Sports Complex Loop

Janesville’s Sports Complex Loop offers a variety of scenery in its 5.4 mile circle route around the southwest side of the city. The paved trail makes for an enjoyable and scenic ride. However, there are a few hills that may prove challenging to casual cyclists. Regardless of the direction taken, there is at least one hill to climb.

There are two potential trailheads to use when biking the Sports Complex Loop. As the name suggests, one is the Janesville Youth Sports Complex at 100 S. Wuthering Hills Drive. This sports park has a large parking lot, restrooms, picnic tables, and benches.

The other trailhead is at Palmer Park. It has two sets of parking lots and restrooms. One is near the wading pool at 2400 Palmer Drive. Playgrounds, picnic tables, and park benches are found throughout the park. Another set is located by the park’s tennis courts on Mohawk Road. Even if not serving as a trailhead, it is worth a stop in the scenic park.

^{This covered shelter is located at one of the trail junctions.}

The trail that runs through Palmer Park is not actually the Sports Complex Loop. It is the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. This trail is used to complete the circle route of the Sports Complex Loop. This section of the trail travels next to Spring Brook and is very scenic.

From either parking lot in Palmer Park, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail goes north 0.6 mile through a forest before passing under Interstate Highways 39-90 next to Spring Brook. After 350 yards, it crosses Ruger Avenue. The trail divides here. One route crosses the intersection at street level, and the other passes under the bridge aside Spring Brook.

^{Its scenic riding through Schneider Farm Park alongside Blackhawk Creek.}

From Ruger Avenue, the trail winds along the brook through forests for a half mile before dividing. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail goes up the hill to the left (north), and the Sports Complex Loop turns right (east). There is a covered park bench at this junction. On the Sports Complex Loop, the path next passes through a tunnel under Wright Avenue, next to Blackhawk Creek. A sign warns of slippery conditions when the tunnel’s surface is wet.

_{There are two large hills on the trail, one to go up and one to go down.}

For the next 0.7 mile, the Sports Complex Loop meanders through forest and prairie, with occasional benches found along the trail. This is Schneider Farm Park, one of Janesville’s newest parks. It has a restore a native prairie, and is a delight to bike through.

The trail then crosses Ruger Avenue and Wuthering Hills Drive. Now on the northeast corner, a spur trail leads alongside Ruger Avenue and Optimist Community Park to a nearby neighborhood. Optimist Community Park has a small picnic shelter and athletic fields.

^{The Sports Complex Loop passes is well-marked with trail signs.}

Continuing south on the east side of Wuthering Hills Drive, the Sports Complex Loop Trail climbs a 40-foot high hill to reach the Janesville Youth Sports Complex. Cyclists may go south on the trail next to the city street, or take a 1.2 mile loop east through the complex. The loop returns to the main trail on the south side of the complex. Restrooms are located on the west side of Wuthering Hills Drive.

For the next half mile, the trail heads south on Wuthering Hills Drive through an industrial park to reach Wisconsin State Highway 11 (E. Racine Street). There, the path turns right (west), and runs parallel to the highway on its north side for another half mile. After crossing to the south side of the four-lane highway at Wright Road, the trail continues west past the campus of SSM Health-St. Mary’s Hospital. A half mile from the junction with Wright Road, the path reaches Interstate Highways 39-90. It continues alongside E. Racine Street as it passes through two roundabouts and bridges the interstate highways.

^{Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.}

It’s less than a mile downhill to the trail’s intersection with Palmer Drive and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The trail descends over 60 feet in 0.4 mile. At the bottom of the hill, the Sports Complex Loop ends. Turning right (north) across Palmer Drive on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail for 350 yards brings cyclists back to the parking lot at Palmer Park wading pool. The parking lot by the tennis courts is a little farther north.

A ride on the Sports Complex Loop in Janesville is 5.4 miles long. The short circular route gives trail-goers the chance to further explore parts of the city and access Schneider Farm Park, Optimist Community Park, and Janesville Youth Sports Complex. Additionally, the trail offers a scenic excursion along Spring Brook and Blackhawk Creek.

Trail last ridden and documented in October, 2021.

Sports Complex Loop

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