Bike 4 Trails. Done.

My wife and I (And our 2 border collies!) completed the Bike 4 Trails route from Marshland (Near the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge) south to Reedsburg on Wednesday morning just after 10 am. (Now we just need the Great Sauk State Trail to connect Baraboo as well!) In traveling combined rail-to-trail route (The Great River, La Crosse River, Elroy-Sparta & 400 state trails.) we covered about 105 miles in total putting in about 30ish miles a day for the first 3 days, then completed the rest on the 4th morning. We never saw the sun, but it never rained either! Certainly, for us as active, but non-athletic and slightly older folks, pulling & carrying about 120lbs each, it was challenging at times! (Especially when passed on the tunnel ascents by folks on e-bikes!)

The goal for me was really to learn more about our trail system “on-the-wheel” as it were. I wanted to better understand the trail systems amenities, available services, conditions, experiences, and difficulties so that I can better advise travelers to our area that I talk to every day through Skillet Creek Media. I think that goal is well achieved, but it will take me a few days to take it all in and write about it for you. In context with also completing our mission to explore or camp at all Wisconsin State Parks just a week earlier, there’s a lot to think about before putting fingers to the keyboard. . For the moment, I can say it was a fun, exhausting, and enlightening experience. . Now… my kingdom for a nap..

Quickly I want to thank the folks at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge for being really responsive and helpful when I was planning! And thanks to Chapparal Campground for putting us up with walls on our last night.

Derrick Mayoleth

For nearly 2 decades the Skillet Creek blog has focused on 3 main goals; To inspire you to visit and explore the Devil’s Lake region, to help you get the most your visit by sharing tips, events, and other helpful information. Lastly to advocate for our environment & wildlife and talk about how we can keep our natural areas amazing now and into the future! That last goal can sometimes cause controversy, but it’s the only way we can accomplish the first two. – Derrick Mayoleth, Owner.