Explore the best rated trails in West Allis, WI, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Kenosha County Bike Trail and Robert McClory Bike Path . With more than 56 trails covering 733 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.
The route has a mix of crushed gravel at both ends and a nice wide asphalt trail in the middle. Be careful going through Saller Woods in the village of Rochester. The trail has been scarred by runoff, the gravel is loose and the hills are steep. Like a child clutching tightly to it's mother, the trail hugs Highway 36 for much of the ride. Although most of the trail is concealed by trees and brush, the sound of cars could still be heard. The trail in Burlington ends at a very nice park that has bathroom facility, water fountain and picnic tables under cover for a nice place to have lunch. The best part of the trail was "The Bunker." This bar & grill has a unique military-theme inside and outside its walls including a Vietnam Guard Tower and other military equipment.
I biked from the starting point just south of downtown West Bend to the endpoint in the village of Eden. The surface of the trail for the first 5 miles in West Bend was nicely paved. The trail during this stretch was 12' wide and smooth. The canopy of trees not only provided a good supply of shade, but it also created a park-like ambience. There were many photo opportunities in downtown West Bend, especially next to the Museum of Wisconsin Art building. There were a couple of busy roads to cross, but the worst was Washington Street (Hwy 33). Take Caution!
The trail changes to a hard-packed crushed stone just north of downtown West Bend. The trail narrows to 6' wide most of the way to the endpoint in the village of Eden. There is an occasional road to cross, but these were not heavily traveled. The village of Kewaskum provided a needed change of scenery and a nice rest stop.
The first two bridges I encountered in West Bend were new, but the rest of the bridges on the trail were heavily patched and, quite frankly, in need of replacement. Overall, the ride was peaceful and fairly easy.
I rode the trail from Rosewood to Elkhorn. Most of the trail was flat and peaceful. Some of the crushed stone was washed away between Lyons and Burlington. Most of the trail surface was solid, but there were a few soft pockets where the stone accumulated from the wash out. Getting from the east section to the west section was tricky with no signage, but I was able to navigate the route using my i-phone GPS. If you like a flat, peaceful ride, then this is the trail for you.
All grass. Best for walkers not bikes.
Crossing roads can be tricky but most drivers are willing to let you pass.
Although the meticulously maintained 8-foot wide asphalt trail is short, one must cross W Forest Home Avenue twice. The traffic was fast and constant. I was lucky enough to attract a courteous driver who stopped for me, so I could make it across safely. Not a good trail for the young ones. The rating of the trail would have been 5 stars, but the traffic crossings brought it down a notch.
This 8 foot-wide asphalt trail was beautiful when I first rode it several years ago. The 3 sections of trail are connected by roads. One must cross 2 busy roads to get to the middle section from the southern section and there is no signage to guide you. The southern section is also poorly maintained; the grass is not mowed on either side of the trail and the tree branches and bushes overhead make the 8 foot wide trail seem smaller. I still bike this trail quite often, because it is a safer and a more scenic route to travel from my house to downtown.
This 8 foot-wide asphalt trail meanders through urban neighborhoods. Although the trail is broken up in a few sections by roads, there is plenty of unique artwork to see. My favorite ride in the city!
This well maintained asphalt trail is a nice extension of the New Berlin Trail.
At the midway point, one must exit the trail and ride down to 116th Street, then ride back up to the trail on the other side. What would it take to extend this trail further east?
Even though the sides of the trail were not mowed, the asphalt surface was in great condition. Beautiful views of the surrounding farmland. The trail is basically straight with slight grade changes between roads. Another 3 miles of asphalt trail have been added to the east past Ski Slide Road in Oconomowoc. A crushed gravel trail continues east to Second Street, but this looks like the base for the asphalt that should be added by fall.
Bike type: Hybrid (Specialized Sirus 2019)
Conditions: mid-70's, light breeze, dry
Segment biked: Just south of Algonquin to Barnard Mill Rd (north of McHenry) = 40 miles
I started my ride around 9:30am on a July Friday. I had biked a few miles of the trail just north of downtown Algonquin before, the rest was new to me. Perfect conditions motivated me in every way. Perfect temps, full sun, and breeze kept me going for my longest ride since 1997.
The entire path that I rode was asphalt. There are a couple of deviations through downtown areas when you're on sidewalks or streets. But everything was paved. Riding from town to town has always been a favorite, but the Prairie trail gie you even more than that. North of Crystal Lake you'll find miles on end of straight path and very little to see except nature. There's also Sterne's Woods, which really threw me for a loop. Can't say I've ever seen signs that tell bikers to dismount. Then you find out why. There are several hills back here to test your fortitude. At least three hills look to be close to a 45-degree angles. If you're riding these as I did, be careful and make sure you're only tempting them in optimal conditions (dry, no wind). Just coasting pushed me close to 40mph. These hills are as tough as they come to climb in Illinois. Algonquin, Crystal Lake and McHenry all offer pitstops if you need one. I saw two other parking lots away from the towns with benches and bathrooms. I had read from other reviewers that the path north of Barnard Mill Rd was gravel and dicey, so I didn't tempt that. My hybrid tires can hold their own, but it only takes one sharp piece of gravel to strand you far from your starting point. All in all, this path is a 10 out of 10 in my opinion. It's extremely well kept up, very diverse, ridable for any type of bike, with amenities and beauty along the way.
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