Wisconsin road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Wisconsin
The best motorcycle roads in Wisconsin are in the Driftless Area of the southwest: WI 35 along the Mississippi bluffs, WI 131 through the Kickapoo Valley, WI 33 past Wildcat Mountain, WI 60 along the Wisconsin River and the lettered county roads that tie them together. Add the Baraboo Hills, the Kettle Moraine, Door County and the Lake Superior shore, and here are 11 rides with what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 11
- Best region
- The Driftless
- Best months
- May to October
- Check before you go
- 511 Wisconsin
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Wisconsin
The numbered state highways on this list are the backbone, but in Wisconsin the real secret is the lettered county roads. In the Driftless, roads like County Road P or County Road E climb out of one coulee, run a ridgetop and drop into the next. Use the highways to get there, then wander the letters. Counties reuse letters, so plan on a map.
The southwest is a day ride from Madison and a weekend from Milwaukee, Chicago or the Twin Cities. Door County and Bayfield are trips. For timing, see the best time to ride in Wisconsin, and for the regions, the Wisconsin overview. Check 511 Wisconsin for closures and construction.
The Driftless Area
The Driftless and the river roads
- 1. WI 35, Great River RoadWhy: Runs along Wisconsin's western edge beside the Mississippi, through Pepin, Stockholm, Alma and Prairie du Chien, with bluffs on one side and the river on the other. Climb to Buena Vista Park above Alma for the view. Watch for: Slow RVs, town speed limits that drop fast, and trains on the tracks alongside. Best season: May to October, best in fall color.
- 2. WI 131 and the Kickapoo ValleyWhy: Follows the Kickapoo River through Ontario, La Farge and Gays Mills, past the Kickapoo Valley Reserve and apple orchards. The county roads off it are some of the best curves in the Midwest. Watch for: Gravel, tractors, Amish buggies and blind ridgetop crests. Best season: May to October.
- 3. WI 33 past Wildcat MountainWhy: East of La Crosse, WI 33 crosses the Driftless through ridge and valley country to Wildcat Mountain State Park near Ontario, where an overlook looks down on the Kickapoo. Watch for: Farm traffic, buggies, deer and tight bends at the bottom of hills. Best season: May to October.
- 4. WI 60, Lower Wisconsin RiverWhy: Tracks the Lower Wisconsin River from near Sauk City past Spring Green, Muscoda and Boscobel, with sandbars, wooded bluffs and long sweepers almost to the Mississippi. Watch for: Deer, farm traffic, and canoe traffic at landings in summer. Best season: May to October.
- 5. WI 23, Spring Green to Mineral PointWhy: Runs south from Spring Green past Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, the House on the Rock and Governor Dodge State Park to Mineral Point, an old lead-mining town of stone cottages. Watch for: Tourist traffic near the attractions and slow trucks on the hills. Best season: May to October.
Central and southeast
The Baraboo Hills, the Kettle Moraine and the Rustic Roads
- 6. WI 113 and the Merrimac ferryWhy: Start with a free ride across Lake Wisconsin on the seasonal Merrimac ferry, then follow WI 113 up into the Baraboo Hills, where Devil's Lake State Park has quartzite bluffs and curvy park roads. Watch for: Ferry lines on summer weekends, and heavy park traffic around Devil's Lake. Best season: May to October, while the ferry runs.
- 7. Kettle Moraine Scenic DriveWhy: A long, signed route through the Kettle Moraine State Forest's glacial hills, kettle lakes and hardwood forest, west and north of Milwaukee. The closest good riding to the city. Watch for: Cyclists, park traffic, and sudden turns where the route switches roads. Best season: May to October.
- 8. Wisconsin Rustic RoadsWhy: Wisconsin has designated more than a hundred Rustic Roads, scenic backroads marked with brown and yellow signs, spread across nearly every region. Many are paved and perfect on a bike. Watch for: Some are gravel or lightly surfaced, so check before you commit. Best season: May to October.
Door County and the north
Door County, Bayfield and the Northwoods
- 9. WI 42 and WI 57, Door CountyWhy: WI 57 runs up the Lake Michigan side and WI 42 up the Green Bay side through Fish Creek, Ephraim and Sister Bay, past Peninsula State Park, to tree-lined curves near the tip. Loop back on the other road. Watch for: Heavy summer and fall tourist traffic, slow drivers looking for turnoffs, and deer. Best season: June to October.
