I often complain about the lack of backpacking options in southern Wisconsin. Beyond Kettle Moraine, you really have to go north – a good distance north – to find off-trail camping spots in the middle of the forest.
But when it comes to cycling opportunities, we are lucky. From my front door on Milwaukee’s lower east side, I can access three different trails within a two-mile radius. I can connect these trails quite easily to make for long, polished rides on paved off-road trails. It’s the joy of cycling.
What if a fresh project initiated by Rails-to-Trails protection If it succeeds, it will be damn close to cycling nirvana.
An initiative called Badger route, seeks to connect trails in seven counties in southeastern Wisconsin to create a 400-mile world-class trail system.
“One of the funny things is that the name ‘Badger Trail’ sort of suggests a single trail or route from here to there,” said John Siegert, project manager. “Many of these trails we are talking about are part of a system — the so-called Oak Leaf Trail, the White River State Trail, the railroad — they already have their own names and identities. So the Badger Trail is not a new trail in itself, but a reference to an entire network and system that we hope to better connect.
It’s good that RTC landed in Wisconsin as a place to initiate such a project. In 1965, Badger State began work on converting the old railroad into a bike path. The Elroy-Sparta Trail became the nation’s first rail trail in 1967, and a half-century later, the Badger State has more than 2,800 miles of rail trails, ranking third in the nation behind Minnesota and Michigan.
But this is another statistic that caught the RTC’s attention.
“It really goes back more than 10 years, when we as a Rails-to-Trails organization set an important goal of trying to drive trail development so that 90% of the population lived within three miles of a trail system. We felt that proximity was an important factor in getting people off and using our trails,” Siegert said.
The organization found that seven localities in the country have already met that threshold, including the seven-county area around Milwaukee.
“They realized this is a part of the world… where a lot of the bike trail infrastructure already exists,” Siegert said. “When you look at this map, you see a lot of mileage, but you also see some gaps where the trail system is not as well connected as it could be.”
Rails-to-Trails decided to solve this connectivity problem and hired Siegert to manage the effort. Siegert, who is also a member of the company’s management board Fed on Wisconsin bikes, he’s been on the job for about six months and is currently working on data collection and meetings with local groups, from public park officials to friends’ organizations.
“One of the goals that will guide us first and foremost as we bring together all the interested parties is to create a structure in which the people of the region can look in their own backyards and find out where there are gaps that need to be filled,” he said.
These gaps may not necessarily be filled by rebuilding rail beds. While this is how the RTC was founded 30 years ago, today the organization seeks every opportunity to improve trail access and connectivity.
One possible connection on the near horizon is a rail corridor in Racine County known as the Waxdale Spur. The 13-mile section would connect the eastern end of the White River State Trail east of Burlington with Mount Pleasant.
“If we successfully converted this trail to a multi-use trail, we would be that much closer to being able to allow someone in Burlington to travel on the unpaved trail all the way to Lake Michigan,” Siegert said. “You could imagine a 70, 75-mile loop in Racine and Milwaukee counties.”
Another possibility is a utility corridor in Jefferson County between Watertown and Oconomowoc.
“If this project is successful, it will be another great opportunity to go from Watertown through the Lake Country (trail) to New Berlin and almost all the way to Lake Michigan,” Siegert said.
For now, that would mean driving on some city and county roads. However, southeastern Wisconsin already has a number of off-street trails for biking, and even a few connections that allow you to connect trails for a long trail ride. Here are a few worth checking out.
Oak Leaf Trail
The longest trail in the area, Milwaukee’s Oak Leaf Trail follows a 187-mile paved, mostly off-street loop around the county.
One of the longest sections starts near ul Milwaukee Art Museum downtown and heads north along the lake before cutting inland and following the forested corridor of the Milwaukee River to the county line.
Last fall, a 6.6-mile trail extension was completed that now provides off-road access from downtown to the Ozaukee Interurban Trail at the Milwaukee-Ozaukee County line.
Pit stop: The Hubbard Park Beer Garden almost easier to reach by bike than by car. Look for the park and beer garden on the west side of the trail, south of Capitol Drive in Shorewood. On Mondays, bring your own mug and enjoy half-price beer.
Trail fee: Free
Ozaukee Interurban Trail
From the Oak Leaf Trail, continue on the 30-mile paved trail through Ozaukee County. It follows an ancient electric railroad route that provided rapid transportation between Milwaukee and Sheboygan from 1905 to 1951. Currently, the route is a mixture of rural and small-town landscapes, with many picturesque bridge crossings.
