Lowes Creek Trails

The Lowes Creek Trails just south of the town of Eau Claire are an easily accessible stop-off for bikers traveling through northern Wisconsin. The trails are only 3 miles off the interstate, but once out and riding in the quiet of the forest, one would never know the road was so close. The entire system is located within a county park and, though the routes included here only make up 6 miles of trail, they provide a great deal of fun for a family outing or an easy afternoon for beginners. The park itself is built around Lowes Creek—a small, winding stream making its way north to the Chippewa River. The riding takes place under the cover of a hardwood forest that turns into a sea of reds, oranges, and yellows in autumn. The 1.3-mile upper loop is particularly interesting for those looking for a rounded fitness program. The grass bike path follows a Parcourse, a training course with workout stations that became popular in many state and municipal parks in the 1970s. The Parcourse has a dozen workout areas designed to work all the muscles of the body with pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, and a variety of other exercises. The entire course is laid out alongside the bike path and provides a nice finish to a ride. Elevation Change: There is one climb in the entire network worth mentioning, which takes riders to the top of the trails on the west bluff and covers approximately 50 feet of elevation. The climbs on the singletrack routes on the center section of trails are very moderate.