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Bike Trails

Whatever type of biking you enjoy, the Kickapoo Valley Reserve has something to offer. The unsurpassed beauty to be found in this part of southwestern Wisconsin will surprise you with every bend in the road. Whether you choose to stick to the pavement or want to challenge yourself on grueling primitive mountain bike trails, this area can accommodate you.


TOURING BIKE:
 
Old Hwy 131 Trail is 4.5 miles of paved greenway trail within the Reserve.  No motorized vehicles are allowed on this stretch of trail.  There are over 25 miles of paved public roads in and around the Reserve with a number of connecting roads that expand the network to over 100 miles in the immediate vicinity.

State Highway 131 north of Rockton is one of the loveliest stretches of highway in all of Wisconsin. Your route will cross the Kickapoo River at least five times in a five-mile stretch. Highway 131 intersects County Highway F where the Reserve shares a boundary with Wildcat Mountain State Park. For an extra challenging loop, travel County F east to State Highway 33 north to fully appreciate the term "mountain" in the park’s name. State Highways 131 and 33 enter the town of Ontario, a bustling community that serves as the favorite point of departure for canoeists spending the day on the river.

Although traffic is light on area roads, please remember the combination of curves, hills, and sightseeing requires drivers and cyclists to be extra cautious.
 
OFF-ROAD/MOUNTAIN BIKE:
 
Mountain bike trails are open May 1 through November 15, depending on the weather. Visitor permits are available through the Reserve office or self-registration stations throughout the property.

Portions of the mountain bike trails follow the state snowmobile trail, covering most of the length of the Reserve. Although it is not a single track trail, the mountain bike trail presents many of the challenges that serious off-road bikers find appealing. You’ll encounter steep uphill climbs, hairpin turns, and rapid descents as you travel through hardwood forests and open meadows with breathtaking overlooks along the way.

The use of mountain bikes allows the more adventurous set to access the remote areas on the Reserve seldom visited by others. However, there are places where the bike trail runs concurrent with equestrian trails, and hikers may be encountered at any point on the system.

 Please follow these rules and precautions:

-The natural surface trail season runs from May 1 to November 15 in the Reserve, except FTB Trails as listed above.
- E-Bikes are not allowed on the trails on the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.  Learn more here

- All visitors are required to obtain a camping and/or use permit. Permits are available at the Reserve Visitor Center during regular business hours and online. 
- All trail riders must stay on the designated trails. 
- Trails are subject to closure due to wet conditions. Call ahead at (608) 625-2960, check Facebook, or visit the KVR home page about current conditions. 
- Remember that the terrain is challenging, so plan your route accordingly to avoid overworking yourself. 
- Highways and roads run in and along the Reserve. Be cautious and courteous. Maintain a single-file line and watch for oncoming traffic. 
- Pack it in; pack it out! Leaving litter or trash in or around the Reserve is unacceptable. 
- Most bike trails are shared with horseback and hiking enthusiasts. Please yield to horses and hikers.


  

 

 

 
Biker on Old Hwy 131 Trail during Fall Colors

 WINTER FAT TIRE BIKE

There are approximately 8 miles of fat tire bike (FTB) trails on the Reserve. Fat tire bike trails are winter trails only. The FTB trails on the Reserve are not groomed. They are considered backcountry trails and are narrow, winding, and shared with snowshoers and hikers. Please be courteous and practice friendly trail etiquette when encountering other trail users. 
 
FTB Regulations:  

Fat Tire bikes are allowed on a portion of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve (KVR). "Fat Tire" bikes are non-motorized (including electric motor), pedal bikes with tires of 3.7 - 5 inches wide and 10 psi or lower. The area open to the Fat Tire bikes for winter riding is located on the east side of the Reserve (see winter trails map). Trail users must have either a current Annual or Daily KVR Visitor pass. Fat Tire bikes must stay on designated trails or adjacent public roads.

 The trails will be posted open to fat tire bikes in the winter, but are subject to closure due to adverse weather conditions. The closures will be posted through signage at the Cut Off Trail at the east end of the Rockton Bridge and on Highway 131 at the Big Valley Trail.  Closures will also be posted on our website, Facebook page, and by calling the KVR Office (608 625 2960: Monday - Saturday 8 am - 4:30 pm).
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The Fat Tire bike season is January 1 - March 15 or until conditions warrant closure.  All of the following criteria must be in place for Fat Tire trails to remain open:

       •     Frozen ground

       •     Temperature of 25 degrees F or colder

 KVR staff will monitor trail impacts and ridership to help the Kickapoo Reserve Management Board set long term policies for Fat Tire bike use.

E-Bike

The use of electric wheeled devices, including e-bikes of any kind is not allowed on the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.  Mobility impaired permits are available for those in need.  Mobility impaired permits are not guaranteed same day service.  Reach out to the Visitor Center for more information.  

 

Sign up for NIXLE to get emergency information while visiting the KVR.

 Responsible Trail Etiquette matters:
Take a look here

An off road biker negotiates a turn

 

 OTHER RESOURCES:

WiDOT


The Kickapoo Reserve Management Board acknowledges that the state and federal lands that comprise the Reserve fall within the ancestral homelands of First Nations people including the Hooçak Nation. We recognize the sovereignty of the Hooçak and other First Nations and will work towards a shared future by continuing to create collaborative opportunities to protect and preserve these lands.

Kickapoo Valley Reserve | S3661 State Highway 131 | La Farge, Wisconsin 54639 
Phone: 608-625-2960 | FAX: 608-625-2962
kickapoo.reserve@krm.state.wi.us

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