As the leaves change color, mountain biking becomes an ideal and scenic way to enjoy the fall season. The state’s bike trails offer a mix of scenic views and enjoyable rides. Whether you’re new to biking or an experienced rider, there’s a trail for everyone to explore this autumn.
By Melanie Radzicki McManus | Photo by Mike Tittel, Destination Door County
Biking has soared in popularity over the last few years, thanks in part to the pandemic that drove people outdoors. And within the world of cycling, mountain biking is especially prevalent, with new trails debuting in every corner of Wisconsin on a regular basis.
Southern Kettle Moraine has been a popular mountain biking destination since the early 1990s, when the sport first began to explode in the state, says Ariel Schoeninger, president of the Southern Kettle Off Road Riders, or SKORR. This non-profit, volunteer organization is dedicated to maintaining and improving the 50-plus miles of mountain biking trails in the Southern Kettle, which lie within the John Muir and Emma Carlin Trail Systems. These locales, Schoeninger says, offer some of the Midwest’s finest singletrack trails.
“The topography and glacial geography in the Southern Kettle are the reasons it’s so incredible to ride here,” Schoeninger says. “The moraines and kettles give you some fun climbs and descents. It’s such a unique experience.”
Another factor in the systems’ popularity is that they contain a wide variety of trails for riders of all abilities, plus a fair amount of singletrack. There’s even a short skills course where you can practice your riding skills on various manmade features, although there are no manmade features (e.g., jumps, bridges or ramps) on the rest of the trails.
Amber Ader is a biking enthusiast and group ride leader based in Appleton. About a decade ago she got into fat tire biking, and now that type of mountain bike is her preferred ride. A fat tire bike, or fatty, sports giant, poofy tires that are often 3.8 inches wide or larger. The tires have low pressure, allowing them to easily navigate soft terrain.
“Fat bikes can go everywhere — singletrack, gravel, muddy terrain, snow and even sand, which is great when you’re in a state on the Great Lakes,” she says. “You just float over everything.”
Ready to hit the trails? Make sure you’re wearing a helmet, Schoeninger says, and if you’re unsure of a trail’s difficulty, walk it first. It’s also wisest to start on a trail system’s easier loops, expanding to the longer loops — which have more technical features — as you gain confidence.
You can also contact a local trail group such as SKORR or the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) if you want advance information about trail conditions, Ader says, or the availability of amenities such as restaurants or shops.
To aid in your planning, here are several mountain biking locales that mountain biking enthusiasts consider some of the state’s best offerings.
CAMBA TRAIL SYSTEM
One of the top destinations in the state, the CAMBA Trail System features more than 300 miles of signed and mapped trails — 135 miles of singletrack, 70 miles of groomed winter trails and more than 200 miles of gravel routes. These trails wind through the beautiful Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and the Bayfield and Sawyer County Forests in the state’s northern reaches. Not surprisingly, given its size, you’ll find a wide variety of trails here, from easy rolls to gnarly paths to the newer flow trails, which are built for speed and minimal pedaling by being wider and less technical then traditional mountain biking trails.
WINMAN TRAILS
WinMan, in Vilas County, offers something for everyone. In the summer and fall, you can ride on more than 23 miles of singletrack trails. Some are flow trails, while others feature rocks, advanced features and wooden features. Class 1 e-mountain bikes can use these trails, too. In winter, more than 10 miles of trail are groomed for fatties.
BLUE MOUND STATE PARK
This park west of Madison contains more than 15 miles of challenging singletrack trail; watch out for the rocks and roots! Bonus: the top of Blue Mound is the highest point in southern Wisconsin, at 1,719 feet of elevation.
SILVER LAKE PARK
Kenosha County’s Silver Lake Park features some of the state’s newest singletrack trails. These 10 miles of trail include everything from a kids’ loop to fast, flowy paths. Bonus: After a warm-weather ride you can take a dip in the park’s signature lake.
LEVIS/TROW MOUND RECREATIONAL AREA
If you’re a fan of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, with its sandstone bluffs and mounds, Levis/Trow Mound in central Wisconsin is for you. More than 24 miles of singletrack trail wind through this 135,000-acre Clark County forest, ranging from easy to very difficult. Tip: The more advanced trails wind up and down the mounds, while the easier paths are at the mounds’ bases and in the surrounding forest. During winter, 13.5 miles of trail are groomed for fat tire biking.
NORTHERN HIGHLAND-AMERICAN LEGION STATE FOREST
This expansive forest north of Rhinelander contains hundreds of miles of trails and roads, all of which are open to mountain biking with the exception of a few nature trails. In addition, there are four trail systems dedicated to mountain biking: McNaughton, Madeline Lake, Lumberjack and Raven.
The McNaughton Trail System is great for beginners, as it follows old logging roads. The 10 miles of trail in the Madeline Lake System are wide and generally easy, winding through thick forest and past pretty Madeline Lake. The paths at Lumberjack require a little more effort, as they roll over grass, dirt, rocks and sand while showcasing the Manitowish River, Fishtrap Flowage and White Sand Lake. In winter, two loops are packed for fat tire biking. The 14.5 miles of trail at Raven are for intermediate and advanced riders, and include a skills course with log rides, bridges, teeter-totters and rock areas.
Note: Some of the trails in these four systems are closed to biking whenever they’re groomed for cross-country skiing.