivers, bogs, woods, farmland. Can definitely understand why it is named Cattail trail! We stopped for a lunch in Turtle Lake at the Hotel Bar & Grill. Nice place right off the trail.
We listened to previous reviews and picked "the cream of the crop" for our ride -- heading north out of Jim Falls to Cornell. Beautiful ride along the river and plenty of tree canopy. Trail in great shape. At Cornell, we decided to bike into Brunet State Park for a nice ride around the small island. We got back to Jim Falls and kept going, for a daily ride of about 33 miles. Highly recommend a tour of the Leinenkugel Brewery in Chippewa Falls, overnight lodging at the amazing Otter Creek Inn in Altoona, and dinner at Mona Lisa in Eau Claire -- the pizza and pasta were outstanding, and a great dinner after a great ride!
We rode this trail in late May 2024 and listened to the reviews, so I can only comment on the western part of this trail, from the Durand trailhead, riding about 6.5 miles to the intersection with the Red Cedar Trail and then we headed north on that trail. Other reviews say past the intersection, the trail needs work, so we followed that advice. The trail out of Durand is great -- paved and beautiful biking with tree canopy and the point where the trail intersects with the Red Cedar is clearly marked. The portion we did was great.
I biked most of the length of the trail while on a long-distance tour. With 1.5" tires it was challenging to get through, and sometimes nearly impassable. The gravel shoulder of Highway 13 is easier traveling, honestly. The surface isn't crushed limestone. It's made of loose gravel and stones up to 1"—basically the same as the ag roads in the area. I would only recommend this if you are on an unloaded mountain bike or fat tire bike.
That said, it is flat, straight, and low-traffic in a beautiful area.
My sister and I loved this trail. All black top. And a very cute town to explore
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