Wisconsin’s Best Paved Rail Trails
The Oak Leaf Trail
Looking for smooth, mostly traffic-free bicycle trails in Wisconsin—with enough mileage for a real riding vacation? This guide separates genuinely paved rail trails from Wisconsin’s many crushed-limestone routes, then lays out practical rides, overnight bases, food stops and attractions.
“Rail trail” does not automatically mean “paved.” Many of Wisconsin’s classics—including the Elroy–Sparta, Sugar River, Military Ridge, Badger, Ahnapee and most of the Glacial Drumlin trails—use crushed limestone for most of their length. That surface is usually excellent on a hybrid, touring bike or wider road tire when dry, but it is not the uninterrupted asphalt some riders want.
This guide prioritizes asphalt and other firm paved surfaces. Mixed-surface trails are included only when their paved segment is useful on its own. Always check the managing agency’s alerts before leaving; construction, storm damage and seasonal detours can change a route quickly.
Explore Wisconsin’s Paved Bike Trails
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Best paved biking around Madison
Capital City State Trail and Madison’s connected paths
PavedBest Madison base30–40-mile days
The Capital City State Trail is the backbone of Madison’s paved network. The asphalt trail connects with city paths, the Southwest Commuter Path, the Badger State Trail, the Military Ridge State Trail and the Lower Yahara River Trail. The route passes wetlands and prairie in the Lewis Nine Springs E-Way while staying close to food, repair shops and lodging.
A good 30–40 mile ride: Start downtown, use Madison’s lakefront and Isthmus paths to reach the Capital City Trail, continue through the Nine Springs corridor, then return by a connected city route. Exact mileage depends on the downtown start and loop chosen, so build the route in advance using the city and county bike maps rather than assuming every connection is off-street.
Do not miss: the Wisconsin State Capitol, Monona Terrace, the UW–Madison lakeshore and the long boardwalk on the Lower Yahara River Trail toward McFarland. Our complete Madison family guide and Madison pizza guide make easy off-bike companions.
Great Sauk State Trail
10.5 milesFully asphaltRail trail
About 30 miles northwest of Madison, the Great Sauk State Trail follows a former rail corridor beside the Wisconsin River through Sauk City, Prairie du Sac and the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area. It is one of Wisconsin’s clearest answers for a rider who specifically wants an entirely asphalt rail trail.
Best ride: The complete out-and-back is about 21 miles. It is shorter than a 30–40 mile target, but it works beautifully as a recovery day or can be paired with sightseeing rather than padding the mileage on unfamiliar roads.
Do not miss: Wisconsin River views, downtown Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, and a side trip by car to Devil’s Lake State Park. Riders age 16 and older need a Wisconsin state trail pass.
Glacial Drumlin State Trail: Cottage Grove paved segment
13 paved miles39 crushed-stone milesRail trail
The 52-mile Glacial Drumlin State Trail is a famous cross-state building block, but only 13 miles are asphalt. The paved portion begins around Cottage Grove on the Madison end; farther east the trail becomes crushed stone.
Best ride for pavement-only riders: Use the paved segment as an out-and-back of up to roughly 26 miles. Riders willing to accept crushed stone can continue toward Lake Mills, Jefferson, Dousman and Waukesha for a longer tour.
What about Military Ridge and Badger?
They are useful parts of the Madison network, but not good answers to a strict “paved rail trail” request. The Military Ridge State Trail has only 2.5 asphalt miles out of 40, while the Badger State Trail has 6 asphalt miles out of 40. Both can be excellent touring routes if crushed limestone is acceptable.
Best paved rail trails in southeastern Wisconsin
Ozaukee Interurban Trail
30 milesPavedBest all-around choice
The Ozaukee Interurban Trail runs 30 paved miles through communities including Mequon, Thiensville, Cedarburg, Grafton, Port Washington and Belgium. The corridor follows the former Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company interurban line and is mostly separated from traffic, though riders should expect street crossings and a few on-road or sidewalk connections.
Best 30–40 mile ride: Cedarburg to Port Washington and back is an approachable town-to-lake route; extend north or south to reach the desired mileage. Another excellent option begins in Mequon or Thiensville, stops in Cedarburg, and returns.
