Wisconsin fun - weekend of April 7th

[Bexter]

A few of us are chomping at the bit to ride and weather permitting will be heading to Wisconsin to ride the weekend of April 7th. The main attraction is a full day of mtn biking at Kettle Moraine Southern Unit (John Muir, connector trail, and Emma Carlin) on Saturday, April 8th. Others are taking Friday (Apr 7) off work and plan to ride Camrock Park (Southeast of Madison). Others who cannot get Friday off plan to head up for an evening of Madison breweries and FORC fun. And finally, at least one couple plans to drive up Saturday morning. Most who are coming up Friday are grabbing a hotel, though one person mentioned camping. Plug in where you can and/or want! This is your invitation.

More details as they emerge (and waiting on Mother Nature to see if she will cooperate).

Wisconsin riding requires a paid parking tag and paid biking pass. Just want you to be aware of the additional expense.

John Muir Trails

1. The John Muir Trails are extremely popular. On any nice riding season weekend the site seems like a gathering of the off-road clan. Part of the ambiance of the experience is due to the knowledge and services provided by the privately-run establishments near the south and north ends of the rails. The General Store in La Grange began catering to cross-country skiers and quickly became a center for mountain bikers as the sport grew. The new Quiet Hut Sports and Artisan Cafe at Bluff Road now satisfies nutritional and mechanical needs at that end.
   Recent improvements have made the trails an even better place to bike. Heavy use caused erosion on steep slopes and many of the the trails have been redisigned and "hardened" with sub-soil artificial grid work. One way routing and numerous loops make for a good riding experience despite crowding. The trails are the site of the Kettle Moraine Fall Color Festival in late September. Buy an individual bike map for these trails
   Distance
   
   1. The blue signed outer loop is 10 miles; the red is 1.5 miles; and the green is 6.9 miles. The connector trail is 5 miles to the Emma Carlin Trails.
   
   Difficulty
   
   1. Some easy riding on the red loop, but most trails will be difficult for novice riders.
   
   Surface Type
   
   1. Grassy cross-country ski trails with hardpack track, forest floor, and crushed limestone over plastic-grid artificial trail stabilizing material.
   
   Signage
   
   1. Color coding on posts and trees and frequent "you are here" map signs. Red and white no-biking signs on hiking trails.
   
   Trailhead Location
   
   1. 1.5 miles north of La Grange, Walworth County.
   
   Fees
   
   1. Daily or annual State Park vehicle admission and daily or annual State Trail Pass for riders 16 and older are required. The parking lot has a self-pay station.
   
   For More Information
   
   1. Kettle Moraine, Southern Unit, tel. 262-594-6200.
      James Wamser, tel. 262-617-8272.
   
   Note
   
   1. Fines apply for riding on hiking-only trails. Allways phone ahead to make sure trails are open for riding.
   
   Caution
   
   1. Two-way traffic on Connector Trail. Trails are also used by hikers. Always yield to pedestrians and don't spook animals.
   
   
   

Emma Carlin Trails

1. This is the famous "kettles". It's trails have been an off-road Mecca since knobby tread met dirt. The one-way Emma Carlin Trails are at the extreme end of the riding scale. Many people would say they're unrideable and more would brand them "no fun." Steep slopes are mazes of cobbles, mini-boulders, loose surface and roots.
   If you like, you can take the Connector Trail south to the John Muir Trails and, if you ride every loop in both systems, cover nearly 40 miles.
   The Emma Carlin and adjoining John Muir Trails are among the most popular and crowded trails in the state system. Buy an individual bike map for these trails
   Distance
   
   1. The green-signed outer loop is 4 miles, the orange is 2.4 miles, and the red is 2 miles. The connector trail to the John Muir Trails is 5 miles.
   
   Difficulty
   
   1. Extremely difficult sections cannot be avoided.
   
   Surface Type
   
   1. Hardpack forest floor, extremely rocky and rooted on steep slopes.
   
   Signage
   
   1. Color coding on posts and trees and frequent "you are here" map-signs. Red and white no-biking signs on hiking trails.
   
   Trailhead Location
   
   1. 3 miles east of Palmyra, Jefferson County.
   
   Fees
   
   1. Daily or annual State Park vehicle admission and daily or annual State Trail Pass for riders 16 and older are required. The parking lot has a self-pay station.
   
   For More Information
   
   1. Kettle Moraine, Southern Unit, tel. 262-594-6200.
      Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce, tel. 414-473-4005.
   
   Note
   
   1. Fines apply for riding on hiking-only trails. Always phone ahead to make sure trails are open for riding.
   
   Caution
   
   1. Two-way traffic on Connector Trail. Trails are also used by hikers. Always yield to pedestrians and don't spook animals.
   
   

Camrock:
https://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/camrock-3.html