Description
The Old Abe State Trail, a 19.5-mile abandoned railroad grade, connects two State Parks from Chippewa Falls to Cornell, Wisconsin. This old railroad grade has been developed into a multi-use trail for bicyclists, snowmobilers, hikers, horse back riders and inline skaters. Starting at the parking lot, located at the junction of Hwy S and Hwy O, the trail is flat and easy going. It winds through agricultural land into the community of Jim Falls, where the horseback riding portion of the trail ends. Continuing north from Jim Falls, the trail follows the undeveloped shoreline of the Chippewa River (The Old Abe Flowage). Solitude and wildlife are abundant. Five miles north of Jim Falls, you will arrive in historic "Cobban", site of the Cobban Bridge! North of Cobban the trail leaves the Chippewa River for several miles before joining back up to the river, just south of Cornell. The Old Abe State Trail will create the northern portion of a 70-mile trail system from Menomonie (Red Cedar Trail) through Eau Claire (Chippewa River Trail) and Chippewa Falls to Cornell.
Parking and Trail Access
Begin your trail experience at either the trail head on 97th Ave (junction of Hwy S & Hwy O), or in Cornell at the Mill Yard Park, or at the Town Hall parking lot in Jim Falls. Development of the trail from 97th Ave South to the City of Chippewa Falls, has been completed, including the replacement of the railroad trestle over Lake Wissota.
No parking fees, but a State Trail Pass is required.
Pavement a little rough but I'd go back
By
kevinkaren
in
October, 2011
We rode this trail round-trip on a cool but sunny fall day. The mileage from 97th St to the end of the off-road trail within Brunet Island State Park is 18 miles, not 19.5.
The 97th Av. trailhead has no facilities, but there is a porta-potty at the ...
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Old Abe Trail July 18th 2010
By
850120
in
July, 2010
I rode the trail on sunday July 18th and enjoyed it very much. It is a nice flat trail easy to ride. The sign in Jim Falls that says rough trail next 10 miles makes it sound like you would need a mountain bike to ride that part of the trail. That is totally ...
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Okay if you like cornfields
By
dreamshark
in
October, 2008
Pretty typical midwestern trail - easy, pleasant enough, but kind of boring in the scenery department. The trail surface is paved, but not well-paved. How do you get a washboard surface on an asphalt trail?? We rode in a light rain, and noted that the ...
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