Whitewater City Trails

Whitewater is known for its popular state university. Less well known is the fact that municipal leaders are hoping to build a bike-friendly community. A 20-year plan has been developed for a bikeway network throughout the city. Proposals call for on-street bike lanes, expansion of current trails, and upgraded intersections for safer trail crossings.

Whitewater currently has about 7 miles of bike trails. They travel throughout the city, connect parks, link outlying neighborhoods, and tie into the university campus. Whitewater’s Starin Park has its own small trail system. A suggested scenic 6-mile route travels throughout the city and several of its parks, with some backtracking.

This route begins at Minneiska Park, which has a parking area and playground. To reach the park from U.S. Highway 12, turn south on County Highway P at the traffic lights. Drive 0.2 miles and turn right (west) onto Willis Ray Road. Go 1.4 miles. Then turn right (north) onto Clover Valley Road. Proceed 0.3 mi. Turn right (east) onto Parkside Drive and go 0.3 mile to Tanner Way. Turn right (south) and drive to the parking area at the end of the street.

The paved trail begins at the end of Tanner Way and heads east through an open area. A park bench and garbage can are found where the path turns left (north). The trail then meanders north 0.6 mile to Tripp Lake Park. The landscape is picturesque as the trail runs past homes and into a forest, before arriving at the park.

At Tripp Lake Park near a boat ramp, the trail crosses a parking lot. This lot could also serve as a trailhead. It is located on Colburn Lane off Wisconsin Street. The boat ramp presents a beautiful view of 121-acre Tripp Lake. The lake and park are named after Dr. James and Rosepha Trippe, who founded Whitewater in 1839. The park sits on a high hill and has drinking water, restrooms, a playground, picnic area, shelter, grills, and a boat ramp.

From the boat landing, the trail continues 350 yards to another parking area. It then crosses a wooden bridge, over a dam maintaining Tripp Lake. A pleasant view of the lake and spillway is seen from the bridge. After passing a gazebo, the path heads over a second bridge. There’s a significant gap between the pavement and bridge floor, and cyclists should use caution here. Another dam with cascading water is visible from the second bridge.

From the second bridge, it is 450 feet to Wisconsin Street. Families with young children may consider turning around at Wisconsin Street. It is a 2.2 mile trip from Minneiska Park, through Tripp Lake Park to Wisconsin Street and back. The trail is paved, level, and doesn’t cross any roads. This route includes restrooms, two playgrounds, and other amenities.

For bikers completing the full 6-mile journey, the route continues north in bike lanes on Wisconsin Street for 0.2 mile. It then meets Main Street. The most challenging part of the entire route is biking on Main Street (or the adjacent sidewalk). The route turns left onto Main Street, crosses railroad tracks, and travels west 175 yards. The path resumes on the north side of the street, so trail-goers must cross busy Main Street in this section.

The paved path leads north 125 yards to North Street. Trail-goers then turn left (west), cross Whitewater Creek, and go 125 feet to Brewery Hill Park. The path resumes, heading right (north) into a forest. Brewery Hill Park takes its name from an old brewery established in 1859 by George Strain. Today the park provides drinking water, a picnic area, and a ramp structure for skateboarding.

Passing the skate park, the trail journeys for 0.7 mile through a shaded forest. It bridges Whitewater Creek twice, crosses Starin Road, and cuts through Ray Trost Nature Preserve. This 2-acre preserve has a reflection garden and memorial benches honoring Sergeant Ray Trost, a Whitewater police officer.

At the intersection of Fremont Street, trail-goers have a choice. They may continue west across the street to end their trek in Starin Park. Or they may follow the paved trail to the right (north) to tour another part of the city. The route returns to Starin Park. This northern jaunt and return is approximately 2.5 miles.

The paved trail leading north begins on the west side of Fremont Street near UW-Whitewater’s parking lot #20. It passes the scenic meadows, prairies, and hiking trails of Whitewater Nature Preserve. After a half mile, it turns left (west) and travels next to Burr Oak Trail. After 350 yards, it crosses this road and runs behind homes before returning to Bur Oak Trail, only to veer off again further to the right (north).

The path encircles the neighborhood and concludes at the junction of County Highway O and Burr Oak Trail. It’s a short distance south on Burr Oak Trail to where the path resumes. Once again, it encircles the neighborhood and eventually rejoins the same trail that was already ridden. Essentially, the route makes a figure 8 through the neighborhood. It’s one mile back to the path’s entrance into Starin Park.

Established in 1888, Starin Park is one of the oldest parks in Wisconsin. It provided housing for veterans during and after World War II and is home to the city’s Veterans War Memorial. The state’s second oldest operating water tower, built in 1889, still sits on the hilltop. The park has restrooms, a water refilling station, picnic area, shelters, grills, and a playground. It also houses Treyton’s Field of Dreams, a baseball diamond with a synthetic turf infield.

The trail enters Starin Park through a parking lot and continues west past the  Field of Dreams. The path then divides. The trail to the left (south) leads to the main parking lot. Cyclists looking for a challenging climb should continue straight, as this path climbs a large hill and encircles the water tower. The ride is concluded by descending the hill on the same path and turning right (south) to reach the parking lot.

Starin Park’s main parking lot at on Starin Road. It is one mile east of Wisconsin State Highway 59. To reach the park by car from U.S. Business Highway 12 (Main Street), turn north on Franklin Street and drive 0.3 mile. Turn right (east) on Starin Road and drive 300 feet to the park entrance on the north side of the street.

The city of Whitewater stands today on lands first inhabited by Native Americans. Members of the Potawatomi Nation referred to the creek here as “Minneiska.” Meaning “white water,” the name was inspired by the creek bed’s white sands.

In the late 1830s, Yankee and European settlers began arriving. Whitewater incorporated as a village in 1858, and as a city in 1885. UW-Whitewater was founded in 1868 as a normal school to train teachers. Today, the university is a respected institution offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs.

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

Whitewater has many amenities for locals and visitors, with hotels, restaurants, and fast food. Beer connoisseurs may be interested in Second Salem Brewing Company, which sits just 250 feet off the bike route on Main Street. Its name comes from the city’s association in the early 1900s with witch seances at the Starin Park water tower and other unworldly occurrences at nearby Cravath Lake. The brewery features a variety of beers, and their food menu includes appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, and pasta.

Trail last ridden and documented in September, 2024.