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Print Friendly MapThe description of the Green Circle Trail on the official site makes a unique boast: “All urban residents are within 10 minutes of the trail system, and yet, more than 80% of the Green Circle travels through secluded parks and natural areas.” This is the great appeal of this trail system: the fact that it offers trail users an escape from the hectic everyday urban experience while staying close to the city. The various trail segments are popular for biking and hiking among locals and visitors alike.
The Green Circle is the culmination of nearly three decades of mainly community-led efforts to create a comprehensive greenway system to crown Stevens Point. It’s the ideal medium to explore the history, culture and nature of the area. The 27-mile loop is made up of a dozen segments that weave through varied settings, from urban neighborhoods to out-of-the-way natural areas. In June 2022, a new section of the trail was built past the airport fence, along with direction signs to mark the route. On top of the primary loop, the Circle also provides access to a further 45 miles of regional trails, including the Tomorrow River State Trail.
Winding along the Wisconsin and Plover rivers, the Circle is the best way to get out and get in touch with nature. While on the trail, travelers will pass through forests, wetlands with boardwalks, prairie and experience stunning river views and postcard-perfect sunsets. Wildlife is plentiful, and there are good spots for birdwatching and nature photography.
The trail is about more than just transportation and recreation however. It is also cultural asset, recalling the history of the pioneer settlements and lumber-making that so long defined this area. Historic homes, old mills and rustic ruins harken to the town’s storied past along the greenway.
Whatever your reason for going outside, the Green Circle has it all.
Free parking, restrooms and other amenities are available at the Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center, the headquarters of the Green Circle. It is located at 2419 North Point Dr, Stevens Point (the entrance is on North Point near I-39). The trail begins here, stretching just under a mile and a half through the reserve.
Parking is also available at the many parks and green spaces connected by the trail.
We’ve done this trail twice and really enjoy it. Was attending a conference in SP and decided to bring bikes along. Weather was perfect for riding so we took advantage and rode this trail. It was wonderful. Love the variety of ‘environments’ you bike through, especially Schmeekle Reserve. The train is well maintained. Only delay was waiting on a train for 45 minutes!!
We rode the entirety of the trail in 2.5 miles and we’ve never seen a more clean, well-maintained, and marked walking/biking path. Top notch! Highly recommended!
Lots of shade and curves. 90% on trail and 10% on non-busy roads. Trail well taken care of. Mostly limestone with many wooden bridges. A few busy intersections to cross though but all had traffic lights. Be careful though because some of trail is made for a single rider and not enough room for an oncoming biker to go by. A few speedsters on trail, so take those curves (some blind curves) slowly and carefully. Lots of absolute stunning scenery at every turn. I loved it, minus those speedsters¿¿¿¿¿
Absolutely the best marked trail I’ve ever been on. Lots of variety on this trail. Gravel, a few small hills, boardwalk sections, road parts, lake and river views. Beautiful Saturday so the trail was busy in spots, but not overly so in my opinion. Road the entire route with no issues until about 3 miles from the end there were a couple men and a woman gravel bikes that thought they were the only ones on the trail and came around a blind turn full speed completely on my side so I had to veer off trail.
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