From Rice Lake to Park Falls, the Tuscobia State Trail travels 74 miles through the Flambeau State Forest and Chequamegon National Forest in northern Wisconsin. Enjoy the rugged wilderness of the Blue Hills from a nearly-level former rail grade. Trail users can hike, mountain bike, snowmobile, use ATVs and visit quaint shops in small villages along the trail.
About midway along the trail in the village of Winter, is the restored Winter Railroad Depot. The Depot serves as a trailhead, Visitor Welcome Center, Historical Museum, and offices for Friends of the Tuscobia Trail, a 501c3 nonprofit that cares for the trail. The building, dating back to 1905, is adjacent to what was once the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway line on which the trail now travels.
The western tip of the Tuscobia State Trail—from the community of Tuscobia, just north of Rice Lake, to the Village of Birchwood—also overlaps the Ice Age Trail, a 1,200-mile hiking trail across Wisconsin.
Parking is available at either end of the trail in Rice Lake (west end) and Park Falls (east end). The Park Falls trailhead is located at 15400 Park Lane; restrooms and a picnic area are also available here.
This is a very well maintained trail. Camp grounds in Ojibwa Park and Loretta are excellent. Parking also available in Winter at the Winter Depot Welcome Center as well as Chamber glossy magazines from all regional Chambers of Commerce. Log onto friendsoftuscobiatrail.com for a directory of all services along the trail. Oral History on computer at Depot Welcome Center of historic railroading, logging and settling from early pioneers. Elk reintroduction and muskie interpretive displays with oral descriptions also available. Open Wed through Sat, 10 AM to 3 PM plus Mon and Tues based on staff availability..
We started in Park Falls and only went about 3 miles out because the kids were tired. Trail is compacted gravel/dirt with occasional larger rocks. Recommend mountain bike or hybrid, narrow tires would not work well. Trail was easy enough for our 8 and 10 year old. My wife also pulled our younger son in the bike trailer, which was difficult at times but not too bad. I would like to come back to do a longer trip.
Biked a portion of the trail near Rce Lake, WI. We found the the surface to be mostly mud and vegetation making for a difficult ride. The tree canopy and vegetation was nice. Rode a total of 20 miles.
Early Feb. rode from Rice Lake to Park Falls and back a few days later. Trail was perfect. I would guess that a few clubs are maintaining that trail and you can tell that it is well maintained by them. Thank you groomers. When we returned on Sunday I think we rode for ten miles before we saw other tracks on the trail. Nice people in Winter, WI too. Now we have to find trails TO Rice Lake from western WI.
Biked 60 miles from Edgewater to Park Falls on mountain bike. Very beautiful and very few ATVs during the week. Trail crosses the Couderay, Chippewa, and Flambeau rivers which are spectacular in the fall. Very few hills, and the few that exist are short. Would avoid doing it on the weekends because of multiple ATVs. Lots of loose gravel, sand and rocks that would be better for balloon tires, but we enjoyed the ride.
The Friends of the Tuscobia Trail, Inc. and the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors have been planning for improvements to improve your Tuscobia Trail experience for the last 3 years. The Friends group purpose is to preserve and protect native plant and animal life and provide resources along the trail. We are the group behind the Winter Railroad Depot project. When complete, the depot will serve as a Chamber Welcoming center, a trailhead for users and will house touch screen technology to access area resources as well as have a historical display and ample parking. This project is just the beginning focus for the Friends group. Invasive species removal and other trail improvements will follow.
The County Commissioners have been working with the Sawyer County Development Corporation to also add trailheads, parking and other improvements along the portion of the trail that lies in Sawyer County. When the funding is complete, access and trail usage will be improved.
The bridge over the Chippewa River has been completed in Cotober of 2008 and will make crossing the river West of Ojibwa safer and more convenient.
Trail grooming and repair is ongoing during all seasons of the year. If you have suggestions, please contact the Friends of the Tuscobia Trail, Inc, Box 24, Winter, WI 54896 or the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors in Hayward, Wisconsin.
Tuscobia Trail.........74 Miles Of prefection.
Short but sweet, It doesn't get much better than this trail on an old railway route.
I have run this trail in the summer months on my 4 wheeler. It's a great trail, smooth,wide and long.
I have also run this route in the winter months and haven't found any trails as nice as this one.
The boys keep the trails here in great shape all winter long.
If you are looking for a good trail. 20ft wide. SMOOTH summer or winter. and 74 miles long.
THIS IS THE TRAIL FOR YOU.
Thanks,
Mel
Hayward,WI.
PS There are many stops along the way in this 74 miles.
Fuel and supplies are not a problem.
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