2. East River Trail

Green Bay to Ledgeview (Northeastern Wisconsin)

8 Miles On A Paved Trail

The East River Trail follows the winding way of the East River from Green Bay in the north to the town of Ledgeview in the south. The day we rode this trail with our friends John and Mary, they knew ways to extend the ride on the K&I Corridor, so we did a 21-mile “out and back” ride. We enjoyed the bridges, wetlands, wildlife (sandhill cranes, egrets, herons, and the like), and the periodic canopy of trees on this urban ride past parks, homes, and businesses.

3. Elroy-Sparta State Trail

Elroy To Sparta (Southwestern Wisconsin)

32.5 Miles Of Crushed Limestone

The Elroy-Sparta State Trail became the country’s first “rail trail” in 1965, and Sparta claims to be the bicycling capital of America. You’ll pedal past the charming communities of Norwalk, Wilton, and Kendall with a landscape of wetlands, prairies, and farmland, but the outstanding part of this trail? The tunnels! This trail features three, hand-dug, train tunnels from the late 1800s.

Cyclists are required to walk their bikes through the tunnels, and each is unique:

• Tunnel 1 – Between Kendall and Wilton; about three-tenths of a mile long and the driest tunnel.
• Tunnel 2 – Between Wilton and Norwalk; about three-tenths of a mile. We counted eight arched doorway cut-outs that railroad workers would duck into when a train passed through.
• Tunnel 3 – Between Sparta and Norwalk; about three-quarters of a mile. This tunnel has rough footing and is quite drippy. It wouldn’t be good for anyone with sensory issues since the tunnel is long, the drips sometimes become small waterfalls, and it echoes a lot. Otherwise, it’s amazing!

Pro Tip: The tunnels are not lit, so bring a flashlight or headlamp. Depending on your tolerance level, a jacket. The tunnels can be cool, even on a hot day.