Mountain bikers will discover lots of outstanding routes to ride in northern Wisconsin. Oneida County’s mountain bike trails pass alongside scenic Northwoods lakes and through towering forests—here are five routes you shouldn’t miss.
McNaughton Trail
This easy-riding scenic trail is an officially designated mountain biking route in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest (NHAL) and can be found about 5 miles south of Lake Tomahawk west of Wisconsin Highway 47. Bikers can park at the trailhead on Kildeer Road and explore four different trails, ranging from 1 mile to 4.3 miles in length. Riders will enjoy nice views of three Northwoods lakes: McNaughton Lake, Hawk Lake, and Helen Lake. A Wisconsin state trail pass is required for biking, and self-registration is available at the trailhead.
Raven Trail
Another designated mountain biking trail in the NHAL, the Raven Trail is located near Woodruff and offers several different routes for bikers, including a 6.8-mile mountain biking route that passes the shorelines of Hemlock Lake, Clear Lake, and Inkpot Lake. The trail system also features a bike skills course with log rides, bridges, teeter totters, and rock areas. A daily or annual state trail pass is required for biking; self-registration is available at the trailhead off Woodruff Road.
LAMBO Zip Trails
LAMBO—the Lakeland Area Mountain Biking Organization—helps maintain trails across the Northwoods of Wisconsin, including routes in Sayner, Conover, and Woodruff. In Minocqua, the group oversees the LAMBO Zip Trails, a 6.2-mile system located on the grounds of Northwoods Zip Line. The trails, which are suited for riders of all skill levels, were developed with support from Northwoods Zip Line, the town of Minocqua, and the Wisconsin DNR. The LAMBO Zip Trails are also groomed for fatbiking in the winter.
Northwood at Heal Creek Bike Park
Rhinelander’s newest trail system includes 8 miles of single-track, two-way trails that are perfect for beginning mountain bikers. The trails are located adjacent to Northwood Golf Club on U.S. Highway 8, a short drive from downtown Rhinelander.
Washburn Lake Trail
This silent-sports trail system—located about 6 miles west of Rhinelander in the town of Woodboro—is an official Oneida County Forestry trail and offers 5 miles of double-track trail and 6 miles of single-track routes. The double-track trail is suitable for novice to intermediate mountain bikers, and the single-track trail is a more extreme experience intended for advanced mountain bikers.
Learn more about biking in Oneida County and northern Wisconsin here.
