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 club. The Friends of the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail meet and walk on the trail on Wednesday mornings and stop for snacks at Ellie’s after. I was sad to miss the opportunity to join them (as today is a Friday), but would love do so some time in the future!
The most prominent part of my route today was the Gandy Dancer State Trail, which splits its 98-miles between WI and MN. Built on the former Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad corridor, the trail is named for the work crews who laid the railroad tracks. The crews used tools made by the Gandy Tool Company of Chicago and were known to work by keeping their voices, feet and tools in harmony, leading them to be called “Gandy Dancers.”
One of my favorite parts about this bike trip is getting to explore new areas of Wisconsin. Today, I rode by Interstate Park, Wisconsin’s very first state park, established in 1900. About 30 miles northeast of it sits Straight Lake State Park, a much newer addition.
Interstate kicked off what’s now a system of 50 state parks across Wisconsin. In 2025, the system celebrated its 125th anniversary, and it all traces back to a group of St. Croix Falls and Taylors Falls residents who wanted to protect the dramatic gorge along the St. Croix River.
Straight Lake joined the system more recently: In 2002, the land was at risk of development and Landmark Conservancy partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to help purchase it, using funds from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
The first 47 miles of the Gandy Dancer (the “Southern segment”) was also wonderful, running north from St. Croix Falls to Danbury with several towns to stop and explore along the way. Once you leave Danbury and cross into MN, the trail become mixed use and is in MUCH worse condition. I was grateful to find a nicer gravel road paralleling the trail that gave me a break from the hard riding on torn-up ATV trails. I was also grateful for my 55mm tires (thanks Ben!).
I will say, however, that the north section of the Gandy Dancer was the most scenic of the ride today – with beautiful little ponds dotted with migrating water fowl rimmed by amazing fall colors.
Finishing the Gandy Dancer, I decided to call it a day and finish my ride in another notable state park, Pattison State Park, just south of Superior. The Ice Age Trail and North Country Trail both run through Pattison and it features one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rockies – Big Manitou Falls at 165 ft.
In 2025, Wisconsin’s state parks welcomed over 21 million visitors. Yet our parks get less funding per visitor than any other state, and now run almost entirely on fees from things like camping and vehicle stickers. The result is over $1 billion in overdue repairs to roads, water systems, bridges, and buildings across the system.
Without sustainable funding sources, through Knowles-Nelson or state appropriations, I’m worried that we won’t be able to maintain and grow WI’s great state park system. Right now, many are sustained primarily due to the remarkable volunteer efforts of local friends groups, represented collectively by the Friends of the Wisconsin State Parks. To learn more about the organization and support their efforts, visit their website: http://fwsp.org/
– Sarah
Today at a glance
Day 2 | Almena to Superior
Miles: 130
Explore Nearby
St Croix Falls, WI | Managed by: City of St. Croix Falls
Wert Family Nature Preserve is a popular spot for hunting, birdwatching, and hiking. Knowles-Nelson funds helped protect the land in 2007.
Eau Claire, WI | Managed by: Douglas County
Nemadji Forest is open for hiking, fishing, hunting, and bird watching. Landmark Conservancy acquired the land in 2010 to support regional biodiversity, clean water, and public recreation, with funding provided partially through Knowles-Nelson.
