Explore the best rated trails in Onalaska, WI, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and Vietnam Veterans Trail . With more than 24 trails covering 258 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've been on this trail several times and it's consistently great. This time, we started at the trailhead in Lanesboro, biked west and up to Fountain, turned around for a nice mostly-downhill ride, stopped back in Lanesboro for lunch at Pedal Pushers, then onward east toward Rushford. Trail in great shape except for a felled tree from a storm the night before. But easy enough to pick up the bike and carry it over the tree. Aroma Pies in Whalen is a must-do; both coconut cream and banana cream are highly recommended! A nice treat for our 40-mile bike ride that day. So much of this trail curves along the Root River, which makes for beautiful riding.
The last time I rode this trail it was in need of some TLC. We enjoyed the tunnel, many bridges and low traffic.
Great ride, less traffic and wonderful views and vistas.
Beautiful countryside and very scenic. I rode from Harmony to Preston and back. There are some bumps.Not a problem, but then again I'm not a a Strava segment leader so I don't really care. Rod eon fattish tires. Had me a real good time, and that's really the whole idea. Come. Enjoy. Ignore the Citiots.
My dad and I started at the trail head at Reedsburg after getting some great tips and info from Sue at the restored rail depot by the parking lot. The ride out from Reedsburg passes through some busy streets and the first mile or two were a little slick after yesterday’s rain. But this trail just got better and better the farther we rode! The rail trail is primarily crushed pea gravel and after a few miles it dried up real nice and was very stable and reliable. From Reedsburg to La Valle we rode through a mixture of woodland filled with wildflowers (purple/white flox, white daisies and pink columbine) as well as lush marshland filled with water fowl, turtles and muskrats! My favorite parts were the sandstone bluffs that rose majestically over the marshlands and just beyond Le Valle the trail cuts straight through 20 foot high limestone. We ate in La Valle at Fishy’s Bar and grill which had some excellent burgers and fries. At Reedsburg we ate at Ronnie’s which also had great food. Overall I would highly recommend this trail!
This trail is awesome! We only went about 16 miles from Houston and then back, but it was very enjoyable. We plan to come back and do another section of trail with our kids.
Best and most favorite trail of the trails we rode in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin on this trip!! Rode 50 miles round-trip, Petersen to fountain. Trail is smooth asphalt. Gorgeous river views along the way. Last 5 miles are uphill to fountain, but a very fun dissent on the return! Second day, Peterson to Houston 36 miles r/t. First 5 miles to Rushford, smooth trail. The remaining 13 miles to Houston, trail has some sinkhole spots and the bridge transitions are rough. Still some river views. Each of the little towns along the trail has a couple restaurants, just call ahead to make sure they’re open during the week.
Just an average trail ride. Nothing special. Camped at veterans park. Campground in West Salem. Road the section from West Salem to Sparta. Trail service is good, packed chat. Very straight and boring. Decided not to ride the section from West Salem to La Crosse.
Rode this trail over two days. Camped at Tunnel Trail Campground just east of Wilton. Rode Wilton to Sparta. Two tunnels in the section. Very cool!! The trail surface was mostly OK, except where the trail maintenance tractor had driven on it when the trail was soft and left ruts from the tractor tires. The section from Wilton to a Elroy has one tunnel. Small descent after the tunnel and then flattens out on the way to Elroy. Least favorite part of this ride.
Great trail. I did the full 22mi and back. Started at the south end. Very easy to follow, very little interaction with traffic. A few bathroom breaks on the way. Almost perfectly flat from start to finish. (I was wishing for a hill or two at one point. Got a bit monotonous.) Clean, well maintained, no hazards. It’s NOT paved but felt paved most of the time. A couple of the bridges could use a bit of work, but I never felt unsafe on them. Very quiet! At times I felt like I was alone in the world! ¿¿¿¿¿
Surface is paved with older asphalt. About half smooth and half bumpy. Bridges are in very good shape. Scenery is amazing. No steep hills. Only one hill with gradual incline and decline.
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