Scenic Routes

avid cyclists tell us their favorite hidden gem stretches

Aly Diller

One of my favorite biking segments is a little loop called Sky Hawk Drive. It’s in a residential area just west of N. Clairemont Ave. I like it because it’s a quiet road (a neighborhood, rather) and, if I remember correctly, the loop is a gradual incline, bringing you to a scenic view of the Valley at the top, then the last leg is a coast down to the bottom again. It’s modest in distance, but grand for it’s secluded and peaceful views – and who doesn’t love a little hill? 

Amy Zagar

I love the Fairfax Park area. Not just because it’s conveniently located across the street from my abode, but because it’s a decent parcel of woods within the city equipped with trails that are a great introduction to mountain biking. When I’m looking for a challenging ride in the woods but don’t want to leave the city I head south to Lowes Creek. Although not in the Chippewa Valley, Levis and Trow Mound is worth mentioning. Located just outside of Neilsville, Levis Mound has camping, mountain biking for all levels, and very clean facilities. What I like best are the natural challenges that the topography has to offer: the climbs and descends, riding through the sands, and sandstone bluffs. If you are a stealthy rider you might be lucky enough to see a deer or three. I have also seen porcupines, a wolf, foxes, and turkeys. There are a group of dedicated individuals maintaining and building new trails, I believe they are Neilsville Area Trail Association.

David Smuhl

Northwest Park in Eau Claire continues to develop a reputation for being incredibly fun challenging riding. The Otter Creek Trails are a nice fairly challenging small hidden trail system between Eau Claire and Altoona. They stretch all the way over towards Hastings Way. For a more scenic ride, east of town towards Caryville exhibits the best of Wisconsin farmland and woods. North Shore Drive to LL Phillips County Park is a really nice scenic ride along the river, as well. You can stop at the pavilion for a quick lunch or keep on riding on to Big Falls. You can take a little less scenic return trip riding straight on SS into Altoona and taking the trail in. The trail along the river from Boyd Park to Archery Park is awesome for hiking. Very scenic.

Jim Swanson

At the Red Cedar Trail head in Menomonie, head west on Hwy 29 (away from the trail) to County P. Take Irvington Road to the left as P curves to the right. Irvington runs on top of the western bluffs of the Red Cedar River and the Red Cedar Trail is below also. Very scenic. Turn right on County D and take the left on to River Road into Downsville. This road climbs several hills and climaxes on a hill that overlooks the Chippewa River Valley. A beautiful view.

Jeremy Gragert

One of my favorite stretches of urban biking in Eau Claire is through the new Thorp Drive public space based on the Dutch design called a “woonerf” along the Chippewa River. I then weave through the streets (Marston, Newton, Porter, Earl), turning at every corner, with stately mansions on both sides between the river and Graham Avenue to go from UWEC to the YMCA area. This is one of the most pleasant ways to get between the university and downtown, but it is dangerous to cross Summit Avenue at times. Biking down Menomonie Street from above Mount Washington all the way to Shawtown is a great downhill ride that weaves one from the countryside to the city very quickly, past the old ski jump area. The downhill starts up at Sky Hawk Drive near I-94. I liked to do a loop up Cameron St./County E from downtown and it is a gradual way to get up to Menomonie Street. You can get quite a view of the City of Eau Claire from up there, before you start heading downhill.