Find the top rated birding trails in Portage, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Sept. 27, 2025 / Incredibly wonderful temps inspired us to make the 1 1/4 hr. Drive to Sauk City for one of our favorite trails. We started at the southern end and rode the length to the trail head near Devils Lake State park. While the trail would really be enhanced if it would end within the state park, my wife and I find it a wonderful ride. Interesting mile markers, lots of areas with benches for rest stops, beautiful scenery along the way; and the trail has been always maintained to perfection.
This is a really nice gravel trail that is basically flat for its entire length. It offers a really nice ride that can be enjoyed by riders of all skill levels.
On this is a trail, you'll have a chance to pass through a few towns and cross quite a few bridges, most of which will rattle your teeth due to their rugged surfaces. You can expect there to be a mix of trees and scrub along a lot of the trail with open areas reveal whole lot of Wisconsin farmland. The trail has several access points along its route, so you can pick a distance that works for you.
One of the nicer things experienced along the trail was a little cooler with ice water for you to enjoy as you leave the town of Reedsburg. It's just an example of cool people doing cool things.
I actually rode beyond the Elroy on up to Sparta, which I highly recommend if you're looking for a longer ride. I spent the night in a hotel then made it a round trip the next morning.
Other than that, this was a really nice ride.
We rode this stretch out and back on September 15, 2025. The trail is flat and in good shape except for the numerous bridges (10 or 12) which are in pretty bad shape. It’s obvious that a few repairs were recently attempted, but those amount to replacement of a few boards in each bridge. Some bridges are very long and all are super bumpy. If you have an older bike I’d suggest walking it across the longer bridges. Otherwise the scenery is nice and there’s great rest areas with flush toilets in LaValle, Wonewoc and Elroy.
9/13/25 We began at the east end of the Lower Yahara Trail and then picked up the City Trail from there. Both trails were in exceptional condition. Traffic was busy, however the weather in mid-September in the low 80's certainly brought people out. A very friendly trail by anyone's standards. Well worth the 50 minute drive to get here. This is the second September we've rode this trail.
9/13/25 We began at the east end of the Lower Yahara Trail and then picked up the City Trail from there. Both trails were in exceptional condition. Traffic was busy, however the weather in mid-September in the low 80's certainly brought people out. A very friendly trail by anyone's standards. Well worth the 50 minute drive to get here. This is the second September we've rode this trail.
Second long trip for me and the first trip that was mostly rail trail one quarter of which was the Elroy Sparta. Beautiful trail and the safety of being away from most automobile traffic made the trip way less stressful
Really nice trail but walker be careful. So many rude riders not letting you know they are coming behind you. 3 simple words “on your left”. When riding I always give walkers and other riders plenty of warning when passing, plus always slowing down.
We rode Sparta to Norwalk, through tunnel 3. Two of our group had ridden the entire length in the early 70s, so it was a nostalgic day. They recalled seeing farmland and we saw a little of that, but trees have grown up and it’s mainly a nice, shaded, flat ride.
Rode this trail end-to-end yesterday. The asphalt is in like-new condition and the scenery is beautiful. While we greatly prefer shaded trails in the hot summer, the lengthy stretches of sun on this trail were tolerable due to temps in the high 70’s and a light breeze. Can’t wait to ride this again in the fall. I’m sure the autumn colors near the northern half will be spectacular.
Trail is flat, mostly shaded, and well maintained. Bridge crossings often rough/bumpy due to repairs to damage from snowmobiles. (Thus 4 stars not 5)Legion Park in Wonewock is a great place to camp plus it is an interesting historic town.
A 5 star is really stretching this. I get the history of this being the 1st rail to trail and the cool tunnels, but the very narrow gravel path is not much to desire. The landscape doesn’t change much and the overgrown weeds and trees prevent much scenery. Occasional stream is a welcome sight on this boring path. America’s bicycle capital is needing a little update to encourage us to return. Glad we had headlamps for the almost two mile long tunnel raining on us. Riding, rather than walking was our choice to speed it up but if you’re not steady - then walk.
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