Biking
Kinnickinnic State Park
Kinnickinnic State Park offers over 10 miles of single-track mountain biking trails. The mountain bike trailhead is south of the Kinnickinnic River, located off 770th Ave. Please observe trailhead signage and do not ride on closed trails.
Special events held on the bike trails require a permit. For more information, see: Holding special events on DNR lands.
TRAIL COLOR DESIGNATION
Green - Easy beginner-level trail. Trail width is 36 inches or more with 5% or less grade.
Blue - A more difficult trail for intermediate riders. Trail width is 24 inches or more with grades up to 10-15%. Some unavoidable obstacles.
Black - Very difficult trail for experienced riders. Trail width is 12 inches or more with sections exceeding 15% grade. The tread surface is variable, with unavoidable obstacles and jumps.
Green Trails
PUFFBALL TRAIL (GREEN, 2.9 MILES)
This curving single-track trail can be accessed from the Hunter’s East Parking lot off 770th Avenue. The trail is relatively easy and winds through prairies, pine plantations and open hardwood forests. It follows the contours of the Kinnickinnic bluff and provides scenic views of the Kinnickinnic River valley. The trail features several benches to enjoy the landscape.
Blue Trails
Angel Wing (Blue, 0.7 Miles)
This trail serves as a fun connector to Slippery Jack and the other trails in the eastern portion of the system. The return portion to Dryad’s Saddle includes a tight switchback climb that will be sure to assess your technical skills.
Crimini (Blue, 0.7 Miles)
Crimini is a short, fun flow trail that passes through an area of the park that was harvested for aspen trees. It is home to “the Lost Pyramid of Crimini,” a seven-foot-high mound of dirt that you can ride over. Access to this trail is from either Skullcap or Slippery Jack.
DRYAD’S SADDLE (BLUE, 1.4 MILES)
This curvy single-track begins where the Lost Morel turns up the valley. Dryad’s Saddle climbs the opposite side through a wooded hillside, topping out in an open meadow before dropping through a series of bermed switchbacks into the valley and rejoining the Lost Morel trail.
LOST MOREL TRAIL (BLUE, 1.6 MILES)
The Lost Morel can be reached from the Puffball Trail. The trail originates in an upland forest and quickly drops into a deep valley. This single-track trail winds its way to the valley bottom before beginning the challenging climb up the same side of the valley, ending back on the Puffball Trail.
Slippery Jack (Blue, 1.9 Miles)
Experience the perfect blend of drops, jumps and rollers on this fast-flowing single track. After a short climb, this trail winds through a variety of terrain along the east prairie of the park, dipping in and out of shallow ravines. It also supplies access to Skullcap and Crimini trails.
Black Trails
EMS (Black, 0.1 Miles)
EMS is the only trail in the network that is not named after a mushroom. Its primary purpose is to allow equipment access to the eastern half of the trail system. However, it makes a great alternate route if you want to test your legs on a curvy uphill climb.
MAITAKI MAYHEM (BLACK, 0.2 MILES)
This short alternate trail gives bikers the option to drop off the easy flow of the Puffball Trail into the fun and fast Maitaki Mayhem.
Skullcap (Black, 1.5 Miles)
Skullcap is rated most difficult. It starts with a rock drop into a roller-coaster downhill, then proceeds past a scenic rock bluff and climbs to the top of the second downhill. The trail then meanders along the south ridge of the Kinnickinnic river valley before heading back to Slippery Jack or Crimini. Along the way, you will encounter a very steep and short climb that adds to the 225 feet of total elevation gain for this trail.
The Big Loop (All, 10 Miles)
Starting at the trailhead, the following is the suggested route to ride all 10 miles of trail at Kinnickinnic State Park: Puffball, Lost Morel, Dryad’s Saddle, Angel Wing, Slippery Jack, Skullcap, Crimini, Slippery Jack, Angel Wing, Dryad’s Saddle, Lost Morel, Puffball and back to the trailhead and parking lot.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Mountain bike trails at Willow River and Kinnickinnic state parks only exist through the efforts of dedicated volunteers. Volunteers build and maintain trails, construct features, assist with outreachand more. For more information, or to volunteer, please see the Willow Kinni Bike Club webpage [exit DNR].