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rails
to
trails
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destination
e
au Claire, Wisconsin—a
scenic college town blessed
with miles of riverside
trails—qualifies as one of the
best surprises in the Midwest.
I’ve lived 90 miles from Eau
Claire (population 66,000) for
30
years and never once thought
about visiting until invited to
speak at Downtown Eau Claire
Inc.’s annual banquet. No one
mentioned bringing my bike, so
I was shocked to find a wealth of
trails radiating from downtown
along the Chippewa and Eau
Claire rivers as well as historical
buildings harboring intriguing
coffee shops, taverns and stores.
I vowed to come back as soon as
I could and bring my bike.
Destination:
Wisconsin
Eau Claire and the Chippewa River State Trail
Story anD PhotoS By Jay WallJaSPer
Offering stunning
views over
the Chippewa
River valley,
this 370-foot-
long trestle is a
highlight of the
ride.
Phoenix Park
in Eau Claire.