Find the top rated hiking trails in Weston, 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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The western half of the trail, in Portage County, is honestly the best state trail surface I've ever enjoyed. After you cross into Waupaca County (eastbound), the trail degenerates quickly, with the last 10 miles at the east end being some of the worst state trail surfaces I've ever experienced. Hoof marks, overgrowth, sand, and ruts in the eastern portion. Beautiful, rustic scenery throughout, and you're not slammed up against a busy highway, so it's easier to enjoy the beautiful nature around you.
The western end is in the outskirts of a major agri-business area, so pesticides are almost certainly a concern during parts of the year there. (Indeed a sign in Plover mentions that the trail may be closed during aerial spraying days.)
Take a mountain bike (or at least something with larger tires) if you're gonna do the Waupaca County portion. Any bike can handle the Portage County portion, which again, is excellent. I only encountered 6 other cyclists for the entire length of the trail on a beautiful, sunny summer Saturday (June 9, 2018).
I just completed a one-day, 97-mile bike ride on this trail, starting at the Howard, WI trail-head to Weston, WI, and through Wausau [to go home] for the added miles. The best conditions were in Brown County, with lots of shade and lots of trail users. Marathon County had good conditions too, but had much less shade over the trail [bring sunblock]. Shawano County conditions were...different. Prepare for a double-track fire road throughout almost all of Shawano County with the likelihood of muddy spots. If biking, a mountain bike is a must or bring a road bike with at least 38mm wide tires with tread [my personal recommendation]. Deer flies were very numerous throughout Shawano County. I have about two dozen deer fly bites across my hands and arms [bring bug spray]. Also, there were six areas on the trail with downed trees--two of which were very difficult to navigate around [I think all six areas were somewhere between mile marker 50-60--from Howard, WI]. Honestly, as tough a day as it was, it was a really fun and gorgeous trail to ride. I personally liked the variety in trail conditions. I highly recommend this trail for the prepared enthusiast.
Rode from county K to south blue lake. Saw snakes, frogs, and turtles and smelled a bear and saw fresh scat on the trail. Met up with maint guy who said that he too has seen bears on this trail, thus confirming my suspicions. This is the best trail in WI that i have ridden so far. Wild country, limited people, few bugs (although it was very windy). Trestles were cool. Got photos of canoeists on river and bikers on trail. Had to push my bike up the very steep hill (why is there a steep hill on a rail trail??). Will do again if in the area. Way too much fun!
I done this trail a few times love love it. There are getting to be lots of problems though. Mud , ruts, and holes from animals. Wood bridges need marking that they are slippery when wet, be careful. Still one of my favorite trails.
We rode the 12 miles from Howard to Pulaski WI today on a very well maintained trail. It is crushed stone, so a bit slower than pavement. Some areas have been recently resurfaced with pea-sized gravel, so although a touch rougher than older sections, we were glad to see the attention and care that Brown County gives their trails. Only one small section was soft, just as we approached a street that we had to stop for anyway. This section of the trail has many tree canopies that provide shade during the sunny part of the day.
We parked at the Schmeeckle Reserve off of Northpoint Dr. Nice parking, restrooms, filtered water and gift shop. We went west on the Green Circle from the reserve. Trail was well marked, beautiful, interesting and kept up. I am not a fan of riding in the street or crossing roads and this trail has both. However, I really enjoyed this trail and I am looking forward to riding it again. It took us around 2 1/2 hours (24 miles) and we did not do any of the spurs. We rode during the weekday. Really impressed with this reserve!
This is a very nice river trail, using much of a railroad bed. It’s the most used park in the City. The blacktop is smooth, great for bikes, roller blades etc.
I rode the Bear Skin Trail Oct. 6, 2017, starting at County K. I saw no other riders during my evening ride. The lakes and river scenery was spectacular. Bring a camera. I expected to see deer and was not disappointed. Most of the deer quickly disappeared into the forest, but one doe stood 20 feet from the trail and never moved as I passed. Her image will be in my mind forever. Riding the Bear Skin Trail in early morning or early evening should produce many wildlife sightings. The trail accommodates all bicycles with it's hard-packed surface.
handicap, disabled, wheelchair, walker. parking. trash receptacles.
really nice flat, dry section of trail from hortonville southward.
The Tomorrow River turned out to be a nice pick for my 2-day fall ride on a typical Wisconsin state rail-to-trail. I broke up my trip at the Scandinavia trail head; going east the first day to Manawa and back was 28 miles, going west the next day to Plover and back was 40 miles. The nearby town of Waupaca was a great overnight base-the local Irish pub was perfect.
The tail has easy grades up and down as the trail travels thru old railroad cuts and fills. You get to see forested areas, pasture land and crop land. There are still a lot of old wooden barns along the way some still in use while others are no longer serving the agriculture economy. The gravel-surfaced trail is in good shape. Signage for the road detour at Amherst Junction is not perfect but the route can be easily determined. One should stop at the Twin Towers Drive trail head in Plover and not travel the uninteresting 1.5 mile stretch to the trails end at Hoover Ave South unless one is going on to follow the long connecter to the Green Circle Trail in Stevens Point. One negative is the trail heads do not have water or any toilets
Walked 2 miles in from the Weston trailhead. Trail in excellent shape. This section of the trail runs parallel to a very busy, noisy road on one side and the backyards of homes on the other. If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful walk in the woods this is not it. If you don’t mind the noise and walking closely past houses and businesses it might work for you. Giving at least two stars for the great trail condition; however, this section of the trail was not what I personally had hoped it would be.
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