Biking the Great River State Trail

Lori Chown
Apr 27
2 min read

We started our morning with a leisurely hike along the River View Trail — a short walk with mild elevation, the perfect warm-up for our forty-mile bike ride along the Great River State Trail.

We’ve biked this trail a few times before, but never starting directly from Perrot State Park. Like many of Wisconsin’s best trails, it follows an old railroad bed, nicely graveled and well-maintained. Riding alongside the current railroad, you're sure to catch a few trains rumbling by. But the true highlight is the waterways that often surround you.

In spots, the backwaters have flooded the trees, creating a submerged forest. It feels almost like a glimpse of the bayous of Louisiana — fitting, since that’s where these waters are eventually heading. From the Black River, to the Mississippi, and finally down to the Gulf of Mexico, these waters are part of something much bigger — just like each of us.

The rustic wooden bridges add a timeless feel to the journey, reminders of the trail's deep history. Their charm is only rivaled by the massive steel bridge that crosses the Black River — a bittersweet irony, considering we traveled here from Black River Falls and once again found ourselves beside the same waters. It seems no matter how far I roam, the Black River always calls me back, reminding me of home.

No bike ride would be complete without a good meal to fuel the return trip. We planned our forty-mile round trip perfectly, with the Red Pines Restaurant as our halfway destination. We’ve eaten there many times, and it never disappoints. Today we split the Seafood Paella — loaded with mussels, shrimp, cod, and fire-roasted tomatoes. No meal is complete without dessert, so we indulged in a slice of carrot cake, so thick with nuts and carrots it was a meal in itself.

On the way back, we detoured into Onalaska to take in one of the most beautiful stretches of the trail. From Midway to Onalaska, you bike alongside the meeting point of the Black River and Mississippi, eventually flowing into Lake Onalaska. I believe it’s this convergence that made La Crosse the vibrant city it is today. With today’s blue skies and calm waters, it felt like you could see water in every direction — truly the highlight of the ride.

We reached our final turnaround point at the Great River Landing, a beautiful park where you can watch all the waters merge. Our journey felt complete — except for the twenty-mile ride still ahead, leading us back to Perrot State Park. After a delicious meal, endless views of nature, and three and a half hours on my Aventon Level III, I couldn’t be more thankful for my e-bike, which made this ride not just possible, but pure joy.

On the way back, we meandered through Trempealeau, winding along the scenic park roads for one last sweeping view of the Mississippi and the bay we’re lucky to call home for the weekend.

Feeling extremely grateful and blessed!