Naturespace | Blog

Location Spotlight: Chequamegon National Forest

Most of us here at Naturespace are avid mountain bikers. For us, there is no better way to get away from the endemic noise pollution of roads and highways than riding 20 miles into the thick. We are constantly seeking the best trails in diverse wildlife regions. We will occasionally spotlight our favorite places so you can check them out for yourself. Let us know your experiences if you have been there, and if there is a place you think we should know about, please tell us. The quest for the ultimate ride is never over.

We have chosen the Chequamegon National Forest in Northwest Wisconsin as our first spotlight because it is one of our favorite places to ride and record. Obviously, there are no mountains, but the rolling hills and steep eskers that were glacially cut into the landscape provide some of the best roller-coaster riding we have found. Chequamegon is home to a truly vast network of riding trails. Over 300 miles of single and double-track take you on a never-ending journey of fun in the forest. The wildlife includes black bears as well as a seemingly infinite set of avian species; the forest in late May at 5 am is just ridiculous with birdsong. Affordable lodging means you don’t need to camp, and there are plenty of campgrounds available if that’s how you roll. And then there are the lakes. Warm, clean, clear water that allows you to see to the bottom, dragonflies and butterflies hovering and flitting about makes stopping off for a refreshing dip mid-ride the highlight of the day.

For more information, visit Camba Mountain Bike Trail System. Also, you should know that the Chequamegon Fat Tire festival occurs annually in September, so if you are going to go there for some solitude, stay away for at least a week before and after the event; it’s the only time the place gets really crowded. But if you are into biking with a lot of other great folks, you should do the fest. It’s a major party.