Routes in the Wisconsin Hills

Here are a few examples of maps and cue sheets I’ve made for the many routes I have taken from the various towns in the Wisconsin Hills. I build cue sheets based on the RideWithGPS application, though I usually have to edit to correct mis-labled or even missing turns. I build the maps using other means, in order to provide a rider with enough detail to make up for a missed turn or road repair requiring a detour. I have many routes at my RideWithGPS page, and most riders I know download routes to their Garmin, but of course the Garmin data doesn’t account for that intermittent road work, etc.

Thus, it does pay to have some sort of detailed map. The maps I start with are now out of print. Other sources of detailed maps include the Wisconsin DOT county maps.

And it does pay to have a sense of adventure, do some exploring, and take advantage of riding with others (check that TCBC Calendar–TCBC Wisconsin rides usually reference a downloadable Garmin file).

In time I may add to and/or correct the maps and cues sheets on this page. The map images are designed to be viewed online, and allow for enlargement. The downloadable files are in JPG and MS Word format. Routes on my RideWithGPS page may also fluctuate, get corrected, replaced, and so on. Wisconsin roads are constantly undergoing change, primarily in terms of road repaving. Nevertheless, they remain to be some of the best riding in the U.S.

River Falls

Rides from River Falls start at Hoffman Park, which is on the eastern edge of River Falls, WI. Directions: From the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, take I-94 east into WI; after Hudson take WI 35 south. Exit at County M (Division St), then go right 1/4 mile to Hoffman Park.

This River Falls East Variation circles out of town from Hoffman Park, but then rolls east to Spring Valley, over some hills to Elmwood, and then back to River Falls via El Paso, Beldenville, and the long descent of Happy Valley Road (770th Avenue). It is truly a classic route, with a fairly flat route to Spring Valley, followed by a series of intermittent climbs, some short but with slopes exceeding 10%.
Download the River Falls East Variation Map
Download the River Falls East Variation Cue Sheet

The Diamond Bluff Classic Version 5.0 circles out of town from Hoffman Park, then heads south to East Ellsworth, one of our favorite rest stops, after which it works its way down to the long, lovely ascent of Fisher Coulee, followed by a plunge into Hager City. From there it’s along the Mississippi, to Diamond Bluff, then up Werner Hill, over to classic County Road O, north through Trimbelle, and finally getting back to River Falls and the long descent of Happy Valley Road. This is the classic route south out of River Falls.
Download the Diamond Bluff Classic 5.0 Map
Download the Diamond Bluff Classic 5.0 Cue Sheet

Maiden Rock

Rides from Maiden Rock start at the park on the river in Maiden Rock, WI. Directions: From the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, cross into Wisconsin at Prescott or Red Wing and take WI 35 south to the town of Maiden Rock on Lake Pepin, then turn towards the river on Chestnut Street. (There is also an alternate parking lot at 35 and County Road A, just before one enters Maiden Rock.)

Riding from Maiden Rock..

Riding from Maiden Rock is the best way to experience County Road A, with its “Scenic Road” designation, going north at the start of the route, and often returning south at the end, with the alternative to return part way on 385th Street–this is shown in Maiden Rock Northeast below.

A word about rest stops..

But Maiden Rock Northeast also is an example of a route designed when there were two obvious rest stops available on rides from Maiden Rock, Elmwood and Eau Galle. “Obvious” rest stops include Elmwood, where there is a gas station/convenience store, which has the sort of food and drink one needs to stop for every 25 miles or so. Eau Galle no longer has the little grocery we relied on for so many years. As such, there are no obvious rest stops between Elmwood and Maiden Rock–looking at the route from Elmwood on Maiden Rock Northeast, Eau Galle and Arkansaw do have bars, whereas hamlets such as Porcupine and Lund are more or less just names on the map.

Alternatives to riding from Maiden Rock..

Maiden Rock North by Southwest is an example of a route that includes a climb off of County Road A, of which there are several (including 420th St/Sleepy Hollow Road as shown at mile 2.1, 210th Avenue at mile 65.0, 270th Avenue just north, and formidable 370th Avenue just short of Highway 10.) It is also an example of a route that includes the Rush River Valley roads, centered north of the “35.2/58.5” mileage marker on the Maiden Rock North by Southwest map. Alternatives to riding from Maiden Rock may include these same roads, the climbs off of County Road A, and even Maiden Rock itself, as a rest stop.

Maiden Rock Northeast is one of two routes designed for days when there is a significant wind from the north. The 31-mile route includes no rest stops, whereas the longer routes stop at Elmwood, and the longest route swings southeast to Eau Galle. The 8.2 mile “extra credit” prior to Elmwood is recommended, and provides a 62 mile route with about 3,400′ of climbing.

Download the MAP for for Maiden Rock Northeast
Download the CUE SHEET for Maiden Rock Northeast

Maiden Rock North by Southwest-MAP (Final)

Maiden Rock North by Southwest is a route we first did on a day with a prevailing southwest wind, whereas all routes from Maiden Rock lead one to the north. The route climbs the first hill off of Scenic Road County Road A, and takes a pleasant set of quiet road to north of Esdaile, and then further north and west to Ellsworth, the rest stop. There the route splits, the shorter route heading due east and then south along the beautiful Rush River, and finally down County Rd A. The longer route continues west, then heads northeast through Beldenville and Martell, then turns south through El Paso, and back along the Rush River, and up one last short, but scenic hill.

Download the MAP for for Maiden Rock North by Southwest
Download the CUE SHEET for Maiden Rock North by Southwest