Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Levis and Trow Mounds, Neillsville, Wisconsin

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Getting There 
From Neillsville:
Head south out of town on Hwy 73 and continue straight on Hwy 95.  About 12 miles after leaving town, take a right onto Fisher Ave., go a little over half a mile, and then take a left down the short gravel drive to the parking lot.  There will be signs for both turns.  Alternatively, there is an older trailhead with fewer amenities right on Hwy 95 immediately after the turn onto Fisher Ave.

From the Twin Cities:
Head towards Wisconsin on I-94. Head through Eau Claire, past Osseo, and then take exit 98 for WI-121. Hang a left on 121 towards Alma Center.  After about 8.5 miles 121 will T into Hwy 95.  Take a left on 95 and go about 12 miles through Alma Center and Merrillan, and take a left on Fisher Ave. Go a little over half a mile, and then take a left down the short gravel drive to the parking lot. There will be signs for Levis Mound.

From the South (Milwaukee, Chicago):
When coming up I-94,
8.Take exit 115 to merge onto US-12 W/WI-27 N toward Merrillanspacer
2.4 mi
9.Turn right at Co Rd Espacer
7.8 mi
10.Turn left at Co Rd Kspacer
0.6 mi
11.Turn right at County Rd Jspacer
3.4 mi
12.Continue onto Columbia Rd/Fisher Avespacer
0.7 mi
13.Turn leftspacer
0.1 mi

The Route
Levis Mounds is an intricate trail system, with about 22 miles of singletrack and about 25 miles of cross country ski trail.  Detailing one route that would encompass all of the trails is nearly impossible, though I have worked it out with a pen and a trail map before!  Rather, it's best to just make your own ride as you go. The maps and trail signing are all excellent (including a kiosk which is well-stocked with trail maps to stuff in your Camelback), so it is pretty tough to get lost out there.  Here is a photo of the large map posted at the trailhead:

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Click to enlarge. All of the thin, red lines are singletrack.
While it is absolutely impossible to give the "best" route, there are several routes that stick out in my head as consistent favorites:

Longer, cross country style ride: Lower Glen > Swamp Cut > Yellow Jacket > Goat Dance >  Buck Hill > Sidewinder > Upper Hermosa > Lower Hermosa > Lower Glen  (Approximately 11.5 miles.)

Shorter, technical ride with more climbing: Dump > Porky Point > North Face > Cliffhanger > Switchback > Toad Road > Corkscrew > Select Cut > Warm
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