Winona-Reedsburg

From Winona, cross the Mississippi. Turn east on highways 35/54 to the very small settlement of Marshland. (A grant was recently announced for a "Great River State Trail - Winona Connector to provide linkage between Minnesota and Great River State Trail in Buffalo County".) At Marshland, on the south side of the highway is a small parking lot and the northern terminus of the Great River State Trail.

Follow this trail to Onalaska where it connects to the La Crosse River State Trail.

Continue east on this trail to Sparta and the connection to the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. Take this trail to Elroy, where it joins the "400" State Trail.

Follow the 400 to the old depot in Reedsburg.

Buffalo County Map

Trempeleau County Map

LaCrosse County Map

Monroe County Map

Juneau County Map

Baraboo-Lodi

This map shows the route along the bike path leading south east from Baraboo, around the south end of Devil's Lake (very steep hills). The route (map) continues across the Merrimac Ferry, and along highways V and J to Lodi. The ferry normally operates from April 15 through November 30.

Lodi-Madison

From Lodi, go west on Highway 60 (Water St.), south on Riddle Rd. (becomes Springfield-Lodi Rd., west on Black Hill Rd., and south on Springfield-Lodi Rd. At this point there are two possible routes into Madison:

• Go east on Woodland Rd., south on Kingsley Rd., east on Meffert Rd., and south on Pheasant Hill Rd. to Century Avenue in Middleton. Jog east on Century and then south on Branch St, jogging again at University to get to Elmwood.

• A new alternative is to continue on Springfield-Lodi Rd. to its intersection with US 12. Then follow the bike path along US 12 to its end at Deming Rd and US 14. Then go east on Terrace to Elmwood.

Go southeast on Elmwood, which becomes Old Middleton and a marked Madison bike trail leading to the university and capitol.

Little Transport Press publishes its Capitol City Bike Map, with maps of both Madison itself and the surrounding area in Dane County. It is available on-line or at many area bike stores. There is also a Madison bike map available free from local bike stores, but, in my experience, availability is unpredictable. Dane County also has a map available.

Waukesha-Milwaukee

Between the end of the Glacial Drumlin State Trail on the west side of Waukesha and the New Berlin Trail on the east side, the bicyclist must traverse the somewhat confusing streets of Waukesha. Several years ago, Waukesha placed direction signs but they have faded and some have disappeared. Here is a map showing the connection between the two routes through Waukesha.

The New Berlin Trail runs from the eastern edge of Waukesha to Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County. Here is a link to its website (note that the trail has been extended further into Waukesha since the map was drawn). This trail was recently paved. Traffic on the cross streets can be heavy.

At Greenfield Park, the route joins the Milwaukee County Oak Leaf Trail. To get to downtown Milwaukee, go north on the Oak Leaf Trail (the red markings on the map). At the intersection of Swan Blvd. and Menomenee River Parkway, turn east (right) and following the bike path through the park (the yellow route on the map), following the marked route through Doyne Park.

At the end of the Doyne Park bike trail, go south to Wisconsin Avenue, east across the bridge, north on 37th, east on Highland Blvd., south on 6th Street, east on Kibourn Avenue, south on Van Buren, east on Wisconsin, south on Cass St, and east on Mason St, ending at the Milwaukee Art Museum.