Find the top rated hiking trails in Chippewa Falls, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Rode this trail starting at Carryville towards Durand in early May. The services were not yet open. You can park, but the toilets were closed and the water fountains were decommissioned. The path was bumpy and poorly maintained. I was riding on 700x32 tires- passable, but be sure to bring a repair kit as there is a high risk for punctures. It would have been a much more comfortable ride on either a gravel bike or a hardtail.
I had a hard time reconciling the $5 registration fee for this path. I understand that services (toilets, water) cannot operate year round, but this should be made very clear on the WI DNR site- and would be even better if they didn’t charge the fee until the services were in operation. Hailing from MN where many well-serviced and well-maintained paths do not incur a registration fee, it was very disappointing to pay $5 to ride on a cruddy path without open facilities. I had a much more enjoyable ride on the Old Abe trail.
We started in Durand and rode north about 10 miles. We were disappointed that we didn’t see the river at all for 7.5 miles and then we were beside it for a mile at most. So that end of the trail is a ways from the river, FYI, but it’s still very pretty. The trail is very smooth asphalt for the first six miles, right up to the junction with the Red Cedar Trail. After that is was rideable but more bumpy. If you do this section, do yourself a favor and take the ten minutes to ride up the Red Cedar Trail about a quarter mile and check out the great trestle ridge that spans the Chippewa River.
Parked by the beach in Brunet State Park, used the flush toilets, and did the short state park loop before heading onto the Old Abe Trail (about 1.4m). Biked from the 0 to the mile 5 marker, turned around, and enjoyed ice cream in Cornell. Excellent paved trail that was mostly shaded and had very few hills. Our 7 and 9yo kids enjoyed it! Beautiful views of the water on the northern parts of our ride. Will definitely be back.
One of my fav trails!!! Follows the river, through a wildlife area, ends at a cool bridge with a connection to the Chippewa river trail. Total lack of human noise for most of this trail!!!!! It is in great shape Friday.
We rode the section of the trail from the north side of Chippewa Falls up to Cornell. It's a pleasant, tree-lined ride with ample wildflowers to stop and admire this time of year, including one site with Michigan Lillies. Does with fawns are out in the mornings before it gets too warm. The trail follows Wissota Lake and Old Abe Lake on the way north, so some nice water scenery, and an old abandoned steel truss road bridge borders the trail, but is closed even to bicyclists. A similar bridge on the Great Miami Trail north of Dayton has been painted blue and opened to access by cyclists and the general public. With multi-colored art adorning it, it has earned the moniker "Peace Bridge." Just a thought...
The trail in the north sections of Chippewa Falls appears to have been poured in sections with joints in between that are quite rough, despite being filled periodically with tar. Once out in the country, the 'joint design' goes away the the trail is smooth as glass. Racing back to beat a thunderstorm, we were able to peddle as fast as we wanted without worrying about road hazards.
The town of Cornell is a good destination: food choices plus a park with restrooms and water and the giant leaning tower of pulp wood stacking. Quite remarkable to see it looming before you as you come up the trail! A good day can be had on this trail.
Rode from Burnett Island to Chippewa Falls and back. Very smooth trail. There is a downed tree around 190th. I just went to the road for a couple blocks. Spotted alot of wildlife. I liked the trail north of Jim Falls the best.
You can now ride on the trail all the way from Eau Claire to Cornell.
It’s been 3 years since we had ridden this trail. It’s still a nice trail. Recent rains left a few spots washed out but repairs are in progress. There were very few other people on the trail for a Saturday morning. We did encounter deer on the trail.
Biked from Eau Claire to Red Cedar Trail. 1st 10 miles could use maintenance. Minimal effort at upkeep. Only rest room is located in Caryville at mile 12. Nice little store in Caryville for essentials. From Caryville to Meridean trail starts to degrade even more . Beautiful ride but gotta watch the trail. Meridean to Red Cedar is in severe disrepair. If you’re gonna bike In the Eau Claire area, head towards Chippewa on the old Abe trail. Runs all the way to Cornell and a much better trail.
I rode this trail from Owen Park in Eau Claire south to the 13 mile marker. The trail starts out with very nice views right along the river. There were some areas at the start where there were intersecting trails that could have better signage showing which trail was the main through trail. After the trail turns away from the river at about the 3 mile marker it travels through some very nice scenic countryside. At this point the asphalt quality starts to decline . There are many cracks that run across the trail. It can be distracting from a peaceful ride to have the clunk-clunk every 50 feet. On a fat tire bike it wouldn’t be as noticeable. I only met one other bike on the trail from the 3 mile mark to the 13 mile marker. It may be due to the trail surface quality. Other than the bumps it is a nice scenic ride.
Interesting trail — even possible to canoe down stream & bike back. However, not for you if snakes bother you! Many snakes on trail! Non-venomous, but a definite ick-factor for some.
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