I live near Dousman and ride this trail about once a week. The paved 13-mile section is in perfect shape, with a very gentle incline as you go from Waukesha to Wales. It's popular on weekends but not too crowded, and even the fastest riders are usually considerate of other users; something that's becoming quite unusual in urban settings these days.

The trail levels off and the crowds thin out as you proceed west to Dousman. You have now left the suburban sprawl (not that it was often visible from the trail anyway) and are riding from small town to small town. There's a good bike shop right on the trail here and restaurants within a couple blocks.

The unpaved part of the trail from Dousman to the on-road connector is showing its age, with some washouts and holes to dodge, and a few bridges in need of replacement. Still, I have no trouble riding a road bike with 700x28 tires; a hybrid with 35s would be more than sufficient for anyone. Portions of the trail are improved every year, including regrading a section near the short tunnel just west of Highway D which used to get flooded every spring and some resurfacing and bridge replacement near Sullivan.

There's a rest area in Sullivan which seems to open very late in the spring and closes early in the fall, but that's about it west of Dousman. There's also a nice rest stop on the trail in Wales, but nothing at the eastern end of the trail in Waukesha.

I have not ridden the section west of Jefferson in a few years; it always seemed to be a bit rougher than the eastern half. I do recall a parking area with rest rooms at the Cottage Grove end.

I rode from the Trailhead in Waukesha to Dousman. The trail has great scenery. The golf coarse just before Wales is quite the scene, and the wildlife around you makes you forget where you are. The trail is reletively flat until just before Dousman, when the trail is parallel to Hwy. 18. After you cross Hwy. 67, it's about a half mile to Dousman. That town is pretty cool. There's a bikeshop, gas station, ice cream joint, and other various businesses. From what I've heard , after Dousman, there's not a lot of civilization around for quite a while.

I rode this trail from Cottage Grove to Lake Mills. It was fantastic. Lake Mills view from the trail is beautiful.Next year I'll ride the whole trail.

Traveled to this trail from Chicago, not disappointed!! Went west from Waukesha, very well maintained, nice ride. Lots of wildlife, interesting birds, cranes, snapping turtles, tons of frogs etc, quite fun. Went 35 mi first day, very lightly trafficked, great treat from Chicago area trails! Enjoy

It's well cared for by Wisconsin DNR, and has frequent wooden bridges and lots of wildlife. One spring I watched a bedraggled fox chase a flock of pheasants in a barren field. The birds weren't even respectful enough of the poor skinny fox to fly away - the one he chased would briefly take to the air, but only fly a few feet, during which the fox's attention turned to another potential meal. I rode on after 20 minutes, and the fox was still making half-hearted attempts to catch a pheasant meal.

I live in Deerfield WI and ride the trail all summer long. I ride almost every night from Deerfield to Lake Mills and back and it is just awesome! I am also fortunate enough to work close to the trail head in Cottage Grove and even started riding my bike to work in the morning on the trail from Deerfield to Cottage Grove - another great ride. Everyone is very courteous on the trail and it is never really crowded. I also began snowshoeing on it this winter a couple of times, where the scenery and time spent on the trail was very peaceful and serene. I love this trail and for the price for the yearly pass is very affordable!

Wonderful trail. I rode it from Lake Mills to Cottage Grove last summer, and then east a ways from Lake Mills. Good condition, nice scenery. As a visitor from Michigan, I was happy to pay the day use fee.

"On the last day of our cross-state tour we rode this trail as part of our day's ride from Madison to Milwaukee. I was surprised by the variation in scenery, especially the marshlands near Lake Mills. (Saw a red-tailed hawk on a signpost!) The easternmost section from Wales to Waukeshaw is a nice downgrade; we held 19 mi/hr despite a light headwind (fully loaded bikes)."

" Having twice biked the stretch from Waukesha to Wales, I can highly recommend this trail. While it is certainly likely the most heavily travelled part (being closest to the Milwaukee/Waukesha population centers), I have not found it to be overly crowded.
The trail starts quite flat and straight (westerly) out of Waukesha, but soon begins a barely perceptable, but steady climb to reach the high point of the entire trail in the town of Wales.
You will alternate between views of rolling fields and subdivisions with beautiful homes, before entering a more secluded stretch of trail as you encounter gentle curves and a few areas of 'walled in' rock cuts to reach the town of Wales.
A fine city park with drinking fountain ('bubbler' to native Wisconsinites) and 'facilities' will greet you at this trailhead area.
We definitely plan to 'explore' some of the remainder of this trail further west from Wales, as (so far) we have only turned around at this point to enjoy the easier ('downhill') return to Waukesha."