La Crosse, WI Hiking Trails and Maps

320 Reviews

Looking for the best Hiking trails around La Crosse?

Find the top rated hiking trails in La Crosse, 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.

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
23 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

400 State Trail

22.3 mi
State: WI
Crushed Stone

Elroy-Sparta State Trail

33.8 mi
State: WI
Crushed Stone

Jim Asfoor Trail

1.3 mi
State: WI
Asphalt

La Crosse River State Trail

21 mi
State: WI
Crushed Stone

Pammel Creek Trail

2 mi
State: WI
Asphalt

Root River State Trail

42 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Trout Run Trail

11 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete

Great River State Trail

24 mi
State: WI
Crushed Stone

Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail

18 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Hillsboro State Trail

4.3 mi
State: WI
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Omaha Trail

12.5 mi
State: WI
Asphalt, Gravel

Paint Creek Trail (IA)

2.5 mi
State: IA
Dirt

Swift Creek Trail (WI)

1.9 mi
State: WI
Asphalt

Bud Hendrickson Nature Trail

1.2 mi
State: WI
Asphalt

Flyway Trail

3.2 mi
State: MN, WI
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Foundation Trail

3.19 mi
State: WI
Asphalt

Grand Crossing Trail

1 mi
State: WI
Asphalt

Old Highway 131 Trail

5.7 mi
State: WI
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone

Tomah Recreation Trail

3.15 mi
State: WI
Asphalt, Concrete
Accordion

Vietnam Veterans Trail (WI)

0.9 mi
State: WI
Asphalt

Wagon Wheel Trail

0.8 mi
State: MN
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Willow Trail

0.6 mi
State: WI
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
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....
WI 22.3 mi Crushed Stone
Note: The three tunnels on the trail close from Nov. 1 to April 30 each year. Overview Three hand-dug tunnels along the Elroy-Sparta State Trail make utter darkness as much a part of the scenery...
WI 33.8 mi Crushed Stone
The Jim Asfoor Trail is a paved hike-and-bike trail within La Crosse's marshlands. The trail is part of the Marsh Trail Network, cluster of paved and unpaved trails occupying the thousand-acre wetland...
WI 1.3 mi Asphalt
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,...
WI 21 mi Crushed Stone
The Pammel Creek Trail is a paved path in La Crosse. The trail mostly follows the alignment of the Pammel Creek channel. The trail travels through residential areas in the south part of La Crosse,...
WI 2 mi Asphalt
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...
MN 42 mi Asphalt
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...
IA 11 mi Asphalt, Concrete
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...
WI 24 mi Crushed Stone
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...
MN 18 mi Asphalt
The 4.3-mile Hillsboro State Trail will make you feel instantly at home. Starting out easy with a crushed stone surface before turning to slightly more difficult loose gravel, this trail will take you...
WI 4.3 mi Crushed Stone, Gravel
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...
WI 12.5 mi Asphalt, Gravel
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...
IA 2.5 mi Dirt
The Swift Creek Trail combines a trail segment running the length of Isle la Plume and a walking trail that was the initiative of staff of the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. The trail begins in...
WI 1.9 mi Asphalt
This trail and bike-ped bridge are named for a La Crosse resident and trail lover, whose independent efforts to create a walking path in the 1950s would pave the way for this trail. The hard surface...
WI 1.2 mi Asphalt
Flyway Trail is a community-driven startup committed to building a world-class trail in Buffalo County. The long-term goals for this project aim to increase community connectivity, support economic...
MN, WI 3.2 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The picturesque Foundation Trail encircles the city of Black River Falls Wisconsin. It is a paved asphalt 10-ft wide trail that features bridges, benches, picnic tables and lights. It meanders around...
WI 3.19 mi Asphalt
The Grand Crossing Trail is a north-south trail located in La Crosse's marshlands. The hard-surface trail begins on River Valley Drive and extends south to Myrick Park Drive. The trail offers an...
WI 1 mi Asphalt
In Winona County, the Mississippi River Regional Trail runs parallel to US 61/14 and the rail line for almost three miles. The trail becomes a bike lane at the southern endpoint on US 14/61. 
MN 2.9 mi Asphalt
Situated in the heart of the Driftless Region, the Old Highway 131 trail holds both cultural, geological and historical significance. Even before the old highway was established, the Ho-Chunk nation...
WI 5.7 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone
The Tomah Recreation Trail winds along the northern edge of downtown Tomah between Buckley Park and Lake Tomah. Currently the trail is composed of two unconnected segments. The shorter, southeast...
WI 3.15 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Accordion
La Crosse's Marsh Trail Network is a collection of paved and unpaved trails occupying the 1000 acre wetland where the La Crosse River meets the Mississippi River. The marsh, which lies minutes from...
WI 0.9 mi Asphalt
The Wagon Wheel Trail runs for less than a mile through the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Blue Lake is just south of the trail, which has a crushed gravel surface suitable for...
MN 0.8 mi Crushed Stone, Gravel
La Crosse's marshlands sit on a thousand acres in the heart of the city. The wetlands occur where the La Crosse and Mississippi rivers meet. The Marsh Trail Network is a cluster of paved and unpaved...
WI 0.6 mi Asphalt

Recent Trail Reviews

Root River State Trail

Great family trail

October, 2023 by sabress82

This trail is awesome! We only went about 16 miles from Houston and then back, but it was very enjoyable. We plan to come back and do another section of trail with our kids.

