The Great State Trails Adventure – Knowles Nelson Stewardship

Hi there, I'm Sarah! This October, I'm riding every state trail in Wisconsin: all 40+ trails and 1,700+ miles. I'm pedaling the whole state to show what these trails mean to the communities they connect, and why Wisconsin's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is worth fighting to bring back.

Meet Sarah & Learn More

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Ride Log

Day 2: Cattail, Gandy Dancer, and Stower Seven Lakes State Trails

October 2, 2026

Whew, that was a long one! The Queen Stage, but what a gorgeous day! I started my journey early on the Cattail State Trail, which is a mixed use trail but was actually in fairly good condition and was ridable the whole way. Appropriately, I encountered an ATV and a guy walking his dog on the trail. The Cattail trail runs into the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail, which is a lovely trail that begins in Amery and ends near St. Croix Falls. On the way you pass by the town of Wanderoos, which is definitely going to be the name for my next hiking/randonneuring/adventuring...

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Day 1: Red Cedar, Chippewa, and Old Abe State Trails

October 1, 2026

So it begins. Sometimes, you should do things that scare you – the exciting kind of scared that makes life worth living. Since I was in elementary school as did a school project learning about (and dressing up as) Eleanor Roosevelt, I’ve also loved this quote: “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out easily and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt Since then it’s been my mantra for life – always wanting to adventure and see new things. That’s how this project was born. I’ve done a lot of biking, and week-long...

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Day 0: Meet Sarah Widder

August 1, 2026

Hello, I’m Sarah Widder! I’m planning to ride ALL the state bicycle trails in the state continuously, connecting them with the planned connecting network corridors (designated in Wisconsin’s Trail Network Plan) to raise awareness about the great bike infrastructure in Wisconsin, highlight Wisconsin as a premier bicycling destination, celebrate getting outside and adventuring in our great state, and raise money to support all the great organizations that work so hard to expand, maintain, and protect our natural resources and recreation opportunities in Wisconsin. How Did You Think of This Idea? I’m...

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Events

Want to meet Sarah, connect with other Team Knowles-Nelson advocates, or just talk trails? Here’s where to find her along the way:

October 4, 2026 – Birkie Trail Group Ride, Hayward

October 9, 2026 – Social @ Bayshore Outfitters, Sturgeon Bay

October 10, 2026 – Rally at the Run Wild Starting Line, Sturgeon Bay

October 15, 2026 – Group Ride & Meet up @ Bratt Woods, Grafton

October 15, 2026 – Happy Hour Fiesta @ Wheel & Sprocket, Milwaukee

October 20, 2026 – Rally & Ride @ The Capitol, Madison

October 22, 2026 – Finish Line Celebration, Menomonie

Explore

Wisconsin is home to 44 state trails, covering more than 1,700 miles of former rail corridors, converted highways, and scenic routes from border to border.

They connect small towns, state parks, and natural areas, and they’re managed by the Wisconsin DNR for hiking, biking, snowmobiling, and horseback riding depending on the trail.

State trails rely on a mix of state funding, user passes, and local Friends groups to stay maintained, which is exactly the kind of investment the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has supported for decades.

Wisconsin State Trails Network Plan>>

Friends of Wisconsin State Parks is the statewide umbrella organization supporting the volunteer “Friends” groups behind individual state parks and trails. They help these local groups fundraise, recruit volunteers, and take on the trail maintenance, signage, and small capital projects that keep Wisconsin’s trails in good shape.

Want to get involved where you live? Find your local Friends group and see how to pitch in.

See All Friends Groups

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Bong Naturalist Association
Equestrian Friends of Governor Knowles State Forest
Friends of Aztalan State Park
Friends of Bird Sanctuary
Friends of Blue Mounds State Park
Friends of Brunet Island State Park
Friends of Buckthorn State Park
Friends of Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area
Friends of Cedarburg Bog
Friends of Copper Falls State Park
Friends of Council Grounds State Park
Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park
Friends of Governor Dodge State Park
Friends of Governor Nelson State Park
Friends of Governor Thompson State Park
Friends of Harrington Beach State Park
Friends of Hartman Creek State Park
Friends of Havenwoods State Forest
Friends of High Cliff State Park
Friends of Horicon Marsh
Friends of Interstate and Straight Lake State Parks
Friends of Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit
Friends of Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit
Friends of Kohler Andrae State Park
Friends of Lake Wissota
Friends of Lakeshore State Park
Friends of Lapham Peak
Friends of MacKenzie Education Center
Friends of Merrick State Park/TURTLES
Friends of Mirror Lake State Park
Friends of Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area
Friends of Navarino Nature Center
Friends of New Glarus Woods State Park
Friends of Pattison and Amnicon Falls State Parks
Friends of Peninsula State Park
Friends of Perrot State Park
Friends of Pike Lake
Friends of Point Beach State Forest
Friends of Potawatomi State Park inc
Friends of Rib Mountain SP
Friends of Rock Island State Park
Friends of Sandhill Inc
Friends of Stonefield/Nelson Dewey State Park
Friends of Vernon Marsh
Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park
Friends of Wildcat Mountain State Park
Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks
Friends of Wyalusing State Park
Friends of Yellowstone Lake State Park
Heritage Hill State Historical Park
Newport Wilderness Society
Seth Peterson Cottage Conservancy

Team Knowles Nelson doesn’t ride alone. These are some of the bike advocacy groups, land trusts, and conservation partners working alongside us across Wisconsin. partners helping make Wisconsin more bikeable, on state trails and beyond.

Statewide Bike Ride Highlights Land At Risk

October 1, 2026

The Door County Pulse covers Sarah Widder's ride across all 44 state trails, which she hopes will help make renewing Knowles-Nelson a bipartisan priority this legislative session.

Thanks! We'll keep you in the loop about Team Knowles Nelson.