Tomah Recreation Trail
A bicycle ride through Tomah provides delightful views with a circular route on the Tomah Recreation Trail and city streets. The trail offers many beautiful water views including those of Lake Tomah, the South Fork of the Lemonweir River, and Council Creek. The popular trail also passes through Winnebago Park. Most of the journey is on the paved trail, and city streets account for 2.7 miles of the 5.7-mile route.
Located in Monroe County, the city of Tomah was founded in 1856 by Robert Gillett who came to the area from Cleveland. Tomah was named after the legendary Menominee chieftain Thomas Carron. Known as “Tomah,” he was born in Green Bay in 1752. As chief of the Menominee, he refused to join the British in fighting Americans during the Revolutionary War. In the War of 1812, Tomah led the Menominee in aiding the British in several battles. Tomah died several years later in 1817.
The name “Tomah” was chosen for the new settlement based on the unconfirmed belief that he had once held a tribal gathering here between members of the Menomonee and Ho-Chunk Nations. The area was acclaimed for its vast forests and lumber, becoming a railroad hub. In later years its cranberry market developed. Tomah was incorporated into a village in 1858 and became a city in 1882.
A jarring element of Tomah’s past was the operation of a federally funded “Indian School.” One of the most significant residential schools in Wisconsin, its curriculum was designed to assimilate students into white American society. From as far away as North Dakota and Oklahoma, children were taken away from their families and sent to this school. The aim was to replace indigenous ways of life with Christianity, the English language, and white American cultural practices. The school ran from 1893 to 1941, and people are still dealing with its traumatic and long-lasting impact.
Today Tomah is located at the convergence of Interstate Highways 90 and 94. For cyclists, Winnebago Park makes a good place to start and end a bicycle ride. The park is surrounded by Lake Tomah and scenic, often peaceful views. Facilities include public restrooms, a picnic area, open-air picnic pavilions, an enclosed shelter with fireplace, fitness equipment, an extensive playground, an accessible fishing pier, volleyball courts, basketball court, horseshoe pits, baseball diamond and a double boat ramp on Lake Tomah.
By car, the quickest and easiest way to Winnebago Park from Interstate Highway 90 is to take exit 41. Drive north into Tomah on Wisconsin State Highway 131 for 1.2 miles. Turn left (west) on Juneau Street and proceed 0.7 mile. Turn right (north) on Lakeside Drive and drive 0.3 mile. The park entrance is at the intersection with Brandon Street, with the main parking lot slightly further north.
Cyclists may access the Tomah Recreation Trail from the parking lot. Proceeding to the right (north), takes trail-goers through the park and along the shores of Lake Tomah for 0.3 mile. Stunning lake views continue as the trail leaves the park and travels along the lake’s east shore for a half mile. The path passes homes and a senior care facility, then travels along Butts Avenue until crossing the street.
The trail in this half-mile section resembles a sidewalk. The surface is concrete, and the width is narrow. Cyclists should use caution and yield to pedestrians. The remaining sections of the Tomah Recreation Trail, including in Winnebago park, are paved with asphalt and of standard width. The trail is generally smooth, with few elevation changes. Park benches have been placed throughout the trail.
The Tomah Recreation Trail departs the shoreline of Lake Tomah by turning right (east) and passing through a crosswalk over Butts Avenue. A spur trail continues straight for 0.3 mile around Lake Tomah to Butts Park. This “all abilities park” provides accessible amenities that include an accessible shelter, bathrooms, fishing pier, and playground.
After crossing Butts Avenue, the main trail passes through scenic countryside for nearly a mile. Interpretive markers share information about local animals and plants, as the path travels next to a flowing river. In the Menominee language, the river is called Manōnaeh-Sipiah, meaning “red or yellow earth, clay or chalk-like river.” The river is also known as the South Fork of the Lemonweir River, possibly referring to an indigenous word Le-Mo-Wee meaning “River of Memories.”
In this section, the trail passes under a bridge carrying Amtrak and freight trains, and also crosses the Lemonweir River. The landscape ranges from forest to open meadows, with the meandering river never far from the path. This section is very picturesque, and it is hard to believe that it is within the city limits.
The trail next crosses the four lanes of U.S. Highway 12. The busy highway has a lot of traffic, but flashing lights and a well-marked crosswalk help support safe crossings. The path then runs through Veterans Memorial Park where a large monument honors Tomah’s veterans. There is also a historical marker about Tomah’s early beginnings, a statue of a Lexington and Concord minuteman, and a World War II Sherman Tank. The park provides restrooms, a picnic pavilion, and a playground.
Departing Veterans Memorial Park, the trail continues northeast next to the South Fork of the Lemonweir River. It travels through a forest, along a fence, and then through a greenway between the narrow river and Lemonweir Parkway. At Glendale Avenue, a spur trail heads north across the river to Tomah Dog Park.
To reconnect to the Tomah Recreation Trail, cyclists turn right (south) and travel on Glendale Avenue for 1 mile. The street generally is not busy, but it crosses a railroad track. Immediately after the railroad crossing, the route turns left (east) on Washington Street. The trail resumes at the end of the street and runs 175 yards to East Street. At Brownell Street, the route turns left (east). The path resumes at Fireman Park, travelling south.
For 0.4 mile, the trail passes through the open lands of Frank S. Andres Fireman Park, next to Council Creek. The park services include restrooms, 2 picnic pavilions, an enclosed shelter, a playground area, skate park, athletic fields, and horseshoe pits. A spur trail intersects the park to connect neighborhoods, and crosses the Tomah Recreation Trail.
After crossing Monowau Street, the Tomah Recreation Trail continues through a slightly wooded area in Buckley Park for 0.3 mile. It crosses Council Creek and concludes at the Tomah Aquatic Center on Holton Street. Here, trail-goers have a choice. A path running to the south alongside the aquatic center for 250 yards leads to the Dairy Queen on U.S. Highway 12. The other option is following Holton Street west to return to Winnebago Park.
The return route to Winnebago follows Holton Street west for 0.4 mile. A well-marked crosswalk helps with crossing U.S. Highway 12. At the end of Holton Street, the route turns right (north) on Hollister Avenue. After two blocks, it turns left (east) on Juneau Street. After another half mile, it turns right (north) on Lakeside Drive and proceeds 0.3 mile, past Brandon Street to the parking lot in Winnebago Park.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
The 5.7 mile circular route around Tomah offers a scenic view of the city. The 3.7-mile portion of the Tomah Recreation Trail includes multiple highlights. The views of Lake Tomah are picturesque, and riding near the South Branch of the Lemonweir River delivers beautiful countryside scenes. Multiple parks along the way provide amenities, and also encourage trail-goers to pause and enjoy the natural beauty.
Trail last ridden and documented in September, 2024.