About cycling & running in La Crosse-OnalaskaBluffs, Trails, And River Miles
Running: Locals run the La Crosse Marsh Trails, Hixon Trail, Halfway Creek Trail, Riverside Park, Myrick Park, and the bluff routes when they want honest legs. River City Running Club keeps the week full with five group runs, including Monday road options, Wednesday out-and-backs up to 6 miles, and Hixon trail runs on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The route covers 96 km and gains 104 m, so it works when Z2 turns into work. EMS Week 5k Run/Walk, Hixon Trail Series, 2026 Festival Foods Turkey Trot Home Edition, Hixon 50, Jack’s Jog 5k, Hixon4est RUD run, and YMCA Maple Leaf Walk Run anchor the calendar.
Cycling: La Crosse is kind of a dream if you’re into bikes. Locals ride the Great River State Trail, La Crosse River Trail, Three Rivers Trail, La Crosse River State Trail, Great River Road, Goose Island Spin, Grandad Bluff Loop, Grandad Bluff to Riverside Loop, and Winona Connector. Wednesday Night World C-Team meets at 5:30 PM at Weigent Park and rides 25-35 miles with one bluff climb, usually with 30-40 riders. EMAG, TNWC, LaxCycling, Smith's Women's Road, World Famous Donut Ride, Smith's MTB group ride, Women's Wednesday MTB ride, and Coulee Region Ladies Rides keep the bunch moving. Grandad Bluff, Main Street, Bliss Road, Hixon Forest, and the La Crosse Blufflands hold the climbs, singletrack, and cyclocross legs.
Season: Fall is the best stretch, because the air is crisp, the bugs are gone, and the Driftless Region puts on color. Local riders call it the sweet spot between summer heat and winter snow, especially on the tree-lined, flat La Crosse River State Trail. Summer puts River City Running Club at Rudy's Drive-In on Mondays and Upper Hixon on Thursdays, while the World Famous Donut Ride runs Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Winter moves Monday runners to Howie’s, keeps base miles simpler, and makes both runners and riders work with crisp air, snow, and shorter light.
