When hikers ask which trails in Wisconsin are worth a full day — or several — the conversation always circles back to the same handful of routes. Below we've ranked the ten longest hiking trails in Wisconsin by total mapped distance, drawing from the 10,109 trails OutsideAtlas currently tracks in the state. Each entry includes the distance, what makes the route distinctive, and an honest note on who should actually attempt it.
Wisconsin's driftless area in the southwest (escaped glaciation), the Door Peninsula, the Apostle Islands, and the Northwoods produce surprising topographic variety. The Ice Age NST and the North Country Trail provide a vast long-distance backbone; the Superior Hiking Trail is just across the border. May-October is the practical window; winters are severe; spring blackflies and summer ticks are seasonally significant.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 10,109 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Wisconsin — but the data has limits worth being honest about. OpenStreetMap distance tags are crowd-sourced and inconsistent. A route may appear longer or shorter than the official measurement, especially when long-distance trails (like state and national scenic trails) are tagged in segments rather than as a single relation.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Soldiers Field track
At 0.20 mi, Soldiers Field track tops the list — a route built for hikers who plan in days, not hours. Expect 0.20 mi, clay surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Soldiers Field track trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Trail throught Heritage Addition of Effigy Mounds National Monument to the Thunderbird Effigy
Trail throught Heritage Addition of Effigy Mounds National Monument to the Thunderbird Effigy earns the #2 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Trail throught Heritage Addition of Effigy Mounds National Monument to the Thunderbird Effigy trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Spur Trail to an unnamed mound group with overlook at Effigy Mounds National Monument
Spur Trail to an unnamed mound group with overlook at Effigy Mounds National Monument earns the #3 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Spur Trail to an unnamed mound group with overlook at Effigy Mounds National Monument trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Mondeaux Dam
Mondeaux Dam earns the #4 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect 1,401 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Wisconsin, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mondeaux Dam trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Spur trail to unnamed mound group in Effigy Mounds National Moanument
Spur trail to unnamed mound group in Effigy Mounds National Moanument earns the #5 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Spur trail to unnamed mound group in Effigy Mounds National Moanument trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Trail to Marching Bear Group at the Effigy Mounds National Monument
Trail to Marching Bear Group at the Effigy Mounds National Monument earns the #6 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Trail to Marching Bear Group at the Effigy Mounds National Monument trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Trail to Marching Bear Group in the Effigy Mounds National Monument
Trail to Marching Bear Group in the Effigy Mounds National Monument earns the #7 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Trail to Marching Bear Group in the Effigy Mounds National Monument trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Ice Age Trail - Chaffee Creek Segment at Pleasant Lake (loop spur)
Ice Age Trail - Chaffee Creek Segment at Pleasant Lake (loop spur) earns the #8 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect dirt surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ice Age Trail - Chaffee Creek Segment at Pleasant Lake (loop spur) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Spur to Founders Pond Overlook in Effigy Mounds National Monument
Spur to Founders Pond Overlook in Effigy Mounds National Monument earns the #9 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Wisconsin, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Spur to Founders Pond Overlook in Effigy Mounds National Monument trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. North Country Trail—Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park Spur
North Country Trail—Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park Spur earns the #10 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect dirt surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the North Country Trail—Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park Spur trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Wisconsin trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Wisconsin. May-October is the practical window; winters are severe; spring blackflies and summer ticks are seasonally significant. Ticks (Lyme present), bears in the Northwoods, and rapid Great Lakes weather along the Apostle Islands.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Wisconsin hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Wisconsin coverage continues below.
- Steepest trails in Wisconsin — Hikes with the most elevation gain in the state.
- Best beginner hikes in Wisconsin — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Wisconsin — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Wisconsin — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Wisconsin — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Wisconsin — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Wisconsin — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Wisconsin last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
