Bicycle Trail Maps

With over 108,000 miles of roads, Wisconsin has abundant on and off-road biking resources while Wisconsin’s nationally acclaimed “rails to trails” biking network offers smooth riding and scenic views.

Wisconsin Department of Tourism

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism has great information on biking in Wisconsin. Some examples are the 32-mile Elroy-Sparta trail which winds through three century-old railroad tunnels, wooded valleys, and small towns and the paved 83.4-mile

Also worth checking out is their Official Biking Guide, available online or in printed format.  (scroll down on their maps and guides page to find their most recent edition.)

This guide provides a detailed map and difficulty rating for each trail in Wisconsin, including off-road mountain bike trails, designated bike trails, and on-road loop tours. In addition, there is also information about nearby tourist attractions, trail amenities, parks, and accommodations. Many of the tour and trail descriptions also include a small graph depicting the changes in elevation over the length of the route.

The Wisconsin State Bicycle Map

The Wisconsin Bicycle Map highlights the most favorable bicycling conditions and rates all roadways. The map is split into 8 panels printed on 4 separate “maps”. Each quarter section map may be purchased separately, or all four may be purchased as a set.

The maps have routes marked according to their appropriateness for cycling (level & speed of auto traffic, presence of shoulders or bike lanes, etc.). The maps also have the state trails that do not allow motorized vehicles in non-winter months. The maps were recently updated in 2010 and are ideal for long-distance touring bicyclists as well as casual recreational riders or transportation bicyclists.

Wisconsin County Bike Maps

WisDOT also has downloadable bike maps for each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. These county maps come from the Wisconsin State Bike Map. Each county map highlights the most favorable bicycling conditions while presenting the full continuum of roadways – from narrow town roads to US Highways. This approach enables cyclists of all abilities to select their own routes to meet their individual transportation and recreational needs.

Local Bicycling Information

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has compiled a list of Wisconsin local bicycle map and route information from various counties and cities. Additionally, DOT provides a series of “urban” bike maps focused on Wisconsin municipalities with populations greater than 25,000.

City of Madison and Dane County

The City has a great Web application called the “Low-Stress Bike Route Finder” that can be used to route your trip through the city based on your tolerance for vehicular traffic.  In addition, the Madison Area Transportation Planning Board, City of Madison, and Dane County collaborate to maintain a variety of maps and Web sites related to biking throughout Dane County.

City of Milwaukee – Bike Map

The City of Milwaukee web site offers a free, bike map pdf that shows bike routes around the city. The map is split into two parts, north and south Milwaukee.

OpenCycleMap

OpenCycleMap is a world-wide map for cyclists, based on data from the OpenStreetMap project and the “wiki-map” concept, OpenCycleMap data is created by its users.

Great Arc Bike Route

The Great Arc refers to the shape of the Niagara Escarpment which extends from eastern Wisconsin through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and southern Ontario, finally terminating in Western New York State at Niagara Falls. The Great Arc Bike Route follows the Niagara Escarpment in Northeastern Wisconsin. The bike route in Wisconsin takes riders along some of the highest escarpment cliffs in Wisconsin at approximately 250 feet above Green Bay in Door County.

Adventure Cycling Route Network

Adventure Cycling is a nonprofit organization, with a mission to inspire and empower people to travel by bicycle. Adventure cycling develops excellent cycling routes and maps, with turn-by-turn directions, detailed navigational instructions, and elevation profiles. The maps provide information specifically designed for cyclists: the location of bike shops, sources for food and water, and listings of overnight accommodations including camping facilities, small hotels, and cyclists-only lodging. The Adventure Cycling Route Network covers the entire US and parts Canada, including Wisconsin’s “North Lakes” route.

Need Assistance?

If you are having trouble locating bicycling maps in Wisconsin or need further help, please contact us via e-Mail or at (608) 262-3065.