Root River State Trail

Can I give a SIX star??

October, 2023 by mrmikesch

Best and most favorite trail of the trails we rode in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin on this trip!! Rode 50 miles round-trip, Petersen to fountain. Trail is smooth asphalt. Gorgeous river views along the way. Last 5 miles are uphill to fountain, but a very fun dissent on the return! Second day, Peterson to Houston 36 miles r/t. First 5 miles to Rushford, smooth trail. The remaining 13 miles to Houston, trail has some sinkhole spots and the bridge transitions are rough. Still some river views. Each of the little towns along the trail has a couple restaurants, just call ahead to make sure they’re open during the week.

La Crosse River State Trail

Flat and straight

October, 2023 by mrmikesch

Just an average trail ride. Nothing special. Camped at veterans park. Campground in West Salem. Road the section from West Salem to Sparta. Trail service is good, packed chat. Very straight and boring. Decided not to ride the section from West Salem to La Crosse.

Accordion

Elroy-Sparta State Trail

Tunnels make the trail 5 star

October, 2023 by mrmikesch

Rode this trail over two days. Camped at Tunnel Trail Campground just east of Wilton. Rode Wilton to Sparta. Two tunnels in the section. Very cool!! The trail surface was mostly OK, except where the trail maintenance tractor had driven on it when the trail was soft and left ruts from the tractor tires. The section from Wilton to a Elroy has one tunnel. Small descent after the tunnel and then flattens out on the way to Elroy. Least favorite part of this ride.

400 State Trail

Great Trail, consistent quality!

October, 2023 by kylepuntney

Great trail. I did the full 22mi and back. Started at the south end. Very easy to follow, very little interaction with traffic. A few bathroom breaks on the way. Almost perfectly flat from start to finish. (I was wishing for a hill or two at one point. Got a bit monotonous.) Clean, well maintained, no hazards. It’s NOT paved but felt paved most of the time. A couple of the bridges could use a bit of work, but I never felt unsafe on them. Very quiet! At times I felt like I was alone in the world! ¿¿¿¿¿

Omaha Trail

Fantastic Trail

September, 2023 by jmbahe

Surface is paved with older asphalt. About half smooth and half bumpy. Bridges are in very good shape. Scenery is amazing. No steep hills. Only one hill with gradual incline and decline.

400 State Trail

Good Experience

September, 2023 by jmbahe

Trail is almost completely flat. Surface consists of compacted crushed stone and soil, and is in good shape with no ruts or holes. A few of the bridges are rough. Nice and quiet, not too crowded. Lots of convenience stores and bathrooms along the way.

400 State Trail

A New Favorite

September, 2023 by jdwiesner

Road this trail for the first time. We started at the Reedsburg trailhead and went to Wonewoc and back (~30 miles round trip). The trail is in excellent shape. Wide road bed with a packed, firm surface. Few if any ruts. A previous review noted disrepair of the bridges. We went over seven or eight on this stretch and didn't see any problems. There has been recent maintenance with boards replaced. Scenery is outstanding, especially north of LaValle. The grade is mostly flat to slightly uphill going north. The trail crosses very few roads and the ones it does are quiet. Looking forward to finishing the rest up to Elroy.

Root River State Trail

Nice Trail, but

September, 2023 by shumakers

The trail is a super ride, lots of nice scenery and a very fast track. However was sorely disappointed that the pie shop in Whalan is only open weekends after labor day. That was to be the highlight of the ride!

Root River State Trail

Nicwst trail in all of Minnesota!

September, 2023 by jkboucher

I spent the month of August riding rail trails around the state, and this was the most scenic and best maintained trail I encountered. Lanesboro is a great little town to stop for lunch or ice cream, and would be a good choice for your riding "headquarters". Camping available at Lanesboro and other points along the trail.

Root River State Trail

Did about 40 miles out, then turned and came back. Have been on a dozen trails in the area, and this is the best trail so far. Very well maintained. A few steep hills for a little challenge

August, 2023 by jmbahe

Did about 40 miles out, then turned and came back. Have been on a dozen trails in the area, and this is the best trail so far. Very well maintained. A few steep hills for a little challenge

Elroy-Sparta State Trail

Average except for Tunnels

August, 2023 by lchammer

Surface is packed and mostly in good shape. Probably a 3 star trail but the tunnels make it a 4+. Went from Sparta to Wilton and will return to check out the rest.

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