Wisconsin
Self Guided Bike Tours
The "4 Trails" Self-Guided Bike Tour
Enjoy 101 miles of connected rail to trail bike paths in beautiful southwest Wisconsin. Included is the Elroy – Sparta Trail – the oldest rail to trail in the USA with its three disused rail tunnels.
Maps are found here: http://www.bike4trails.com/
The Great River State Trail follows along the Mississippi River south for 24 miles from Marshland (just 5 miles downriver from Winona, MN) through the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge to Trempealeau village, Onalaska and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Enjoy the bluffs along the Mississippi and it many adjacent wetlands with abundant wildlife.
Our tour #30 has a short ride from Marshland to Trempealeau for the night then on to Onalaska for the next night.
Our tour #31 skips the overnight at Trempealeau village for a 22-mile ride on DAY 1 from Marshland to Onalaska.
The La Crosse River Trail connects with the Great River Trail at Onalaska as our trail riders head east for Sparta. This trail is 21.5 miles and follows the La Crosse River crossing trail bridges and along beautiful farm land.
The Elroy – Sparta State Trail is next – connected to the La Crosse Trail by a dedicated trail bridge over I-90 at Sparta. This trail is famous for its 3 disused rail tunnels. Two tunnels are ¼ mile long and the third is ¾ mile long. Riders should bring flashlights for an exciting walk with bikes through the tunnels. A jacket is also a good idea even in the summer as the tunnels can be chilly.
The “400” State Trail meets the Elroy – Sparta Trail at Elroy and our riders continue 22 miles to the eastern terminus at Reedsburg.
Your Independent Tourist Bike Tour
Parking and bike rental is available at Sparta near the middle of the 4 Trails. Shuttle service is provided from Sparta to Marshland to start and from Reedsburg to Sparta at the end. You can rent or bring your own bike. Rental is extra and is approximately $25 per day.
Tour packages include lodging in B&B or small inns, daily luggage transfer, designated parking, shuttle service, breakfast each day, maps and other information and a HELP number if you should encounter severe weather or breakdown.
We offer two self-guided tours for 101 miles on the 4 Trails: ·
#30 Tour - 4 Trails Five Night
- 5 nights and 4 days of cycling ·
#31 Tour - 4 Trails Four Night
- 4 nights and 4 days of cycling. ·
Both tours can be customized to change routes or daily distance
Trail Fees Required
All riders under 16 must purchase a day or annual trail pass. The cost is $4 day or $20 annual. Fees go toward supporting the trails. Passes are available from many nearby merchants or state trail depots and are good on any state trails in Wisconsin.