Mountain Bay State Trail: Weston to Norrie Lake

The Mountain Bay State Trail through Marathon County from Weston to Norrie Lake is in excellent condition. After leaving suburban Wausau, the trail winds through forests and tamarack lowlands for 14.8 miles toward the community of Norrie. Several interpretive markers along the trail convey natural and human history. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail shares the path for 1.5 miles near the village of Hatley.

The trail begins in the village of Weston, near Wausau. The trailhead there is well-equipped. It has a large parking lot, covered picnic shelter, restrooms, information center and kiosk, bike racks, park benches, and bicycle self-service station.

The trailhead is at the north end of Municipal Street. From Wisconsin State Highway 29, turn north onto County Highway X (Camp Phillips Road) and drive 0.7 mile to the intersection with Scofield Avenue. Turn right (east) and drive 1 mile to Municipal Street. Turn left (north) again, heading 225 yards to the parking lot.

Wausau serves as a home base for out-of-town trail-goers. It has national hotel chains and a range of restaurants. One popular longtime restaurant is “2510.” Their deep-fried cheese curds are delicious, and they also have high-quality soups, delicious salads, and steaks. They offer sit-down dining as well as a separate deli-bakery entrance for faster food. Another local establishment, Red Eye Brewing features homemade pizza, sandwiches, and craft beer.

The Ojibwe nation occupied the area of Wausau during the time of European contact. Fur traders capitalized on the large number of fur-bearing animals there. The Wisconsin River later drew American settlers to the area during the mid-19th century. Originally known as “Big Bull Falls,” Wausau became a center in the lumbering industry. The arrival of the railroad in 1874 brought more settlers and additional industry. Despite the end of lumbering in the 1900s, the city flourished. The paper industry and insurance business are still mainstays in Wausau’s economy.

Back on the Mountain Bay State Trail, the first 3.5 miles traverse a commercial and light industrial district, then residential neighborhoods. Schofield Avenue and Ringle Avenue run adjacent to the trail. After 0.8 mile, where the trail crosses Ryan Street, a paved trail begins paralleling the crushed limestone path. Cyclists may want to use this smoother route, which runs 1.6 miles until the intersection with County Highway J.

The trail passes a picturesque rest area by the Eau Claire River, 1.3 miles east of County Highway J. The rest area features a hand pump water well, bicycle rack, portable toilet, and interpretive marker. A trail leads down the high bank to picnic tables set by the swiftly flowing river. Before the time of railroads, the Eau Claire River was once used to transport logs from Langlade County forests down to sawmills in the Wausau area.

Just under 3 miles from the Eau Claire River rest stop, the trail crosses County Highway Q and passes through Ringle. An interpretive marker on the trail highlights a local company that produced “Ringle Red Brick” from the 1870s to the 1950s.

The trailhead in Ringle may be reached by car from Wisconsin State Highway 29. Turn north at its intersection with County Highway Q and drive a half mile. Then turn left (west) on Abt Road. The parking lot is across the road from the town hall and fire station. This trailhead also has an information kiosk and self-registration station.

After passing 1.8 miles through thick forests, a second trailhead emerges. It has a parking lot, portable toilet, interpretive display, bike racks and self-service station, and picnic tables. An interpretive marker conveys how ancient glaciers deposited boulders and stones in what would become eastern Marathon and western Shawano Counties.

The trailhead also services mountain trail bikers, who use a series of dirt paths there. To access the parking lot by car, turn north from Wisconsin State Highway 29 at the entrance to the Marathon County landfill. It is 1.6 miles east of the junction with County Highway Q.

It is 8.4 miles from the Weston trailhead to the second trailhead in Ringle. The trail’s elevation rises in this section, making for a slow climb to Ringle. But from there to Hatley, cyclists enjoy a leisurely downhill ride. The path drops nearly 100 feet over 2.5 miles as it travels through forests and meadows.

After Ringle, trail-goers may notice odors from the county landfill north of the trail. When the smell dissipates, cyclists are left with the sights, smells, and sounds of the Northwoods forest. In this section, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail joins the Mountain Bay State Trail from the north. The hiking path follows the route for 1.5 miles to Hatley, where it turns south. Cyclists should use good trail etiquette when passing hikers.

The Mountain Bay State Trail crosses the Plover River before arriving in Hatley. Trail-goers may want to tarry on the bridge over this river that is known for kayaking and trout fishing. Named after a village in Quebec, Hatley was settled by loggers in the late 1800s. A trailhead is located off Curtis Avenue next to an information kiosk, picnic table, and park bench. Vehicle parking is available in the nearby library parking lot.

To reach the trailhead and parking lot from Wisconsin State Highway 29, exit on County Highway Y (Curtis Avenue) and drive north into Hatley for 0.6 mile. The village has a gas station and convenience store, a fast food restaurant next to an ice cream counter, and a long-standing Tex-Mex restaurant named Freddy’s.

After biking 1.5 mile east of Hatley through forests, the landscape opens up to a large tamarack bog. This swampy marsh extends nearly 2.5 miles to Norrie Lake, and includes a 0.3 mile boardwalk. Two interpretive markers in this section convey information about railroad history and wetland conservation.

Arriving in the town of Norrie, a small park comes into view next to a beautiful lake. The park at Norrie Lake is frequently visited by local residents on warm summer weekends. The area around the lake is undeveloped and quiet. The lake waters have a unique deep red tint due to the surrounding tamarack swamps. The park has a swimming beach, parking lot, pit toilet, picnic tables, and benches. Since the Mountain Bay Trail passes through the park, it serves as a perfect trailhead.

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

The town of Norrie is in Marathon County. It began as a logging town in the late 1800s, and interpretive markers at the park convey its history. Large stands of white pine attracted loggers. After the forests were depleted, settlers began farming the open land.

Norrie Lake is 3 miles off Wisconsin State Highway 29. Exit the highway onto County Highway D in Marathon County and drive north for 2.9 miles. Turn left (west) on Norrie Road and drive 0.2 mile to the town park.

Trail last ridden and documented in July, 2021.