The Pedal to the Kettle

When you talk about mountain biking the kettle moraine, most riders think of the Muir trails. This five-loop system of narrow one-way single-track cross-country ski trails makes for an excellent uncrowded riding experience through oak and pine forest. You will pass and get passed occasionally, but until you stop and see the constant flow, you will not believe how many bikes are on the trails. In late September, the trails are used for a popular event called the Kettle Moraine Fall Color Festival, a limited-entry time trial event featuring food, awards, and raffles.

Despite heavy use, the Muir trails remain a great place to ride for gung-ho bikers. Erosion was once a real problem; on any given good-weather riding-season weekend day the trails would be be covered by more than 2,500 riders. Fortunately, forest personnel and volunteers have worked to harden the trails with a plastic grid laid under a fine gravel surface. It works pretty well, though you will see the trail worn through to the grid in places. The trails's popularity has resulted in good privately run services in the area, including the General Store at La Grange, the Quiet Hut Sports and Artisan Cafe on Bluff Road, and plenty more in Palmyra and Whitewater.

Although the trails are very well maintained, watch for windfall trees or branches, and areas where the plastic grid under the trail surface has become exposed. The latter is very slippery when wet, even from a heavy morning dew. The trails are marked with color-coded signposts that correspond to the different loops. Often there will be more than one color at a time. Frequent"you are here" map signs at intersections help keep everything straight. There are white and red no-biking signs on hiking trails. Fines apply for riding on hiking-only trails. Always phone ahead to make sure trails are open for riding. Pick up sheet maps at the trail head.

Wisconsin State Forest parking and trail pass fees can be taken care using the self-pay station at the trail head.

Length: 10 miles for the very tough John Muir outer (blue) loop; many shorter loop variations are possible, including the easy 1.5-mile red loop, moderate 4-mile white loop, and challenging 5.3-mile orange loop and 6.8-mile green loop.
Difficulty: Some easy riding, but mostly difficult, including steep slopes, tight turns, and sidehill trails.
Terrain: There are many short steep climbs and several 80' to 100' ones.
Surface: Varies from grassy with a hardpack track to fine limestone gravel over Geoblock, a plastic grid work placed to slow erosion.
Scenery: Deep hardwood forest with lots of athletic-looking mountain bikers.
Recommended season: April through November.
Trail head: The trail head parking lot is on the west side of county road H, 1.5 miles north of the crossroads village of La Grange and U.S. 12, nine miles east of Whitewater. An overflow parking lot is located across county road H.© Article copyright Menasha Ridge Press. All rights reserved.