Food and history: Plan time for Cedarburg’s historic downtown and Port Washington’s harbor. For more local context, use our Milwaukee North Shore family cycling guide.
2026 note: Ozaukee County lists active improvement projects and a late-summer closure as possible, so consult its planning and parks updates shortly before riding.
Bugline Trail
16 milesPavedRail trail
The Bugline follows the old railroad that served the region’s stone quarries through Menomonee Falls, Lannon, Sussex and Merton. Waukesha County describes it as a 16-mile paved trail, making a full out-and-back almost exactly 32 miles.
Best ride: Ride end to end and return, or begin near Menomonee Park and turn around when your computer reaches 15–20 miles. Quarry views and the small downtown stops give this more personality than a typical suburban path.
Check the Waukesha County trail alerts before riding; 2026 storm and maintenance notices have affected portions of the corridor.
Lake Country Trail
About 15 milesPavedFree
The paved Lake Country Trail connects Waukesha with Pewaukee, Delafield and Oconomowoc through a utility and former transportation corridor. A complete out-and-back lands close to 30 miles, with lake-country towns placed conveniently for coffee or lunch.
Best ride: Start in Waukesha or Oconomowoc, ride the full trail, eat in the turnaround town and return. Waukesha County says no daily trail permit is required on Lake Country, Bugline, New Berlin or its Fox River trail.
New Berlin Recreation Trail, Hank Aaron State Trail and Oak Leaf Trail
Hank Aaron State Trail
These connected routes are the best choice when you want to build a custom 30–40 mile day near Milwaukee. The New Berlin trail provides the western approach; the mostly paved Hank Aaron State Trail continues past the Milwaukee County Zoo, Wisconsin State Fair Park, American Family Field, the Harley-Davidson Museum and toward the lakefront; and the Oak Leaf Trail opens more than 135 miles of mostly asphalt branches and loops.
Best ride: Build an out-and-back from Wauwatosa or West Allis toward Milwaukee’s lakefront, or connect Hank Aaron with an Oak Leaf branch. Some sections use parkways or city streets, so study the official map and current detours before leaving.
For route ideas, see our complete Oak Leaf Trail guide. Visitors without a bike can also use our Bublr bike-share guide.
More of Wisconsin’s best paved rail-trail rides
Old Abe State Trail: Chippewa Falls to Cornell
20 milesFully asphaltPerfect 40-mile out-and-back
The Old Abe State Trail is arguably the best match in Wisconsin for a rider seeking a full 30–40 mile day on a paved rail trail. The 20-mile asphalt corridor links Chippewa Falls, Jim Falls and Cornell, with access near Lake Wissota State Park and Brunet Island State Park.
Best ride: Ride the whole trail and return for 40 miles, or arrange a shuttle for a relaxed 20-mile point-to-point day. Combine it with Eau Claire’s trails for a multi-day western Wisconsin trip.
Chippewa River State Trail: Eau Claire to Durand
30 miles18 asphalt12 asphalt emulsion
The Chippewa River State Trail is a 30-mile rail trail with 18 miles of asphalt and 12 miles of asphalt emulsion. The first 11 miles from downtown Eau Claire are conventional asphalt; the remainder is firm but may not feel identical to fresh blacktop. Bridges have wooden decks.
Best ride: From Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire, ride 15–20 miles out and return. For a longer touring trip, connect with the Red Cedar State Trail—but know that the Red Cedar uses crushed limestone.
Make a weekend of it with our Eau Claire–La Crosse road-trip stops or Wisconsin Highway 10 guide.
Fox River State Trail: Green Bay and De Pere
11 paved miles14 crushed-stone milesRail trail
The Fox River State Trail is paved for 11 miles from Green Bay through Allouez and De Pere to Lasee Road. South of that point, the trail changes to crushed stone.
Best ride: The paved out-and-back is about 22 miles. Add Green Bay’s connected urban paths only after checking the local map; do not assume the full 25-mile state trail is asphalt.
Eisenbahn State Trail: West Bend segment
5 paved miles20 crushed-stone milesRail trail
The Eisenbahn State Trail runs 25 miles between West Bend and Eden, but only its five-mile urban segment is asphalt. It is worthwhile for a shorter local outing; it is not a 30–40 mile paved destination unless you are comfortable continuing on crushed stone.
