Explore the best rated trails in Fairchild, WI, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Chippewa River State Trail and Red Cedar State Trail . With more than 13 trails covering 245 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 enjoying this trail for 40 + years but have been noticing a decline in maintenance. Vegetation closing in on some sections and grading needed in others. Please help keep this treasure going for our future generations!
We biked this trail from downtown Chippewa Falls to Brunet Island State Park stopping in Cornell for lunch which has two bar & grills and one restaurant to choose from. The trail from Chippewa to Anson trailhead is basically riding through town and business park warehouses and I think we’re gonna skip this section next time. The Anson trailhead is probably the best place to park. As you ride north the trail becomes particularly beautiful from Jim Falls north. When you get to the end take the time to ride the big loop at Brunet Island State Park which is beautiful. The rail trail itself is straight long and flat-reduced to four stars due to sections of the trail being rough with many cracks, holes, etc.
Second long trip for me and the first trip that was mostly rail trail one quarter of which was the Elroy Sparta. Beautiful trail and the safety of being away from most automobile traffic made the trip way less stressful
The Tank Creek Bridge is out due to a fire in May, 2025. We detoured onto Highway 35 (almost 5 miles) then to County XX (about 6 miles) to reach Midway and the trail. XX starts out paved then gravel and old asphalt until you near Midway. The trail is gorgeous! Might need to come during fall foliage.
We rode Sparta to Norwalk, through tunnel 3. Two of our group had ridden the entire length in the early 70s, so it was a nostalgic day. They recalled seeing farmland and we saw a little of that, but trees have grown up and it’s mainly a nice, shaded, flat ride.
Asphalt trail from Tarrant Park in Durand is rough with lots of twigs, grass growing between the asphalt, and repaired potholes. We went a little over 3 miles and turned around. It is mostly shaded. There are yellowflies. Would not do again.
A 5 star is really stretching this. I get the history of this being the 1st rail to trail and the cool tunnels, but the very narrow gravel path is not much to desire. The landscape doesn’t change much and the overgrown weeds and trees prevent much scenery. Occasional stream is a welcome sight on this boring path. America’s bicycle capital is needing a little update to encourage us to return. Glad we had headlamps for the almost two mile long tunnel raining on us. Riding, rather than walking was our choice to speed it up but if you’re not steady - then walk.
The tunnels on the trail are nice, cool bluffs and overall very nice trail
Roughly about 2 miles south of the trailhead in Menominee WI, the trail has had a washout due to recent heavy rains. When you go to the trailhead there are signs that say the trail is closed. This is normally a very nice unpaved, scenic and smooth trail as I’ve rode it many times. Not sure, but you may be able to get on the trail in Downsville and ride south??
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.
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