Chippewa River State Trail: Eau Claire to Caryville
The Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers converge at Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire. This is where the Old Abe State Trail ends, and the Chippewa River State Trail begins. Phoenix Park, a picturesque city park, offers a walking labyrinth, amphitheater, seasonal Saturday farm market, restrooms, and street parking. There are numerous eating establishments that cater to visitors in downtown Eau Claire. Many are not far from Phoenix Park. For fast food take-out, Egg Roll Plus Restaurant on Bellinger Street is highly recommended.
Phoenix Park is located on Riverfront Terrace. To reach the park from Interstate Highway 94, take exit number 70 north onto U.S. Highway 53 in the city of Eau Claire. After nearly 2 miles, take Business U.S. Highway 53 (N. Hastings Way). Drive for another 2 miles and turn left (west) on Main Street. After 1.3 miles, turn right (north) on S. Bartow Street, and left (west) on Riverfront Terrace after crossing the Eau Claire River.
Eau Claire is the seat of government for the county bearing the same name. Early French fur traders named the river that runs through the city “Clear Water.” The first permanent American settlers arrived in 1845, and the city was incorporated in 1872. In the late 1800s, the lumber industry helped the city prosper. An influx of sawmills developed along the waterfront to harvest the huge volume of logs that were floated down the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers. By 1916, the year that the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire was founded, the business of the city had transitioned from lumber to manufacturing.
From Phoenix Park, the paved Chippewa River State Trail heads west across the Chippewa River on a 500-foot-long trestle bridge previously used by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. The bridge was fabricated in 1876 and assembled in 1903. The trail then turns south and hugs the bank of the river as it travels toward Owen Park.
In Owen Park, the path runs next to Sarge Boyd Bandshell. This structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is popular for its municipal band concerts, weddings, plays, and other public events. The park offers a large parking lot, restrooms, and numerous recreational opportunities. A bicycle self-service station is also located there on the trail. Owen Park is an excellent alternative location in Eau Claire to start or end a bike ride.
After passing through Owen Park, a spur trail heads south across the river to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The Chippewa State Trail continues west, following the river through a beautiful forest. After a short jaunt on Menomonie Street, the trail heads back to the forested riverbank. The view from the trail is quite scenic.
The path then journeys south across the Chipewa River again, this time on a historic 1886 trestle bridge built by the Union Bridge Company. It had first serviced the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. Now trail-goers use the bridge. It’s worth taking a moment to stop and take in the view of the river.
The trail then passes through a light industrial area for a mile. After crossing Short Street, cyclists see a small building that is occasionally manned by Friends of the Chippewa River State Trail. DNR trail passes are sold here, only when the building is staffed. This building marks the end of the free section of the trail (managed by the city of Eau Claire), and the beginning of the DNR segment of the trail.
The trail passes under Interstate Highway 94, swings west, and eventually back to the south. It then moves into a peaceful forest alongside the Chippewa River. A historical marker near the trail conveys the history of Porterville. Now just a ghost town, a bustling sawmill town of 1,200 people existed there between 1866 and 1907. In one of its most productive years, sawmills there cut 45 billion feet of lumber, 20 million shingles, and 10 million laths. Now, forests cover the land where Porterville once stood, and the sounds of spinning saw blades have been replaced by birdcalls and the babbling of Taylor Creek.
Gradually, the landscape surrounding the trail changes from forested river bottoms to farmland. The last chance to see the Chippewa River on this section of trail is at a wayside park on Wisconsin State Highway 85. The park offers bicyclists a great starting or stopping point. Restrooms, parking, and picnic facilities are available there. Also, a small historical marker relates the history of nearby Silver Mine Ski Jump. A short spur trail connects the wayside park to the Chippewa River State Trail.
After the trail passes under Wisconsin State Highway 85, the quality of the pavement diminishes. Watch for frequent bumps, and occasional holes and depressions in the blacktop. It is a straight shot west on the trail as it traverses farm fields for 4.5 miles to Caryville. The trailhead there has a parking lot, information kiosk, self-registration station, and restrooms. A small grocery store (Luer’s) next to the trailhead carries a range of necessities, food, and drink. The Caryville traihead is accessed from Wisconsin State Highway 85. From Phoenix Park in Eau Claire, the trail travels 11.5 miles to Caryville.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
Founded in the mid-19th century, Caryville is a small community in Dunn County. In its heyday, it had a train station, post office, and Pony Express office. Nearby, the Caryville ferry operated across the Chippewa River from 1910 to 1964, when a bridge was finally built.
Trail last ridden and documented in July, 2020.