Spring Green Area Offers Spectacular Fall Scenery, Biking, and Even Some Flat Areas

Spring Green offers striking fall scenery and routes for cyclists. Long a favorite for Kevin and me, the Spring Green area provides a variety of scenery. The broad Wisconsin River Valley was carved out by the melting glacial waters from the last glacier despite the glacier not existing in the Driftless Area. Wide flood plains show off the scenic bluffs.

Kevin and I returned once again recently to savor the beauty that stretches on both sides of the Wisconsin River Valley. Despite serious hills, many relatively flat routes can be enjoyed. The roads are all paved and offer quiet backroad experiences.

For the cyclist looking for a serious challenge, we found the Cycle Southwest Wisconsin brochure, compiled by the Wisconsin Extension Service and Travel Wisconsin Tourism, which introduced us to this area’s biking adventures. Over the years, Kevin and I explored the Taliesin Loop, the State Park Loop, the Farview Loop, and the Mill Creek Loop, all of which provide a mix of flats, rolling hills, and somewhat challenging grades.

However, we have also noticed where long, flatter sections can provide good riding. Some days we just long for a good flat route.

All streets in the town of Spring Green are flat as are the country roads to the north and east of town. For example, Jones Road is a flat road with the northern bluffs as a scenic backdrop to the Spring Green Sand Prairie Preserve, complete with cacti, ornate box turtles, and a goat prairie, all elements of the Driftless Region prairies.

Northwest of Spring Green, all roads, like County G and JJ leading towards Lone Rock, are flat as a pancake. North and south crossroads like Big Hollow, Dyke, Porter, and County Line can provide shortcuts if a rider doesn’t care to go the seven miles to Lone Rock.  While returning to Spring Green via Kennedy Road, investigate the Lower Wisconsin Waterway and Bakken’s Pond State Natural Area to take a break. Finally, bike down Shiftlet\\ Road on the southwest side of Spring Green to the Wisconsin Riverside Resort with a good restaurant, awesome river views, and camping. Refer to Google Maps for specific road details.

South of the Wisconsin River along Highway 23, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin home, farm, and former architectural school dominate the countryside. A newly paved mile-long flat trail from the Taliesin parking lot to County Road T and the first several miles of T provide a smooth flat ride. Stop in to see the cemetery which includes Wright’s original gravesite. Also, southwest of Spring Green on Highway 23, Country Road C to the town of Clyde offers ten miles of flat terrain other than the first hill past the Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin home. The Lower Wyoming Valley road intersects County C and also radiates with scenic beauty, flat terrain, farms, and ranches.

East of Spring Green in the Helena Road area to the Arena Boat Landing is another long stretch of flat biking. Often sandhill cranes, once a rarity but whose populations have rebounded, can be seen in the fields. County Roads H, T and K south of Highway 14 have long relatively flat sections. The Hyde Mill, a historic waterfall and mill building, is a fun stop at the junction of H, T, and Mill Roads.

All routes south of the Wisconsin River can be found at the link above. Flat riding can be found between and around the beautiful hills of Spring Green, Wisconsin.