I started the morning at the Eastern end of the Mountain-Bay State Trail in Howard, just outside Green Bay. Folks were already gathering for the Packers-Bears game tailgate at 9am! Go Pack Go.
The Mountain-Bay Trail was lovely and very frequented near Green Bay – lots of bikers, dog walkers, and families out enjoying a beautiful and warm fall Sunday! It gets a bit less busy and a bit more remote as you enter Shawano County and roll pass towns and farms, and farm art!
I think the Mountain-Bay Trail is my favorite so far. It’s hard to pick, since they are all so different, but it’s long, connects so much of the state, and covers so many different types of landscapes! Connecting Rib Mountain with Green Bay, the Mountain-Bay feels like iconic “Wisconsin” and is very rideable the whole way.
There is one small disconnected section in Shawano that is very well signed. Wisconsin Bike Fed is currently working with the local community to conduct a feasibility study and understand what it would take to connect the Mountain-Bay Trail continuously as a priority project.
This is an example of the small, but important, strategic land acquisition projects that are such a critical part of programs like Knowles-Nelson that allow trails, habitat, and hunting grounds to remain continuous for the benefit of trail users, wildlife, and hunters. Land acquisition often isn’t about big properties anymore, it’s about critical connecting properties that are often opportunistic and need funding to be available at the right time to ensure our public lands are having the maximum benefit.
Check out other Wisconsin Bike Fed Priority projects HERE>>.
I rode through a covered bridge outside of Bowler before connecting with the Wiouwash State Trail again (the Southern part of the Northern segment). Another lovely, but less-well-used non-motorized trail that runs through many cute small towns with great murals! Yet another fun reason to ride the trails!
– Sarah
Today at a glance
Day 11 | Green Bay to Stevens Point
Mileage: 68
Trails Covered
Explore Nearby
Dunn County, WI | Managed by: Landmark Conservancy
Originally intended to be a nuclear power plant site, the Meridian Barrens were protected and made public through Knowles-Nelson funding. Visitors can now hike, fish, and hunt on the land.
Eau Claire, WI | Managed by: City of Eau Claire
Eau Claire's Pheonix Park boasts a walking labyrinth, an outdoor amphitheater, the Eau Claire Farmers Market, and the Chippewa River State Trail trailhead. Knowles-Nelson funds allowed for Phoenix Park’s development and expansion.
Chippewa County, WI | Managed by: WI DNR
Tom Lawin Wildlife Area is a 2,282-acre public hunting and wildlife preserve. It's also a birding hotspot, with visitors frequently spotting waterfowl, shorebirds, American bitterns, harriers, and short-eared owls. Knowles-Nelson funded land purchases for the preserve’s expansion.