- 10. WI 13, the Bayfield PeninsulaWhy: Loops around the peninsula through Washburn, Bayfield and Cornucopia, with Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands in view. Take the ferry from Bayfield to Madeline Island for a side trip. Watch for: Cold fog off the lake, deer in the woods, and orchard traffic in fall. Best season: June to early October.
- 11. WI 77, Great Divide Scenic BywayWhy: Runs through the Chequamegon National Forest between Glidden and Hayward on a quiet two-lane through pine and hardwood forest, lakes and small towns. Watch for: Deer, logging trucks and long stretches without services. Best season: June to early October.
Summary
Wisconsin motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| WI 35, Great River Road | Mississippi | May to Oct |
| WI 131, Kickapoo Valley | Driftless | May to Oct |
| WI 33, Wildcat Mountain | Driftless | May to Oct |
| WI 60, Lower Wisconsin River | Driftless | May to Oct |
| WI 23, Spring Green to Mineral Point | Driftless | May to Oct |
| WI 113 and the Merrimac ferry | Baraboo Hills | May to Oct |
| Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive | Southeast | May to Oct |
| Rustic Roads | Statewide | May to Oct |
| WI 42 and WI 57, Door County | Door County | Jun to Oct |
| WI 13, Bayfield Peninsula | Lake Superior | Jun to early Oct |
| WI 77, Great Divide | Northwoods | Jun to early Oct |
Make them count
Add Wisconsin roads to Rippin'
Most of these roads, and nearly all the good county roads, aren't in Rippin' yet. The first rider to add one gets their name on it. Ride it with Rippin' recording, open Segments and tap Create a Segment: drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on our team checks it before it goes live. Read more on segments and leaderboards and how roads get added.
A segment board is about who owns the road and who rides it, not a race. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads, and Driftless crests hide tractors.
The Driftless is made for turf. Close a loop using WI 131, WI 33 and a few county roads, and every coulee inside it turns into your turf on the live map. Plan it with the loop builder. Roads riders have already added in Wisconsin are listed below.
Live from the app
Wisconsin on Rippin' right now.
9 upcoming events and 1 rider-added road in Wisconsin on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
- Sat Nov 7Road Runners MC Winter PartyPlatteville
- Sat Nov 14House of Harley-Davidson Chili Cook-OffMilwaukee
- Sat Nov 21Wisconsin Harley Customer Appreciation Fiesta & Holiday MarketOconomowoc
- Sat Nov 21Bikers with Hearts Charity Tattoo FlashWoodstock
- Sat Nov 21The S.T.E.A.M. of Motorcycles at the H-D MuseumMilwaukee
- Fri Dec 4AMA Partzilla Arenacross Series - East Rounds 5-6Madison
- Fri Feb 19Flat Out Friday 2027Milwaukee
- Sat Feb 20Mama Tried Motorcycle Show 2027Milwaukee
- Fri Jun 4MotoAmerica Superbikes at Road AmericaElkhart Lake
Roads riders added in Wisconsin
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Wisconsin?
WI 35 along the Mississippi is the best known. Riders who know the state will tell you the real answer is the lettered county roads of the Driftless around WI 131 and WI 33.
What is the Driftless Area?
A region of southwest Wisconsin, plus corners of Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, that the last glaciers skipped. It has steep valleys and ridges instead of flat glacial plains, which makes for curvy roads.
What are good motorcycle rides near Madison?
WI 60 along the Wisconsin River, WI 23 to Mineral Point, WI 113 over the Merrimac ferry to the Baraboo Hills, and the Driftless county roads west of town.
What are good motorcycle rides near Milwaukee?
The Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive is the closest good ride. Door County and the Driftless make great weekend trips.
Is the Merrimac ferry free?
Yes. The WI 113 ferry across Lake Wisconsin is free and runs seasonally, from spring until ice closes it. Expect lines on summer weekends.
Can I add these Wisconsin roads to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. Someone on the Rippin' team reviews it before it goes live, and it keeps your name.
Put a Wisconsin road on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride a Driftless loop with it recording, and add your favorite road. Your name stays on it.
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