Wiouwash Trail 2026 04

This week we chose to go back to the Wiouwash Trail. However this time my wife and I decided to do our walk on Friday evening rather than our normal Saturday morning walk. A busy weekend means that we had to make adjustments.

Key Features

• Named for Four Counties: The trail’s name is an acronym derived from the first two letters of the four Wisconsin counties it traverses or was intended to traverse: Winnebago, Outagamie, Waupaca, and Shawano.
• Rail-Trail Conversion: The trail follows the corridor of a former Chicago and Northwestern Railway line, offering a relatively flat and straight path.
• Two Disconnected Sections: Currently, the 47.5-mile trail is in two separate sections with a gap of about 30 miles between them.
• Southern Section: The longer southern segment runs for approximately 22 miles from Hortonville south to just north of downtown Oshkosh.
• Northern Section: The northern segment spans about 24 miles between Aniwa and Split Rock in Shawano County.
• Scenic Variety: The trail offers diverse landscapes, including native tallgrass prairies, farmlands, forests, and views of Lake Butte des Morts.
• Tribal Heritage Crossing: A significant feature is the Tribal Heritage Crossing over Lake Butte des Morts near Oshkosh, which includes 13 kiosks detailing the history of Wisconsin’s Native American tribes.
• Connections to Other Trails: The Wiouwash Trail connects with other prominent trails, including the Mountain-Bay State Trail in Eland and the Friendship State Trail near Larsen.
• Multi-Use Trail: The crushed stone and paved surfaces accommodate various activities such as walking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding (on designated sections). Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are permitted in winter.
• Wildlife Viewing: The trail passes through areas like the Rat River Wildlife Area, offering opportunities for bird watching and observing other wildlife.

Review

In our attempts to walk the entirety of the trail we decided to hike the section from Larson WI to the tunnel under Hwy 10. Initially we planned to also stop at a restaurant that was in Larson. A bumper sticker had advertised the restaurant and it seemed interesting.

So we traveled out to Larson to begin our hike. And found that our hike would begin at an aptly named park, Trailhead Park.

Two intersecting roads and a Co-op where many of the local farmers get supplies. The town is just south of the intersection of Winnebago Cty Hwy II and Hickory Ave west of Neenah. The town consists of a few dozen houses, two bars, and even a church, however it is still unincorporated.

We parked at a poorly marked parking lot for the park and started our hike. A quick walk down a gravel path and we reached the trail itself, as it doglegged around the town.

We looked down one path to see a bridge over a stream. That path led south and we intended to travel north to the tunnel under Hwy 10. So we continued North.

As we walked Robins and Cedar Waxwings darted through the trees. At a small patch of marsh, the sounds of frogs filled the air as we walked.

Eventually we got to Cty Hwy II, we crossed and continued north. Rabbits and Redwing Blackbirds zigzagged through the trees surrounding the trail.

Hikers and bicyclists passed us as we walked. Due to the rain over the course of the last week, puddles and muddy sections of the gravel path challenged us. Eventually though we reached and crossed under Hwy 10.

This is where we have traveled before. The intersection of the Wiouwash and Friendship Trails is situated just north of the Hwy. See my other posts on the Friendship Trail for more information on that trail.

At this point though we were getting hungry so we decided to return to our car and travel to the restaurant. The travel back was uneventful and we returned to our car. However when looking at the directions to the restaurant we found that it was closer to Fremont and we wanted to eat and get home.

The evening hike was nice, allowing us to enjoy the Wisconsin spring air. It is always a good experience hiking any section of the Wiouwash Trail. Definitely a suggested hike if you live in or are visiting the Fox Valley Area.

So thanks again for reading and feel free to leave a comment below.