Wiouwash State Trail: Hortonville to Larsen
The Wiouwash State Trail heads south from Hortonville to the community of Larsen. This section of the trail is 9.3 miles long. It has a level grade with a crushed limestone surface. The trail is in good condition, and offers beautiful views of the scenic countryside. Much of the trail is surrounded by a forested corridor of paper birch and quaking aspen. In other areas, the landscape opens up to meadows of native tallgrasses and wildflowers, or low wetlands. With this diversity of natural ecosystems, bird and wildlife sightings are common.
The Outagamie County trailhead is on the south side of Hortonville, off Lakeview Avenue. The trailhead contains only a parking lot, with no other facilities. To reach the trailhead from Wisconsin State Highway 15 (Main Street) in downtown Hortonville, go south on County Highway M (S. Nash Street) for 0.2 mile. Turn left (east) onto Lake Shore Drive, and then left (south) on Lakeview Avenue. Drive one half mile through residential neighborhoods. Turn right (west) onto the road marked with a Wiouwash State Trail sign.
Hortonville has facilities to meet the needs of visiting cyclists, including gas stations and fast food restaurants. Dining enthusiasts may want to visit Black Otter Supper Club. This family-operated restaurant has been in business since 1972. They offer typical supper club fare, including a Friday night fish fry, and highlight a 160-oz cut of prime rib.
Hortonville’s start came in 1848, when Alonzo Horton purchased 1,500 acres. He settled on Black Otter Creek, damming it to create Black Otter Lake. A year later Horton platted a community, then left for the California Gold Rush. By 1894, the settlement had substantially grown and incorporated as a village.
Back at the Wiouwash State Trail, the path leaves the trailhead and heads south through a forest. Trees give way to marshes after 0.3 mile, and the trail crosses Black Otter Creek. Continuing through wetlands, the path crosses the creek again in the next half mile.
A short distance after crossing Black Otter Creek the second time, the scenery changes again. The trail re-enters another forest, and journeys through it for nearly a mile before meeting Spring Road. On the south side of Spring Road is a trailhead. There are no facilities there except a parking lot and a bench.
After another mile of biking through forests, the trail intersects School Road. Another mile of easy peddling brings cyclists to Wisconsin State Highway 96 and the community of Medina. On the south side of the road is a trailhead parking area with a portable toilet.
Medina was first named Young’s Corner after Samuel Young’s son, William. Young and his offspring, along with Zebediah and Lewis Hyde, and Alva McCrary first settled in the area in 1848. The name was changed to Medina soon after, named after Medina, Ohio.
From Medina, the Wiouwash State Trail continues south for one mile and then intersects Hunters Road. Forests give way to farm fields, with a corridor of bushes and trees still lining the trail. A half mile south of Hunter Road, the landscape changes once again.
The trail enters the Rat River Wildlife Area. It is a 4,000-acre state-owned conservation area, featuring marshy wetlands and sedge meadows. It is filled with canary grass and cattails. After one mile of biking though open land, the trail bridges the slow-flowing Rat River. It is a perfect place to pause and look for songbirds, waterfowl, beaver, and muskrat.
On the north side of the Rat River Wildlife Area, the trail departs Outagamie County and enters Winnebago County. Signs indicate the transition, next to a picnic table. On the south side of the wetland, the trail crosses railroad tracks. The tracks run diagonal to the path, so cyclists should exercise caution when crossing them. To prevent bike tires from getting caught on the grooves, cross perpendicularly. Also, these tracks are used frequently by fast-moving trains. Always check both ways before crossing.
The Medina Junction trailhead is located just south of the railroad crossing. A parking lot with benches is found along the north and south side of Medina Junction Road. It is 6.7 miles from the trailhead in Hortonville to Medina Junction.
The next trailhead is 1.3 miles south at Fairview Road. In this segment, the trail cuts through light forest, farmland, and marshes. About 350 yards south of the parking lot, the Wiouwash State Trail meets U.S. Highway 10 and the Friendship State Trail.
The Friendship State Trail runs west to east for 14 miles next to U.S. Highway 10. At the junction of the two trails, there are picnic tables, park benches, and an information kiosk. The Wiouwash State Trail continues south through a tunnel under the highway.
The trail journeys 0.8 mile from U.S. Highway 10 to County Highway II. After crossing the county road, the path skirts a large asphalt company, where piles of gravel are seen to the west. After the asphalt company, the Wiouwash State Trail divides.
The main trail turns east to bypass Larsen. Heading straight takes cyclists to Trailhead Park in the community of Larsen. Signs and directional markers make the options clear.
Trailhead Park in Larsen has a parking lot, playground, athletic field, picnic tables, and park benches. A vending machine and restrooms are next to the park at the Clayton Town Hall and Fire Station. The park is accessed from U.S. Highway 45 by exiting onto County Road II/M and driving east for 2.7 miles. The county road passes through Winchester along the way. Turn right (south) onto County Road T and drive for 0.3 mile. Turn left (east) into the parking lot by the town hall and drive to the back where the park is located.
The Wiouwash State Trail between Hortonville and Larsen is a pleasant, scenic ride enjoyed by cyclists and hikers as well as horseback riders. Bikers must yield to horseback riders. There may be horse droppings on the trail. Signs along the trail inform cyclists that the law requires them to reduce speed to 10 miles per hour when passing pedestrians.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
Deer and wild turkey are frequently seen from the trail. Park benches are located throughout the path, and numerous trailheads provide easy access. The trail is well-signed, with designed trail markers indicating the distance to various locations.
Trail last ridden and documented in September, 2021.