great river trail

This is an awesome running/biking trail. The path is gorgeous and all kinds of wildlife will cross your path. Also, it's great for geo caching!

Challenging to get to from where we started - at the Onalask Ice Arena. Once we found the trail it was a lovely ride. Plenty of other parking spots along the trail.

We rode the GRT after riding the Elroy-Sparta Trail this fall and there's no comparison. The ES is much better. There isn't much scenery and the trail cross heavy traffic a few times. The route through Onalaska can be confusing and is poorly marked. I thought the trail condition was poor. We had a light rain and the trail became extremely slippery because it needs more crushed limestone.

didn't see any wildlife, really wanted to see an eagle. but there were great viewstoo many mosquitos

The Great River Trail is not by a river.If you like biking thru marshland & prairie lands you will enjoy this trail.It was shaded most of the time.Dissapointed...Not scenic look we thought it would be. We biked the full 25 miles to Marshland.Just to let you know there is nothing in Marshland no food or drinks.Be perpared....

After biking Elroy-Sparta Trail, we tagged on the Great River Trail on Aug 1 before departing for home. We only had time to bike north about 10 miles from Onalaska and back, so this review only addresses that part of the trail. The portion closest to Onalaska is the prettiest, with occasional views of the river. As you go further north, you are riding through woods or fields. It's a flat, easy ride that was good for getaway day. Perhaps when you ride from Trempealeau north it gets more interesting and challenging. This segment isn't nearly as scenic as Elroy-Sparta and won't give experienced riders much of a workout if that's what you're looking for.

The Great River State Trail is 25 miles long and runs from Marshland, WI to Onalaska, WI and is also connected to three other trails that will take you another 75 miles (all the way to Reedsburg, WI). It generally follows the western bank of the Mississippi in River in western Wisconsin. The trail is built on an old railroad bed so it is generally flat and safe and is therefore a good trail for biking with the family. It is a gravel trail and looks like a small, one lane old farm road.My wife and I biked here on a Saturday afternoon in early July and the trails were not very busy (we only occasionally passed someone going the other direction). We picked up the trailhead in Trempealeau, WI and rode it south towards Onalaska. The free trailhead parking lot is located in Trempealeau on East 3rd Street near Jones Street (about a mile east of Main Street). We had to drive to Perrot State Park first to get our Wisconsin State Trail daily biking permits (which was not convenient). A Park Ranger told us there was some trail flooding on the north end of the trail near Marshland due to some recent heavy rain so we traveled south towards Onalaska. We could have jumped on the biking trail at Perrot State Park but it costs $10 a day to park there (daily park fee). We turned our car around and drove back to Trempealeau, WI to get on the trail and park for free. The trail leads you over a series of bridges that span several small tributaries within the Upper Mississippi River Fish and Wildlife Refuge. Riding through the wildlife refuge areas was great. We saw and dodged lots of frogs on the trail. We went through lots of tiny bug clouds along the way but the bugs were not too bad. The trail was not paved and the occasional trail bridges over the river were generally rundown. Overall I enjoyed biking on this nice trail and recommend it if you are in the area.

Love to be on this hiking trail any time of the day but especially at sunset. Wind up or begin at the Onalaska sunfish sculpture for view into MN that will take your breath away.

I live nearby and have been using this trail for years. I'd give it 5 stars except that it needs a bit more maintenance from time to time. Starting on the south end (Onalaska) there are nice Mississippi River views. Most of the rest of the trail goes through farmland, prairies and lowlands. It's crushed packed limestone, so skinny tired road bikes aren't advised. In Trempealeau there are great eats at the Trempealeau Hotel. From there take a ride further along the river through beautiful Perrot State Park. (More great food at Sullivans just south of the park entrance on the Mississippi.) Or stay on the trail through Trempealeau northerly to the US Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge for great wildlife viewing along the Mississippi. This trail continuously links to rail trails extending southerly more than 75 miles.

This is a great bike trail that can take you all the way to Trempeleau or a connecting trail to downtown La Crosse. Good views of Lake Onalaska and some prairie lands.

Beautiful 13 mile trail between Onalaska and Trempealeau Wisconsin, right along the MIssissippi for part of the stretch. We love to bike up to the Trempealeau Hotel for dinner or drinks on the deck, and look out over the river. It is an awesome trip, and we do it a lot in the summer and fall.

Very few places would give a visitor to the Coulee Region of Onalaska a better idea of the geography and landscape of the Mississippi River Valley than a walk or bike ride along the Great River Trail between Lake Onalaska and Trempealeau. Most folks looking for a quick walk end up either driving to the parking lot near the High School, or a bit further up hwy. 35 near Main Street, but only a couple of miles continuing north on 35 and left on cty. Z toward Brice Prairie will take the visitor to a small but very convenient parking area directly on the trail heading to the best early stretch at Midway Prairie, a mere quarter of a mile away. The Midway Prairie has been a dedicated State Natural Area since 1955 and hosts over 70 species of native vegetation, famous for its early spring bloom of pasque flowers. Another quarter of a mile walk leads to a rustic railroad bridge over a marshland creek. With a span of river bluffs visible to the west, the marsh to one side and prairie up on the other, this portion of the trail is a true regional gem.

The trail is wooded for the entire length and near water for the most part. Very gentle grades for the minor hills on the route.

Old railroad right of way flat trail with a little short street hills connecting quiet through marshes and woods lots of shady spots

The trails in the area are excellent for walking, running, and biking. Very pretty and quiet. The only cost is if you are biking. It is $4 for a day pass.