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Ride Log
Day 3: Wild Rivers State Trail
It was a wild one. I’ve been apprehensive about this day for some time – Wild Rivers State Trail is one of Wisconsin’s longest mixed-use trails, meaning it is open to ATVs and can be quite soft and rugged in sections. It turned out just as I expected – some really hard challenging sections, some nice smooth sections, some soft sand, some washboard; a mix. It was hard riding most of the time, which made
Day 2: Cattail, Gandy Dancer, and Stower Seven Lakes State Trails
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
Day 1: Red Cedar, Chippewa, and Old Abe State Trails
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
Day 0: Meet Sarah Widder
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
Day 8: Wolf River and Nicolet State Trails
Last day in the Northwoods and we’re going to start…with a video! https://knowlesnelson.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/IMG_2455.mp4 The Wolf River State Trail is a 33 multi-use trail that is very rideable, and closed to ATVs for about half of it between White Lake and Lily (between Hwys 55 and 64). It’s scenic and runs
Day 7: Mountain Bay and Wiouwash State Trails
Today, as I rolled out with the milk trucks and school busses, I thought a lot about how grateful I am to be able to take time off work and from my “normal” life to do this. It’s really a dream come true and I’m so grateful for my work
Day 6: Hiawatha & Bearskin State Trail + Pine Line Trail
Every sunrise is different, and every day is a new day. Today I decided to take it easy and ride as slowly as I wanted and just enjoy every moment of riding. And what a treat! Today’s ride started on the Bearskin State Trail, which is a smooth, gravel non-motorized
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 22, 2026 – Finish Line Celebration, Menomonie
In The News
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.
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
- Friends of the 400 State Trail
- Friends of the Ahnapee State Trail
- Friends of the Fox River Trail
- Friends of Gandy Dancer State Trail
- Friends of the Great Sauk State Trail
- Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail
- Friends of Military Ridge Trail
- Friends of the Mountain Bay Trail
- Friends of the Red Cedar State Trail
- Friends of the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail
- Friends of the Badger and Sugar River State Trails
- Friends of Tuscobia Trail
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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.
