Old Abe State Trail, Wildflower Trail and Lake Wissota State Park Trails

Paralleling the Chippewa River, the Old Abe State Trail is a twenty-mile, multiuse, paved trail connecting Brunet Island State Park at Cornell with Lake Wissota State Park at Chippewa Falls. Eventually, the trail will extend to Eau Claire where it will meet the Chippewa River State Trail and, from there, the Red Cedar State Trail forging a 60-mile roll through the Chippewa Valley. As you hike or ride the Old Abe, you’ll see meadowlarks, sparrows and numerous warblers. At the trail’s midpoint at Jim Falls you can access the Wildflower Trail, so named for its spectacular spring wildflower display. On this halfmile hike along the river bottom you might see Pine and Yellow-rumped Warblers, White-throated Sparrows and Alder Flycatchers. Overhead, watch for Red-shouldered Hawks.

Directions: Access the Old Abe Trail from trailheads in Lake Wissota or Brunet Island State Parks.

Gazetteer: Page 73, C-5 & Page 61, A-6.

Phone: 715/726-7880.

Web site: Old Abe State Trail | Lake Wissota State Park

Signature Species: Eastern & Western Meadowlark and Willow Flycatcher.

Seasonality: Open all year.

Parking: Parking lots provided.

Nearest food & lodging: Cornell, Jim Falls & Chippewa Falls.

Fee: Trail pass.