1st Place: Chippewa River State Trail
2nd Place: Red Cedar State Trail
3rd Place: Beaver Creek (tied)
3rd Place: Lowes Creek (tied)

When it’s perfectly nice outside, there’s no need to sit in a gym. Get outside, hop on a bike or lace up some hiking boots, and get trekkin.’ Where should you go? Well fellow locals like yourself seem to dig the Chippewa River State Trail. With its new addition connecting Altoona and Eau Claire, the mostly paved trail runs from Chippewa Falls to Menomonie and has a beautiful viewshed of the river. The trail connects to another favorite, the Red Cedar State Trail. If you’re a mountain biker, try out the awesome section between Downsville and Dunnville. For a more peaceful and scenic trip, you like Beaver Creek. Comfortably nestled within Beaver Creek Reserve, this trail works best for a relaxed stroll rather than hardcore cycling. Tied with Beaver Creek, Lowes Creek provides the best of both words. Its six miles of trail just south of Eau Claire is surrounded by forest and an array of awesome colors around this time of year. – Trevor Kupfer