Photo: Wisconsin DNR
This 30-mile trail extends from Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire, at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers and travels south along the Chippewa River through a wide variety of habitat including river bottoms, prairies, sandstone bluffs and wetlands. The trail joins the Red Cedar State Trail in the Dunnville Wildlife Area near the confluence of the Red Cedar and Chippewa Rivers and ends at the town of Durand.
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Chippewa River State Trail?
It depends on what you came for. Fall color is best in October; boating & paddling in June–September; biking in May–June and September–October; and snowmobiling in January–February.
What can you do at Chippewa River State Trail in each season?
Winter (December–February): hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Spring (March–May): hiking, biking and hunting. Summer (June–August): hiking, boating & paddling and biking. Fall (September–November): hiking, fall color, boating & paddling, biking and hunting.
Do you need a state park sticker at Chippewa River State Trail?
Not for the trail itself: walking and hiking Chippewa River State Trail are free. Riders 16 and older need a state trail pass for biking and in-line skating: $5 a day or $25 a year. If you park in a lot inside a state park, forest or recreation area, that lot still needs a vehicle sticker.
What state parks and trails are near Chippewa River State Trail?
The closest state properties, as the crow flies: Red Cedar State Trail (10 mi), Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area (14 mi) and Old Abe State Trail (26 mi).
Good for
- Biking
- Boating & paddling
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Cross-country skiing
Best months
January · February · May · June · July · August · September · October · November
Visiting
- Admission: A state trail pass is required for bicycling and in-line skating.
- Hours: The trail is open year-round.
- Phone: 715-232-1242
Nearby
- Red Cedar State Trail (10 mi)
- Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area (14 mi)
- Old Abe State Trail (26 mi)
- Lake Wissota State Park (26 mi)
- Buffalo River State Trail (29 mi)
Closures and alerts for Chippewa River State Trail: updates · RSS · JSON Feed
Text and park details on this page come from the property's DNR pages, checked every Monday; last change October 24, 2026. Closures and notices load live. Check current conditions before you go.