Explore the best rated trails in La Crosse, WI. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and Trout Run Trail. With more than 10 trails covering 191 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.
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Along much of its route, the Root River State Trail follows the winding course of its namesake river for 42 miles through the Minnesota towns of Fountain, Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford, and...
The Harmony–Preston Valley State Trail runs 18 miles on a north-south line between the town of Harmony and the Root River State Trail, which it meets between Lanesboro and Fountain. The paved trail is...
The La Crosse River valley provides level terrain through a rugged area of western Wisconsin for the La Crosse River State Trail. This screened-limestone rail-with-trail passes through farmland,...
The Trout Run Trail provides an experience unique to any other in Iowa, with a hilly landscape that reminds trail users of the meteorite that struck the area long ago. The trail actually loops all the...
The 12.5-mile Omaha Trail passes through a wonderland of towering buttes, mesas, and pinnacles that seem more at home in an arid desert than in fertile farmland. The steep sandstone formations, some...
The 4.3-mile Hillsboro State Trail will make you feel instantly at home. Easy and flat, this gravel trail will take you on a short excursion from Hillsboro to Union Center. But this trail is more of a...
Traveling the 400 State Trail is a numbers game. The trail’s name refers to the old Chicago and North Western Railway’s “No. 400” passenger train that zoomed through here between Chicago and St....
Utter darkness is as much a part of the scenery along the Elroy-Sparta State Trail as the views of the rolling hills and farmland. That’s because visitors pass through three hand-dug railroad tunnels...
Along much of its route, the Root River State Trail follows the winding course of its namesake river for 42 miles through the Minnesota towns of Fountain, Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford, and...
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Iowa's Yellow River State Forest contains a sprawling network of hiking, equestrian and bicycle trails. The Paint Creek Trail, which occupies a segment of an abandoned railroad corridor, is the only...
The Great River State Trail is named for the Mississippi River, but Ol’ Man River stays mostly out of sight if you follow this 24-mile trail through river marshes, wildlife preserves, hardwood...
The 4.3-mile Hillsboro State Trail will make you feel instantly at home. Easy and flat, this gravel trail will take you on a short excursion from Hillsboro to Union Center. But this trail is more of a...
The La Crosse River valley provides level terrain through a rugged area of western Wisconsin for the La Crosse River State Trail. This screened-limestone rail-with-trail passes through farmland,...
Utter darkness is as much a part of the scenery along the Elroy-Sparta State Trail as the views of the rolling hills and farmland. That’s because visitors pass through three hand-dug railroad tunnels...
The Trout Run Trail provides an experience unique to any other in Iowa, with a hilly landscape that reminds trail users of the meteorite that struck the area long ago. The trail actually loops all the...
The 12.5-mile Omaha Trail passes through a wonderland of towering buttes, mesas, and pinnacles that seem more at home in an arid desert than in fertile farmland. The steep sandstone formations, some...
The Harmony–Preston Valley State Trail runs 18 miles on a north-south line between the town of Harmony and the Root River State Trail, which it meets between Lanesboro and Fountain. The paved trail is...
Traveling the 400 State Trail is a numbers game. The trail’s name refers to the old Chicago and North Western Railway’s “No. 400” passenger train that zoomed through here between Chicago and St....
The Harmony–Preston Valley State Trail runs 18 miles on a north-south line between the town of Harmony and the Root River State Trail, which it meets between Lanesboro and Fountain. The paved trail is...
The La Crosse River valley provides level terrain through a rugged area of western Wisconsin for the La Crosse River State Trail. This screened-limestone rail-with-trail passes through farmland,...
The Great River State Trail is named for the Mississippi River, but Ol’ Man River stays mostly out of sight if you follow this 24-mile trail through river marshes, wildlife preserves, hardwood...
The 12.5-mile Omaha Trail passes through a wonderland of towering buttes, mesas, and pinnacles that seem more at home in an arid desert than in fertile farmland. The steep sandstone formations, some...
