54 Mile Route (Four Town Tour)
Distance:
54 miles		 Duration:
3.5 hours		 Difficulty:
Intermediate 		Wilderness:

View larger map

Starting from North Lakeland Discovery Center

  1. Head north on Co Rd W toward Transfer Station Rd
  2. Turn left onto Co Hwy J 
  3. Turn right onto S Turtle Rd 
  4. Continue onto S Turtle Lake Rd 
  5. Turn left onto S Turtle Dr
  6. Slight left onto Townsite Rd 
  7. Take the 1st right onto Old Hwy O 
  8. Turn left onto Co Rd W 
  9. Turn left onto Mud Lake Rd 
  10. Slight right onto S Rainbow Lake Rd 
  11. Turn left onto W Harris Lake Rd
  12. Turn right onto Harris Lake Rd/Old W Rd. Continue to follow Old W Rd
  13. Turn left to stay on Old W Rd
  14. Turn left onto Co Rd W
  15. Turn right onto Riverside Dr
  16. Turn right onto Co Rd W
  17. Turn left onto Co Hwy B/Co Rd B 
  18. Turn right onto School Loop Rd
  19. Slight right to stay on School Loop Rd
  20. Turn right onto Oxbow Rd
  21. Take the 1st left onto Co Hwy B/Co Rd B
  22. Turn right onto Co Rd M
  23. Continue onto Co Rd M/Cut-off Rd
  24. Turn left onto Main St
  25. Take the 1st right onto Co Hwy K/Co Rd M/Park St. Continue to follow Co Hwy K
  26. Turn right onto N Creek Rd
  27. Sharp right to stay on N Creek Rd
  28. Turn left onto COunty Rd H
  29. Slight right onto Old 51 Rd
  30. Continue onto Bakken Rd
  31. Turn left onto Townline Rd
  32. Slight right onto Alder Lake Rd
  33. Slight left to stay on Alder Lake Rd
  34. Turn left to stay on Alder Lake Rd
  35. Turn right onto Powell Rd
  36. Turn left onto Hwy 51 N/US-51 N
  37. Turn right onto Co Rd W

Arriving at North Lakeland Discovery Center

Overview

Amenities: Facilities with water, changing rooms, restrooms, and bike repair items located at the Discovery Center. 

Road Description: County highways without shoulder, paved bike trail, and secondary low-traffic roads. Mud Lake Road is chip sealed and North Creek Road is rough in spots, but both are still rideable on a road bike.  This route is mostly flat, with some rolling hills on Highway B.

Resupply Locations: Restaurants and convenience stores located in Presque Isle, Boulder Junction, and Manitowish Waters. 

Trailhead Directions: This route begins and ends at the Discovery Center, which is located just north of downtown Manitowish Waters on Highway W.

Visit the four business districts of Northwestern Vilas County on this 54 mile bike route that begins and ends at the Discovery Center. Follow the paved bike path north along Highway W to Highway K, then continue along Highway W north to Highway J.  Exercise caution on Highways W and J, as they have frequent traffic and no shoulder.  South Turtle Lake Road has little traffic and wilderness views, and will take you into the small town of Winchester.  Follow the marked bike route between Winchester and Presque Isle.  Mud Lake Road is chip sealed, but still rideable on a road bike. Old Highway W Road features scenic fields and old barns. While on Riverside Drive, you pass the take-out point for a Presque Isle River paddle. 

Downtown Presque Isle offers places to resupply and eat, as well as a community center with picnic tables, a short trail system, and the Shanty Boy Lumberjack Cemetery.  Follow the scenic and lake-lined Highway B to Highway M. A paved bike path begins at Dairymens Road and will take you into the town of Boulder Junction, which features many shops, restaurants, and places to resupply.  The paved bike path continues south out of Boulder Junction along Highway M.

Leave the bike path at North Creek Road, which is rough in spots, but ridable.  You will pass the Gresham Lake campground and boat landing, a put-in point for a Gresham Creek paddle.  Follow Old 51/Bakken Road across Highway 51.  Alder Lake Road will take you past a series of cranberry marshes, which can be visited by a side trip up Cranberry Boulevard.  Alder Lake Road has light traffic and no shoulder, as does Powell  Road, which will take you to the paved bike path that travels through downtown Manitowish Waters and back to the Discovery Center.