Four ready-made Wisconsin biking itineraries
1. Madison paved-trail week
Day 1: Easy downtown and lakefront shakedown ride.
Day 2: Capital City Trail and connected Madison paths, 30–40 miles.
Day 3: Lower Yahara boardwalk and McFarland area, mileage adjusted with Madison connections.
Day 4: Great Sauk complete out-and-back, about 21 miles, plus Sauk City and Prairie du Sac.
Day 5: Glacial Drumlin paved segment from Cottage Grove, up to about 26 miles out and back.
Day 6: Rest day or a second Madison loop.
2. Southeastern Wisconsin asphalt sampler
Day 1: Ozaukee Interurban, 30–40 miles with Cedarburg and Port Washington stops.
Day 2: Bugline end-to-end out-and-back, about 32 miles.
Day 3: Lake Country Trail out-and-back, about 30 miles.
Day 4: Hank Aaron and Oak Leaf combination, 30–40 miles.
3. Chippewa Valley paved weekend
Day 1: Old Abe State Trail, 40 miles out and back.
Day 2: Chippewa River Trail from Eau Claire, 30–40 miles out and back.
Day 3: Short Eau Claire city-trail recovery ride and downtown attractions.
4. Credit-card touring: what actually works
Wisconsin’s longest point-to-point state trails are ideal for inn-to-inn touring—but most are crushed limestone. If pavement is non-negotiable, a single hotel base plus daily out-and-backs is usually simpler than true credit-card touring. The best paved point-to-point candidates are Old Abe, Ozaukee Interurban and the Milwaukee-connected network. Book lodging with secure or in-room bike storage when possible, and confirm that policy directly before arrival.
Where to stay near the trails
For the easiest week, choose a downtown Madison hotel near the city-path network, a Cedarburg or Port Washington base for the Ozaukee Interurban, or downtown Eau Claire for the Chippewa River Trail. You can compare current Wisconsin lodging through the North Shore Family Adventures Expedia shop.
Milwaukee trail bases with affiliate links
Closest to the Hank Aaron corridor:Fairfield Inn & Suites Milwaukee West is convenient to the western Hank Aaron trail and American Family Field area.
More room for a longer stay:Home2 Suites by Hilton Milwaukee West offers suite-style layouts and easy access to the west side of the city.
Downtown character:The Iron Horse Hotel sits near the Harley-Davidson Museum and the eastern Hank Aaron corridor.
Hotel amenities, storage policies, trail access and availability can change. Confirm bike-storage arrangements directly; never leave a touring bicycle unsecured on a vehicle overnight.
Trail passes, e-bikes and practical planning
State trail passes: In 2026, Wisconsin charges $5 for a daily trail pass or $25 for an annual pass. A pass is generally required for bicyclists and in-line skaters age 16 and older on designated state trails. County and municipal trails have their own rules.
Vehicle admission: Parking inside a state park may require a separate vehicle admission pass even when the trail itself is free or you already have a trail pass.
E-bikes: Check the current rule for each trail and bicycle class before riding. Do not assume every local trail follows the same policy as a state trail.
Closures: Review official alerts the morning of the ride. Wisconsin storms, bridge work and paving projects can create detours that are not obvious on third-party apps.
Navigation: Download the official map and an offline route. Carry a battery bank; rural trail segments can have inconsistent cellular service.
Comfort: For 30–40 mile days, carry two bottles, food, a tube or tubeless repair kit, pump, tire levers, lights and a lightweight lock.
Best recommendation for the rider in the original question: Stay in Madison and use the Capital City network for multiple paved days. Add Great Sauk as a shorter destination ride. Then spend three or four nights in southeastern Wisconsin and ride the Ozaukee Interurban, Bugline and Lake Country trails. If there is time for a western Wisconsin detour, Old Abe is the cleanest 40-mile paved rail-trail day in the state.
Looking for a different kind of Wisconsin cycling adventure? Our Elroy–Sparta State Trail guide covers the state’s famous crushed-limestone tunnel route, while our Milwaukee-area bike tune-up guide can help get your bike ready before the trip.