Wiouwash State Trail: Birnamwood to Fairmorr Road
The northern section of the Wiouwash State Trail in Shawano County is still in development. Only fragments of the trail are currently open from Birnamwood northward to Aniwa. Starting a ride in Birnamwood and heading south is the best option for an extended ride.
The Birnamwood trailhead has no other facilities than a trail sign and self-registration station. It is on the south side of County Highway N within the village limits. Pull-out parking on the side of the road is available. By car from U.S. Highway 45, turn west toward Birnamwood on the county road, and drive 175 yards to the trailhead.
Named for “Birnam Wood,” a Scottish town mentioned in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this small village has at least one gas station and convenient store, and a few restaurants. Before starting a ride, cyclists may want to indulge in a baked treat from Linda’s Town and Country Bakery. Chet and Emil’s is a popular local restaurant that has been in business since 1946, renowned for its outstanding broasted chicken. Both businesses on the main street are only a few blocks from the trailhead.
Back at the trailhead, the conditions of the path are poor. The crushed stone surface has grown over with grass and weeds. Two lanes of the trail are hardly visible. It is possible to ride the trail with a standard bicycle, but rough surface conditions throughout the northern section make a slightly jarring ride. Hybrid or mountain bikes may work best on this trail.
The trail departs Birnamwood going south and enters a forest. Railroad Creek meanders nearby until Eland, crossing the trail 10 times. From Birnamwood, it is about 4 miles to the village of Eland. Here, the Wiouwash State Trail joins the Mountain-Bay State Trail.
Originally called Eland Junction when platted by the railroad in 1888, Eland was the intersection of two railways: the Chicago and Northwestern Railway; and the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway. The latter built a depot there in 1888. In 1893, they merged, and the Chicago and Northwestern Railway gained control of both routes.
Today, both former railroad routes through Eland are recreational trails. The Mountain Bay State Trail follows the Chicago and Northwestern Railway. The Wiouwash State Trail traces the path of the old Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway. A restored depot in Eland serves as a local museum, and historical markers are found along the trail and in the village.
Vehicle parking for the two trails and depot museum is located on Wheeler Avenue. Covered picnic tables and a stationary bicycle tire pump are also found there. Eland is a small community, with one tavern and a community park. By car, it may be reached by turning west onto County Highway 00 (Cedar Street) from U.S. Highway 45.
The conjoined trails go south out of Eland after crossing Cedar Street. After a short distance, cyclists notice a red barn to the west featuring a large quilt pattern graphic. Custom-designed quilt squares are found on 360 barns in Shawano Country. Entitled “Susie’s Choice”, this quilt design is on Wheeler Avenue on the barn of Rich and Susan Onesti.
After 0.8 mile, the two trails separate. An information kiosk and covered picnic table are at this junction. The rugged Wiouwash State Trail diverges south toward Wittenberg. For nearly a mile it runs by a marsh. After wet weather, the trail here may become soaked and filled with puddles. After passing a pond to the west, the trail enters a thick forest.
Less than a mile further, the trail emerges onto Hemlock Road. The bike route follows Hemlock Road to the left (east), and then turns right (south) on Hummingbird Road. There is slightly over half a mile of road biking before the trail begins again on the left (east) side of Hummingbird Road. The path then enters into a forest. After 350 yards, it meets Wisconsin State Highway 29. This highway has four-lanes and often very busy. Cyclists should use extreme caution when crossing it.
After 0.6 mile, the trail passes under County Highway Q and enters Wittenberg. Washington Park is across from where the trail emerges onto Howard Street. It has a large playground, restrooms, covered picnic shelters, and a bandshell. It serves well as a trailhead.
Washington Park is accessed by car from Wisconsin State Highway 29 and U.S. Highway 45. From the intersection of these highways on the north side of Wittenberg, drive south into town on N. Genesee Street. Turn right (west) on County Highway Q (Grand Avenue), and left (south) on S. Webb Street. It is less than a mile from the highway to the park.
