Hiawatha Trail and Bearskin State Park Trail:
Wisconsin
Trail Map
  • Get Personalized Driving Directions!
  • Find Trail Side Shops with Google Search!
  • See Users’ Geocoded Photos!
  • Get a Print-Friendly Map and Get Outdoors!
Description:
Shimmering lakes and Wisconsin's beautiful North Woods wilderness await you on the Bearskin State Park Trail and Hiawatha Trail. The two trails are currently separated by a 5.5-mile gap, but taken together or alone they provide a splendid journey along an old Milwaukee Road rail corridor that hauled white pine to the Midwest and later carried a passenger train named the "Hiawatha."




The trails traverse an area that has one of the densest concentrations of lakes in the world. Converted railroad trestles help you glide across long spans of lily pad-covered lakes. On the Bearskin trail, eight of 13 trestles cross the trail's namesake, Bearskin Creek, and act as lookout landings for bald eagles, loons, and other wildlife. Watch for snapping turtles basking in the sun.




Bearskin State Park Trail starts in Minocqua, where a long boardwalk across shimmering Lake Minocqua is the beginning of an 18.3 mile venture south where you'll encounter a beautiful, remote wilderness-plus a few picnic tables and portable restrooms at various trailheads.




Several interpretive signs and old railroad structures provide a glimpse into the rich history of this railroad corridor. A century-old railroad line shed approximately 9.5 miles from Minocqua attests to the rustic living conditions of some railroad workers, and historic photographs illustrate the challenging nature of railroad labor. During the warmer months hikers and bikers hit these trails and take in the astounding lake vistas. Snowmobiles are permitted in the winter months, and many connecting trails provide endless hours of exploration.




The 9-mile Hiawatha Trail hooks up with the Bearskin via a 5.5-mile on-road connection for a 32-mile one-way journey. Traveling north from Tomahawk on the Hiawatha Trail you will be surrounded by glistening lakes and travel over expansive trestle bridges.




The Hiawatha Trail peters out after 9 miles. There are no clear signs indicating you have hit the end of the line, so be on the lookout for bike route signs where the trail intersects with Lake Nokomis Road. At this juncture, follow the on-road bike route and snowmobile signs east and then north along quiet neighborhood streets and the busier County Road L. Passing under a Highway 51 overpass signals that you will soon arrive at the trailhead for the Bearskin Trail on County Road K.




The allure of these north woods trails lies in their isolated, scenic charm. If you want to explore both trails, plan accordingly; besides one remote restroom facility on the Bearskin, there are no other amenities or easy access to food and water.




Parking and restroom facilities are located at each trailhead at Sara Lake Park in Tomahawk and the trailhead in Minocqua. You won't have problems finding a motel or a good meal in the tourist towns of Minocqua and Tomahawk. After a day on the trails, treat yourself to a cold glass of homemade root beer at the local brewery in Minocqua and watch the sun set across the lake.
... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
To access the Hiawatha Trail from US Hwy. 51, take Exit 229 for State Route 86 west/CR-D toward Tomahawk. Route 86 becomes East Somo Avenue. After passing through town, continue on Somo Ave. until you reach Sara Park, which will be on your left after crossing the intersection of North Railway Street and West Somo Ave. Continue to veer right after passing the park facilities to reach the large parking lot. The Hiawatha Trail will be on your left.
For the Bearskin trail, there are two trailheads. For the southern terminus, take US Hwy. 51 south from Minocqua to County Road K and turn left. The trailhead will be on the left, approximately three quarters of a mile from the turn. The northern terminus is in the town of Minocqua. From the south, take US Hwy. 51 north. Before entering the downtown area, turn left onto Park Avenue, continuing on until the road veers right, then becomes Front Street. The trailhead parking lot is located off of Front Street behind the Post Office.
... Click to read more
... Click to read more
Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
Scenic Pines and Lakes give you a feeling of being close to nature
By pbadam on January 27, 2009
I rode this 6.2 mile trail with my Scorpion Fx recumbent trike on a beautiful fall day on September 22, 2008.

The trail goes from Tomahawk to Heafford Junction along a smooth crushed gravel rail bed. As you go from the trailhead in Tomahawk at Sara Park on Somo Ave., going North, you'll cross over the Wisconsin River on a 544' low trestle which gives you expansive views of this mighty river.

The tall pines along this trail makes it very scenic, and a feeling of being close to nature. The trail also passes between Lake Mohowksin and Clear lake giving some great views of these two inland lakes, and the small cottages nestled along their banks. Sections of the trail run parallel to and crosses Hwy. 51 and a few county roads, a number of times, making it necessary to watch for cross traffic.

Future plans call for connecting the 6 mile gap between the Hiawatha and Bearskin Trails making it one continuous 30 mile trail.

I would highly recommend this trail as a stepping stone to the Bearskin Trail, and the Boulder Junction area Trails in Wisconsins' north country. This trail is reasonably flat and easy to ride for all levels of bikers.

Dennis Adam
Sheboygan, WI
Browse Trails by Activity: