Cycling & running events in Oshkosh, 2026

Oshkosh-Neenah Base Miles

Running: Neenah locals get a lot of base miles on Riverside Park, Doty Island, and the Trestle Bridge. The Neenah Lake Route with Riverside Park stays almost entirely on low-traffic surface streets and feels like a solid everyday loop. The I-10 Trail to Friendship Trail and County II route runs mostly flat, unshaded, and decent for steady Z2. The Trestle Bridge, Menasha and Paper Trail route gives you that pretty run over the lake, then bike trails, a park, and home. Fleet Feet brings runners together at Riverside Park. The Fox Cities Marathon, ReThink Addiction Run/Walk, Grunski Runski, and Festival Foods Turkey Trot Oshkosh anchor the calendar.

Cycling: Oshkosh-Neenah riding leans flat, useful, and easy to stack into long days. The loop runs 9 km with 146 m of elevation gain, and it mixes the Heritage trail, Wiouwash trail, Friendship trail, lower-traffic roads, paved trails, and Neenah city streets. The route covers 5 miles with off-road trail, four trestles, and on-road lanes. Cyclists use Fritse Park, Herb & Dolly Smith Park, Arrowhead Park, Cook Park, and Shepard Park as handy touch points. Race The Lake is the anchor event, and High Cliff State Park is where the climbs show up.

Season: Locals get the best outdoor rhythm from May to September. The Log Your Loops challenge runs from May 25th to September 1st, so summer turns Loop the Little Lake into a regular habit. Lake Winnebago days can feel mostly flat and unshaded, but the low-traffic streets and paved trails keep intervals and Z2 rides simple. Runners keep using Riverside Park, Doty Island, and the Trestle Bridge when the weather cooperates. Riders keep the gravel trails on the north side of Winnebago County in play for longer base miles. Winter shifts both sports toward steadier efforts and route choice that stays practical.