Wittenberg was named after a city in Germany. Reverend E.J. Homme founded the village in 1879. He was instrumental in establishing a home for the aged and orphaned, which is still active today. Homme petitioned the Milwaukee, Lake Shore, and Western Railway to build a railway station in Wittenberg. The railroad stop helped increase settlement in the area.
In 1886, a residential school for Native American children was built in Wittenberg by the Norwegian Evangelical Church of America. Also known as the Bethany Indian Mission, the children who attended were removed from their families by the federal government and placed in the school. The mission’s intention was to assimilate Native American children to white American culture and convert them to Christianity. At times, the school had over a hundred students from different Native American nations in Wisconsin. The school was sold to the federal government in 1910 and closed in 1917. A newly formed mission there continued to proselytize and educate Native American children until 1955.
Despite its remote location in the forests of northern Wisconsin, seven different schools operated in Wittenberg during the first two decades of the 20th century. Today, visitors will notice 18 murals throughout the village that reflect Wittenberg’s history and have helped revitalize its downtown. One mural near Washington Park depicts former days when the Chicago and Northwestern Railway ran through the village.
Wittenberg has gas stations and convenient stores, restaurants, and a hotel. It is the home of Nueske’s Meats. This meat market is nationally renowned for its smoked meats. It is worth a trip to their retail store on E. Grande Avenue.
Back on the Wiouwash State Trail, the bike route follows Howard Street southeast through Wittenberg. After turning left (east) onto E. Reed Street and biking 175 yards, the trail resumes on the right (south) side of the road. On the north side of E. Reed Street is Pond Park, which has a covered picnic shelter, restrooms, and view of the village’s pond. This location and Washington Park serve well as trailheads.
After Wittenberg, the trail runs through a large forest for 3.5 miles. Tiger Creek runs aside the trail, and crosses it numerous times. This section is tranquil and secluded, with very few trail-goers. Wild turkeys and various songbirds may be seen along the route, and white-tail deer and other wildlife sometimes appear.
The trail crosses Wisconsin State Highway 153 and returns to the forest alongside Tiger Creek. After a mile, the traffic from U.S. Highway 45 is heard. Two miles after crossing Wisconsin State Highway 153, the trail emerges onto a turnaround on Fairmorr Road. It is 14 miles mostly downhill on the Wiouwash State Trail from the trailhead in Birnamwood to the turnaround on Fairmorr Road.
Although no facilities are available there, the turnaround on Fairmorr Road may be used as a trailhead. It is reached by turning south onto Wittmorr Road from U.S. Highway 45 three miles north of Tigerton, and then turning left (east) onto Fairmorr Road.
At the turnaround, a confusing sign suggests that the bicycle trail continues south into the forest, but it does not. The trail ends at the turnaround. The poorly placed sign alludes to a bike route on town and county roads that leads to Tigerton. The bicycle route goes back west on Fairmoor Road, south on Malueg Road, east on Laars Road to County Road M, and into Tigerton. This bike route is 4.5 miles long on roads that have no bike lanes, narrow shoulders, and several large blind hills. If cyclists choose to bike this section, bright riding gear as well as front and rear lights are recommended.
About 350 yards of paved trail runs through Tigerton beginning at Ash and Birch Streets. The path turns to dirt and seems to end as it approaches U.S. Highway 45. However, it begins again at the intersection of Spauding Street and Zion Road, and heads south toward the community of Split Rock.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
The crushed limestone trail goes south along U.S. Highway 45 for nearly 2 miles. As the trail approaches Split Rock, it becomes fragmented by sections of private property. No trespassing signs are posted that prevent trail-goers from continuing their ride. The trail currently terminates a short distance southeast of Split Rock, but cyclists are not able to bike to that location from Tigerton due to sections of private land along the route.
Trail last ridden and documented in September, 2021.