Ride Wisconsin's Fall Colors Across Six Trail Regions

When the leaves turn red, orange, and gold, Wisconsin's ATV and UTV routes rank among the finest spots anywhere to watch the season change. The trails wind through forests, small towns, and Northwoods scenery, and they put you in a front-row seat for the color that sweeps across the state each year. If you want to plan a ride around the peak foliage, the state offers several distinct regions, each with its own character, lodging, and terrain to match the kind of riding you like to do.

Below is a practical breakdown of six areas worth your time, from the singletrack-heavy Driftless Region in the south to the Northwoods lake routes in the north. Each answers a different question about what you want out of a fall ride.

Where can you find the most trail mileage?

The Cable and Hayward area in Northwest Wisconsin holds 600 miles of multiuse trails, which makes it one of the largest single networks in the state and puts it among the top ATV destinations in the Midwest. Of those 600 miles, 140 miles run through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, so a good share of your riding happens under national forest canopy. The trails cross Ashland, Bayfield, and Sawyer counties, giving you room to string together long days without repeating yourself.

The city of Cable earns its nickname as Trail Town USA, and it sits surrounded by the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The riding here spans a range of difficulty. If you want scenery without white-knuckle terrain, the Seeley Hills Loop delivers moderate thrills and standout views. Want a challenge instead? The Dead Horse Trail throws steep climbs and drops at you, along with tight switchbacks.

Which region is best for technical singletrack?

The Levis Mound area is the standout for riders who want technical terrain. Its trails carry an "Epic" rating from the International Mountain Bicycling Association, and the landscape explains why. Sandstone bluffs rise as much as 300 feet overhead. The network runs 25 miles of singletrack that form multiple loops.

The named trails here read like a challenge course. The Switchback Trail features narrow plank bridges between rock outcroppings, the Sidewinder Trail runs along the sides of cliffs, and riders coming down from the mounds work through eight switchbacks and tight passages on the way down. One of the more memorable features is Plumber's Crack. It is a huge sandstone formation, split by a wooden bridge that runs between two mounds. If you want to extend the loop, connector trails run over to the nearby Trow Mounds.

Where should you go for canyon country and camping?

Black River State Forest sits on the fringe of Wisconsin's Driftless Region. The glaciers that flattened most of present-day Wisconsin largely spared this area, so its rugged shape survived. That geological history shows up in the terrain. Two forks of the Black River run through the forest, carving out canyons as they go.

The riding here leans toward the scenic and moderate. The Wildcat and Red Oak Loop trails make for an easygoing ramble through the timber. The Smrekar Trails run wider than those at Levis Mound, with smooth climbs and descents that follow former forest service roads, which makes them a good choice for riding groups. For a base camp, Pigeon Creek Campground provides easy access to 29 miles of trails, and Castle Mound serves as an additional jumping-on point. When the color fades and the snow arrives, those same forest trails turn into routes for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.

Where can you ride into another state?

Forest County carries plenty of public ATV and UTV mileage threading through the Northwoods. The area's signature feature is the Nicolet State Trail, which runs clear across the border into Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Forest County also carries the Wolf River State Trail and the Valley Trail among its options. For lodging, the Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel in Carter serves as a base for trail riders.

Which area works best for lake-country cruising?

The neighboring communities of Arbor Vitae and Woodruff, located in the heart of the Northwoods, offer a more laid-back ride. There is a scenic route along Big Arbor Vitae Lake that shows off the water and the tree line together. In town, Arbor Vitae keeps two handy park-and-ride lots, which makes staging your machine simple.

Pull off at Slo's Pub for a bite and a drink; it sits right along the trail route near Big Arbor Vitae Lake. Off the trail, Woodruff is home to the World's Largest Penny and hosts a lumberjack show in the summer, if your visit stretches beyond the riding.

Where do the trails connect the most towns?

St. Germain's ATV Club Trails connect the communities of St. Germain, Eagle River, Conover, Phelps, Land O'Lakes, Arbor Vitae, and Minocqua, which makes this a hub for town-to-town riding. The trails are approximately 50 percent paved and 50 percent dirt, so you get a mix of surfaces in a single outing. They are open for all-terrain vehicles from May through October, and in winter the same routes carry snowmobiles.

St. Germain has three trailheads — Birchwood, Fern Ridge, and Downtown St. Germain — and each offers trailer parking. Need equipment or repairs? Most of the area's outfitters cluster in Eagle River and Land O'Lakes. Stop in at Pine Knot Tavern for a bite and a drink, and fishing is available in the area if you want to round out the trip.

What about the southern Driftless Region?

Down south, the Tri-County Trail System sits in the Driftless Region, spanning Lafayette, Iowa, and Green counties. These routes once carried railroad traffic, and many of the old trestles and bridges still stand, which gives the riding a distinctive, gently graded feel. The system includes the 47-mile Cheese Country Trail from Monroe to Mineral Point and the 10-mile Pecatonica State Trail from Calamine to Belmont.

Barron County, in Western Wisconsin, is built around UTV accessibility. The Wild Rivers State Trail in Rice Lake runs 104 miles and links up with more routes, including the Tuscobia Trail. Before you head out, Trailhead Adventures can get your machine trail-ready, and Comstock Cheese & Sausage is a good spot to pick up food for the ride.

Planning your fall ride

Start by matching the region to the riding you want. If you crave mileage, aim for Cable and Hayward. If you want technical singletrack, head to Levis Mound. For canyon scenery and camping, choose Black River State Forest. For town-hopping and mixed surfaces, St. Germain delivers, while Arbor Vitae and Woodruff suit an easier lake-country cruise. Riders chasing a cross-state trip should look to Forest County and the Nicolet State Trail, and the Driftless Region's rail-trail systems reward those who prefer smooth, historic routes.

Confirm trailhead parking, outfitter availability, and seasonal trail hours before you load up, since several networks close ATV access once winter arrives.