Find the top rated hiking trails in Hartford, 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.
Like the Eagles 1972 hit song, this well-established trail was both peaceful and easy. I biked from Oshkosh to Hortonville and back. The trail was mostly nestled under a canopy of trees. The sides of the trail were mowed and I did very little tree-branch ducking. For the most part, the trail surface was solid and bone dry. Beware of the section next to the mountain of sand in Clayton. Some of the sand has drifted onto the trail causing slippery conditions. The loop around the Fox River Inlet in Oshkosh was a nice change of pace. On the east side of the Fox River by Hwy 21 is the Fox River Brewing Company. They have a large outdoor dining area that includes a beach house and tiki bar!
We accessed this trail from the Lakeside Park trail. We were a little unsure of where to go until we got the areas which were well marked. It’s mainly city roads but there is a wide bike path off the road most of the time. Lots of neat old buildings.
This connected us to the Pioneer Trail which has 2 interesting roundabouts at the beginning of the trail. More city riding but you can stay off the street on the sidewalk.
Then we connected up with the Camelot trail. This trail starts out in the suburbs, you go past a pond and through a park. More peaceful ride.
Then you ride on a bridge over Hwy 45 / Fond du Lac Ave to get to the south end of the Prairie Trail which is by the Fond du Lac Waterworks Water Tower in a residential neighborhood.
We did this trail as part of the Fond du Lac loop trail system by going in a counterclockwise direction and following the Fond du Lac Loop signs.
We started on the north end of the Prairie trail at the Park N’ Ride/ Prairie Trail Lot on Winnebago Drive just off Hwy 151.
We took a right at the fork to bike the Peebles trail which ran into the Harbor view trail. We then took a detour through Lakeside Park on the Lakeside park trail. Then ended up going through the city on the Brooke street trail which ran into the Pioneer trail, another city trail. Which in its turn ran into the Camelot trail which took us over a bridge to the other end of the Prairie trail. A very nice loop. The trails are color coded and pretty well marked.
We parked at the Park and Ride at Hwy 151 and Winnebago Drive which is the north end of the Prairie trail. We took the right fork to get on the Peebles trail. A short trail but peaceful. Trees and greenery on both sides of trail. Saw 3 deer. Connects you to the Harbor view Trail.
We did this trail as part of the Fond du Lac loop trail system by going in a counterclockwise direction and following the Fond du Lac Loop signs.
We started on the north end of the Prairie trail at the Park N’ Ride/ Prairie Trail Lot on Winnebago Drive just off Hwy 151.
We took a right at the fork to bike the Peebles trail which ran into the Harbor view trail. We then took a detour through Lakeside Park on the Lakeside park trail. Then ended up going through the city on the Brooke street trail which ran into the Pioneer trail, another city trail. Which in its turn ran into the Camelot trail which took us over a bridge to the other end of the Prairie trail. A very nice loop. The trails are color coded and pretty well marked.
We parked at the Park and Ride at Hwy 151 and Winnebago Drive which is the start of the north end of the trail. No bathrooms but there is a gas station/ restaurant on Winnebago drive which has a bathroom. This trail mostly runs along 151 but is buffered in areas by a pretty wide berm which sometimes had trees and other greenery on it. Other short areas separate you from Hwy 51 with a short concrete wall. Nicely paved. It’s pretty nice for a trail that runs along a highway. Better than Friendship trail.
There is a bench and drinking fountain at the south end by the Fond du Lac Waterworks water tower. We had fun turning on the bubbler and watching shoot about 8 feet in the air.
We did this trail as part of the Fond du Lac loop trail system by going in a counterclockwise direction and following the Fond du Lac Loop signs.
We started on the north end of the Prairie trail at the Park N’ Ride/ Prairie Trail Lot on Winnebago Drive just off Hwy 151.
We took a right at the fork to bike the Peebles trail which ran into the Harbor view trail. We then took a detour through Lakeside Park on the Lakeside park trail. Then ended up going through the city on the Brooke street trail which ran into the Pioneer trail, another city trail. Which in its turn ran into the Camelot trail which took us over a bridge to the other end of the Prairie trail. A very nice loop. The trails are color coded and pretty well marked.
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.
We started in downtown Menomonee Falls. We parked in Mill Pond Park on Roosevelt, then rode our bike over to Water Street where the trail begins. That probably wasn’t the best place to start because we had to cross the two scary intersections; Highway 175 with a crossing light and Main street on a long diagonal with no crossing light.
This is a very nice trail with wooded areas that pass through residential areas and some business areas. The northern end has some fields. On the southern end you have to stop to cross at a lot of roads all the way to and through Sussex. Luckily the car drivers are very courteous and stop to let you cross. It was nice to see kids of all ages on the trail. It’s pretty flat until you get past the Fireman’s Park soccer fields in Merton. Then you have some pretty steep hills.
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