Four Trails, Wisconsin 
Wisconsin offers some of the most beautiful and accessible bike routes in the country, and paved, low-traffic county roads and bike trails crisscross the state. It is home to a thriving bicycle industry and a growing advocacy movement. Perhaps its most popular ride is the 4 Trails (map) route from the Minnesota border east to Reedsburg by way of LaCrosse. This route combines the Great River Trail, the LaCrosse River Trail, the Elroy-Sparta Trail and the 400 Trail into a 101 mile odyssey through lush green countryside and rolling hills punctuated by attractive small 
communities.
The western trailhead of the Great River Trail, the westernmost leg of the 4 Trails complex, is at the juncture of Route 54 and the Trempealeau River, about 20 miles northeast of Onalaska and LaCrosse. There is parking there, but no town or services, although Perrot State Park, which has ample camping facilities, is about five miles down the trail. The Great River Trail starts in the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, skirts Perrot State Park and goes through the river town of Trempealeau before entering the Upper Mississippi 
River Wildlife and Fish Refuge and then the prairie outside Onalaska. This leg offers 24 miles of the most beautiful scenery in the Midwest, traversing 18 different waterways, crossing over the Black River on a 287-foot former railroad trestle, following Lake Onalaska and the BNSF railway. The Great River trail is within the Mississippi Flyway, which sees a twice yearly migration of great blue herons, egrets, tundra swans, ducks, white pelicans and eagles.
At Onalaska, it joins the LaCrosse River Trail, which stretches 21.5 miles, following the winding LaCrosse River to Sparta. The trail passes through the communities of West Salem, which has several 
historic buildings and one of the nicest lakes in southwest Wisconsin, Bangor, where a short trail spur goes to a local town park, and Rockland. This leg features bridges over crystal clear trout streams and picturesque farms. Like the Great River Trail, the La Crosse River Trail has a smooth surface of crushed limestone which can accommodate both road and mountain bikes. Prairie remnants, farmlands, trout streams, hardwood forests and wetlands are found along the trail.
At Sparta (which calls itself "the biking capital of the world"), the Elroy-Sparta Trail begins. This leg has been inducted into the Rails-to Trails Hall of Fame, and runs 32 miles on the abandoned Chicago & North Western Railroad bed to Elroy. The trail headquarters is in Kendall, near Elroy. Between woodlands and big, swooping hills lay Amish 
and organic farms, flowing pastures and herds of lolling cattle.
Between Sparta and Elroy, the route passes through three tunnels and six communities and has encouraged a welcoming trail culture and infrastructure, from rental services to bed & breakfasts and restaurants. The tunnels are the highlights of this leg; the Kendall and Wilton tunnels are 1/4 mile long, the Norwalk tunnel is 3/4 mile long and you'll have to walk your bike through all of them. Needless to say, flashlights or bike lights are recommended. Shuttle services are available for cyclists wanting to ride the trail one way.
At Elroy the 400 Trail begins - the 22 mile final leg running between Reedsburg and Elroy. Communities along the trail include La Valle, Wonewoc and Union Center. The 400 Trail parallels the Baraboo River and offers beautiful scenery, bountiful wildlife, sandstone outcroppings, rolling farmland, croplands and pastures as it repeatedly crisscrosses the river. The entire length of the 400 Trail follows along the river valley.
A state trail pass ($4/day or $20/season) is required for cyclists and can be purchased at locations along the trail or in advance. You can find the editor's review and photos of this trip in the Touring Blog.
Natchez Trace
The 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway (map) commemorates an ancient trail used by animals and people that connected southern portions of the Mississippi River, through Alabama, to salt licks in today's central Tennessee. Today, visitors can experience this National Scenic Byway and All-American Road through driving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping. Begun in 1937, the Parkway was completed in 2005, and connects Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, linking the Cumberland, Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers along the way. In 2006, ESPN named the Natchez Trace Parkway one of the top ten bicycling destinations.
Administered by the National Park Service, the non-commercial environment offers a wide variety of
historic sites, wayside exhibits and beautiful vistas. Of particular note to cyclists is the presence of five bicycle-only campgrounds along the Trace. These campgrounds provide primitive camping for visitors who are biking the Natchez Trace Parkway. By using the Parkway campgrounds, bicycle-only campgrounds, and communities near the Parkway, you can plan your trip to ride between 30 and 60 miles each day. Note that bicycles must be off the road by dark, and there are specific places and times on the Trace during which traffic is very heavy and which bikers are advised to avoid.
Each Parkway campground provides tent sites, picnic tables, and fire grates throughout the year. Water is available throughout the year inside Parkway restrooms; outside water sources may be unavailable during winter months. There are also 11 local bike shops and many sources of food and supplies in communities along the route. Water sources are not frequent and you must carry your own water supply. The National Park Service offers a free road biking packet that contains rules and regulations for biking the Parkway, as well as lists of bicycle-specific visitor services such as bike shops, campgrounds, and drinking water along the way. Contact the byway to request the packet.
There is no advertising along the Trace, so accommodations may be difficult to arrange on the spot. There are services which can help with planning and reservations. Of course, there are many tour organizers offering packaged tours. There are also many online tour blogs and trip narratives to help you out, as well as publications which give a comprehensive picture of the Natchez Trace experience. If you'd rather rent a bike on site than transport your own, there are rental services available.
If you are planning an organized or group ride, a special use permit is required. If you need assistance with your travel plans, especially as they pertain to the Parkway, call 1-800-305-7417 or 662-680-4027. The Natchez Trace is served by public transportation from a number of communities along the trail.
ACA Recommendations
Here are 10 top touring venues described in detail by the ACA. Although there is some duplication with these pages, you should check these out, too.
