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Bash on a bike trail

Kick up your wheels at a small-town fall festival.

By the start of September, temperatures cool down and everyone starts thinking the same thing: Time to plan a weekend bike trip.

Autumn is a great time to try out a new bike trail, not only because of fall colors and invigorating weather but because so many small towns throw harvest festivals in September and October.

Since trails go right through towns, bicycle tourists are right in the middle of the action.

Food always is the main draw, and there's nothing bicyclists like more than food. Grape harvests result in wine festivals and Oktoberfests in a river of beer; that goes over pretty well, too.

So why not pair a bike ride with a fun little festival? Here are great fests in 2011.

Wisconsin bike trails

Elroy-Sparta Trail in southwest Wisconsin: Sept. 10, Apple Dumpling Days in Elroy, at the heart of this 32-mile, three-tunnel trail in southwest Wisconsin.

For more, see Cycling in coulee country.

Old Abe State Trail in western Wisconsin: Sept. 2-5, Lion's Sturgeon Festival in Jim Falls. Sept. 10, Pork N' the Park in Cornell. Sept. 16-18, Oktoberfest in Chippewa Falls.

Follow the Chippewa River on this 19½-mile trail between Chippewa Falls and Cornell, named for a ferocious Civil War mascot.

For more, see A trail for Old Abe.

Sugar River State Trail in southern Wisconsin: Sept. 3-4, Wilhelm Tell Festival in New Glarus. Sept. 23-25, Octoberfest in New Glarus.

Sept. 24, Autumn Fest and Sugar River Tour, Brodhead. Oct. 1, Fall Festival in Albany.

Since this 23-mile trail goes through  Wisconsin cheese country, connecting to the Badger State Trail, food is bountiful and heritage strong.

For more, see Swiss at heart.

Badger State Trail south of Madison: Oct. 1, Tour de Cheese bike tour from Monroe.

Monroe is party central on this 40-mile trail from Madison's exurbs to the Illinois border. It intersects with the Sugar River at Monticello.

For more, see A slice of cheese country.

Military Ridge State Trail west of Madison: Sept. 4, Wright Stuff Century Ride. Sept. 10, Thirsty Troll Brewfest in Mount Horeb.

Oct. 1-2, Fall Heritage Festival in Mount Horeb. For more, see Mount Horeb tourism.

This 40-mile trail heads west from the Madison suburb of Fitchburg (linked to Capital City Trail) to Dodgeville.

Stower Seven Lakes Trail in western Wisconsin: Sept. 16-18, Fall Festival in Amery.

For more, see Savoring the Seven Lakes.

Interurban Trail north of Milwaukee: Sept. 16-17, Paramount Blues Festival in Grafton. Sept. 17-18, Wine & Harvest Festival in Cedarburg.

Oct. 7-8, Fall Pumpkin Festival in Grafton. Oct. 7-9, Covered Bridge Studio Tour, with artists from Mequon to Port Washington. Oct. 8-9, German Festival in Cedarburg.

This paved 30-mile trail follows an old trolley line from the northern suburbs of Milwaukee to the tourist towns of Cedarburg and Port Washington on Lake Michigan.

For more, see Bicycling along Lake Michigan.

Minnesota bike trails

Paul Bunyan State Trail in northern Minnesota: Sept. 9-10, Heritage Days in Pine River. Sept. 10, Ethnic Fest in Walker. Sept. 17, A Taste of Pequot Arts & Crafts Fair.

The Minnesota lakes country through which this trail cuts is unjustly forsaken when summer ends; the fall color there is as good or better than the display on the North Shore.

The Bunyan connects to the 47-mile Heartland State Trail just east of Akeley.

For more, see Bicycling the Bunyan and Autumn at the lake.

Root River and Harmony-Preston Valley state trails in southeast Minnesota: Sept. 16-18, 25th Anniversary of the Root River State Trail. Oct. 1-2, Fall Foliage Fest in Harmony.

Southeast Minnesota and its bike trails, the 42-mile Root River and 18-mile Harmony-Preston Valley, are favorite destinations in fall.

For more, see  Bicycling in bluff country.

Willard Munger State Trail in eastern Minnesota: Sept. 10, Smokin' Rib Fest in Hinckley.

Hinckley is the southern trailhead of the Munger, one of the longest paved trails in the nation. It starts in Hinckley near the green-frame Fire Museum and continues to Willow River along a rail corridor that was the scene of a dramatic rescue in 1894.

For more, see The Fire Ride.

From Barnum, the trail follows Minnesota 61 into Carlton. The next 14½ miles, through gorgeous Jay Cooke State Park, may be the most scenic stretch of trail in the state.

For tourism information, call Hinckley at 800-996-4566.

Central Lakes Trail in west-central Minnesota: Sept. 9-11, Lake Region Pioneer Threshing Show in Dalton.

This 55-mile trail between Fergus Falls and Osakis is at its best in fall, when prairie wildflowers are blooming and migratory birds are on the move.

For more, see Bicycling the Central Lakes.

Last updated on August 25, 2011