Iowa's Yellow River State Forest contains a sprawling network of hiking, equestrian and bicycle trails. The Paint Creek Trail, which occupies a segment of an abandoned railroad corridor, is the only...
The Trout Run Trail provides an experience unique to any other in Iowa, with a hilly landscape that reminds trail users of the meteorite that struck the area long ago. The trail actually loops all the...
Utter darkness is as much a part of the scenery along the Elroy-Sparta State Trail as the views of the rolling hills and farmland. That’s because visitors pass through three hand-dug railroad tunnels...
Along much of its route, the Root River State Trail follows the winding course of its namesake river for 42 miles through the Minnesota towns of Fountain, Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford, and...
The 4.3-mile Hillsboro State Trail will make you feel instantly at home. Easy and flat, this gravel trail will take you on a short excursion from Hillsboro to Union Center. But this trail is more of a...
Traveling the 400 State Trail is a numbers game. The trail’s name refers to the old Chicago and North Western Railway’s “No. 400” passenger train that zoomed through here between Chicago and St....
Rode south to north (elroy to camp Douglas) and back on our fat tire e-bikes. Good scenery, lots of bridges, super tunnel , beautiful weather. Yes there are potholes and even with the fatties, some holes were rough. The asphalt should be milled back to crushed gravel imo. However snowmobile tread and use during the breakup season may be why the surfaced was asphaulted.
This is a great trail but needs plenty of TLC. The ride is very bumpy with holes in the asphalt in many spots. The approaches to the bridges are also very rough and need repair. Absolutely love the Harmony and Preston area just hoping for improvements before going back.
Rode the Omaha Trail as an evening ride on our way to Madison. Interesting ride with a nice climb from Hustler WI to the tunnel. If you don’t want to ride the whole trail and just want to see the tunnel, park in Hustler for a quick ride. The surface is an odd chip and seal type pavement but generally in good shape. Quite a bit of surface maintenance is taking place near the tunnel with a new layer of gravel.
My friends and I had planned to do the entire trail, but since it is closed from Norwalk to Elroy- we rode round trip from Sparta to Norwalk and back. The total is 26 miles. Trail was well packed, but a little soft from the end of tunnel 3 to Norwalk. Nice Mexican restaurant in Norwalk right on trail-good place to have lunch before heading back to Sparta. Tunnel 3 is amazing. Walk the bikes and have a good head lamp. We camped at the Leon Valley campground in a cabin. Early in the season and no one was there. Had a wonderful time.
some closed portions from horrible flooding but fairly well marked SB's otherwise decent condition
Took the trail June 1,2019. Camp Douglas to Elroy and back. What a beautiful scenic trail!
We do have mountain bikes and it was not a smooth ride due to the potholes on the paved areas and also very wet and muddy around the tunnel this time of year. None of this mattered though as we were well prepared and enjoyed this trail very much.
4stars only because the pot holes, would be better with the crushed limestone.¿¿
May 2019. The trail from Elroy to Norwalk is closed for now
only open between Norwalk and Sparta due to the floods last year
This is by far the nicest trail in Minnesota and maybe the best ever in the Midwest. It is all paved, sometimes flat, sometimes hilly. The town of Lanesboro and other towns that the trail passes through are a real delight. The towns are very welcoming to bikers. If you wish to stay in Lanesboro make sure you make reservations well ahead of time. The trail is so popular and well-liked that you will probably never find a place to stay at the last minute.
Stayed in Lanesboro to ride the trail as it was somewhat located in the middle of the trail.Many options in accommodations and restaurants but do plan ahead as weekends are quite busy.Road west to Foutaine which is a steady climb with a quick return and the next day road east which provides stops in several trail town.Surface is very well maintained and our cyclocross bikes worked quite well.A pie stop in Whalen is a must and scenery along the river does not disappoint.Even got a nice look at a bald eagle seeking a fish lunch while sitting on a sand bar in the river.Nicely equipped bike rental shop in Lanesboro with very pleasant owner.
As of Friday, September 28, the Sparta to Norwalk portion of the Elroy/Sparta Trail, including the excellent tunnel #3, has reopened.
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