At the northern end, the trail connects to the Sheboygan Interurban Trail, which extends 14 miles to Sheboygan. Just over 5 miles of this route are off-road, and road sections follow low-traffic routes, including Kohler-Andrae State Park.
Pit stop: Cedarburg’s shops and restaurants are a lovely place to rest and rejuvenate while driving. The House on Stilts serves savory compact plates and tasty craft beers and wines along the city’s main street.
Trail fee: Free
Hank Aaron State Trail
A favorite route for commuters during the week. On weekends, this 25-mile route is used by everyone from families to grave cyclists.
Officially, the trail begins on the shore of the lake World of Discoveries, through which a paved route runs Lakeshore State Park and Henry Maier Festival Park, then travel a brief road section through the Third Ward to Harley-Davidson Museum. There, the trail turns off-road again and heads west along the Menomonee River and W. Canal St.
Watch closely for road signs near Miller Park, where the trail crosses the canal and then continues west through Soldier’s Home Historic District. Look for fresh interpretive signs with information about the National Historic Landmark and ongoing restoration efforts.
Past the soldier’s house, the trail continues west past State Fair Park. Due to the construction of the Zoo Interchange, the detour directs passengers to city streets at 94th. Crossing I-894 at Greenfield Ave. it’s a test of nerve, but soon after you can hop back on the paved trail at the connector with the New Berlin Trail on S. 108th St. (Or, better yet, continue to 116th, where driving is a little safer.)
Trail manager Melissa Cook said the trail west of 94th is scheduled to reopen in 2018 and will connect to the Oak Leaf Trail on Underwood Creek Parkway. From there, cyclists will be able to ride south to connect with the New Berlin Trail.
Pit stop: Warm your legs with a cocktail or beer in Twisted Fisherman, 1200 W. Canal St. This little slice of island life offers sand Adirondack chairs along the Menomonee River and plenty of other outdoor seating to enjoy sandwiches, salads and seafood.
Trail fee: Free
New Berlin recreation trail
The most challenging parts of this flat and effortless seven-mile trail through Waukesha County are several busy intersections.
The trail runs through rural countryside, parks and neighborhoods. Although some sections are tree-lined, it is mostly open to the sun (follows the utility company), which can make it warm in the summer.
The best thing about the trail is that it spans 52 miles Drumlin Glacier State Trail west of Hank Aaron Trail On the east. The three trails form a major west-east trail corridor, connecting communities from Cottage Grove to downtown Milwaukee.
Find parking and trail access at Greenfield Park between 116th and 124th Streets and on Springdale Road east of Highway 59/164.
Pit stop: Trailside Cycle, located on the trail off S. Calhoun Road in New Berlin, offers an outdoor pump for filling tires, as well as indoor services for more technical repairs.
Trail fee: Free
Drumlin Glacier State Trail
The rolling glacial topography of the Kettle Moraine can make hiking and biking challenging at times, but this trail’s route along an ancient railroad allows for relatively effortless cruising between major urban areas in southern Wisconsin.
Thirteen of the 52 miles of trail are paved, between Waukesha and Dousman. The rest is compacted limestone. The 2.5-mile section east of Jefferson is on public roads.
Pit stop: North of the trail in Wales, Mom D’s coffee serves breakfast and lunch in a brick building from 1912.
Trail fee: $5 per day or $25 per year for riders 16 and older.
More trails
The 14-mile trail is paved Bugline Trail, between Menomonee and Merton Falls. 15-kilometer paved route Lake Country Recreation Trail, Pewaukee to Oconomowoc. Almost 10 kilometers of paved section Lake Michigan Path, along the lakefront in Racine. 17-mile Seven Waters Trail, with sections of pavement, crushed limestone and street routes between Burlington and Franklin. 12 miles of crushed limestone White River State Trail between Elkhorn and Burlington. 25 kilometers of hardened and crushed limestone State Railway Trail between West Bend and Eden.
More information
Remember that most cycle routes are multi-use, which means they are also used by walkers, runners and roller skaters. Share the trail with respect.
For more information about the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy project and the Route of the Badger, please read the article railstotrails.org.
For more information about the state’s bike trails, visit the website dnr.wi.gov. For information about Milwaukee County trails, see this article countyparks.com; Waukesha County, waukeshacountyparks.com; You can interurbantrail.us; and Racine, cityoracine.org.
