Visiting Levi-Trow Next weekend

[MTBChick]

Three of us from Indiana are heading NW to do the Maah Daah Hey and we thoughtwe stop at Levi-Trow for a ride. Great trail description and map on your site--still had a few questions--

Is there a LBS that we could pop into near Levi-Trow to buy a more comprehensive trail map and just chat about the trails conditions etc?

I see that there are 30 miles of trails. I'm guessing we'll be up for about 15 or so. Any suggestions on must ride parts? We are generally intermediate riders--and we're looking for a fun ride that won't wear us down too mcuh before a week of the Maah Daah Hey.

Oh--I alamost forgot--any good local microbreweries in the vincinity? And any about 3-4 hours west of there off of I-94) we've got to have lunch after all?

Thanks!

[jeffgude]

Levis trail map here:

http://www.worba.org/nasti/map.html

There is a microbrewery in Black River Falls: www.sandcreekbrewing.com (http://www.sandcreekbrewing.com)


Definitely follow the map and ride yellow jacket, upper hermosa, hermosa lower hermosa, dead turkey, toad road, switchback. It can be confusing to ride there, but there are lots of 'you are here' maps.

[ryno lite]

There is about 20 miles of singletrack there. There is a good day of riding there. They have real nice trail maps available at the trailhead by the trail center. There are two trailheads, one with a parking lot and pit toilets and another trailhead with a trail center with maps, flush toilets, water and camping. Follow the directions on the Levis Trow website to get to the good trailhead with all the amenities. There's not much for supplies and restuarants and the like near the trail. You have to drive 20 miles to get to a proper size town with stores, restuarants, bike shops, etc. It's well worth the stop. There is fun riding there!

[waitabit]

Three of us from Indiana are heading NW to do the Maah Daah Hey and we thoughtwe stop at Levi-Trow for a ride. Great trail description and map on your site--still had a few questions--

Is there a LBS that we could pop into near Levi-Trow to buy a more comprehensive trail map and just chat about the trails conditions etc?

I see that there are 30 miles of trails. I'm guessing we'll be up for about 15 or so. Any suggestions on must ride parts? We are generally intermediate riders--and we're looking for a fun ride that won't wear us down too mcuh before a week of the Maah Daah Hey.

Oh--I alamost forgot--any good local microbreweries in the vincinity? And any about 3-4 hours west of there off of I-94) we've got to have lunch after all?

Thanks!Plenty of good microbreweries here, check out http://www.greatwatersbc.com/ in downtown St Paul right off 94, easy to find and great food.

[FarmerBEN]

Three of us from Indiana are heading NW to do the Maah Daah Hey and we thoughtwe stop at Levi-Trow for a ride. Great trail description and map on your site--still had a few questions--

Is there a LBS that we could pop into near Levi-Trow to buy a more comprehensive trail map and just chat about the trails conditions etc?

I see that there are 30 miles of trails. I'm guessing we'll be up for about 15 or so. Any suggestions on must ride parts? We are generally intermediate riders--and we're looking for a fun ride that won't wear us down too mcuh before a week of the Maah Daah Hey.

Oh--I alamost forgot--any good local microbreweries in the vincinity? And any about 3-4 hours west of there off of I-94) we've got to have lunch after all?

Thanks!


3-4 hours west of there off 94? How far past the cities would that put you? st. cloud I am guessing? Definately stop at Great dane in Madison if you get a chance, great food and beer, plus it will knock you out so you can dose off during those long boring hours between mad-town and levis.

[buzzman]

Hey MTB Chick-
I'm the trail builder and volunteer at Levis Mound-there are good coated paper maps at the trailhead on both Hwy 95 and Fisher Rd. Use the Fisher Rd. trailhead, it's much nicer (running water, campsites, bathrooms). There are 15 miles of XC ski trail, and 22Miles of singletrack of all levels of difficulty. Some of my favorites are Cliffhanger, Goat Dance, Yellowjacket, Upper Hermosa and Sidewinder (new, not on map, but it starts at UpperHermosa and BuckHill)...but go out and explore-some great vistas from on top of the mounds.

IMPORTANT! Hwy 95 is CLOSED in Merrillian (bridge out) so the best way to get to Levis from the south off I-94 is to take the 2nd BRF exit (hwy 12/27) drive several miles north, turn rt on Cty Hwy E and go to Hatfield. Left on Cty Hwy K for 1/4 mi, then Rt on Ctw Hwy J, follow J until it ends on Fisher Rd & Hwy 95. For MORC riders coming from the Northwest on I-94, Take the Osseo exit (hwy 10) go east about 17 miles until you pass Cty Hwy B, look for Columbia Ave on your right (gravel) follow that south, it turns rt. then take Fisher Ave south until it comes to Levis.

Brewpubs!: Yep, as someone wrote here, Sandcreek Brewery (www.sandcreekbrewing.com) is in Black River Falls to the south, no food, but if they're not busy, Todd or Jim will give you a tour-tell em Steve sent you. Mollys is a nice bar downtown BRF and serves sandcreek brews. Otherwise, Northwoods Brewpub is in Eau Claire ( 45 miles NW) and is just off I-94....as for further west, the MORC folks would have to help there.

Hope you enjoy the ride at Levis-I'm a teacher, so if you're coming thru this summer, drop me an email and I can give you a tour....I promise I won't make you dig dirt on the trail! ;) (smeurett@yahoo.com)

[MTBChick]

You guys rock. Thanks for the tips and the info----if you are ever in Indy look me up on www.hmba.org (http://www.hmba.org) and I'll return the favor. We are a little light on the brew pub end, but we've got a few trails that are worth seeing!

[[defective]]

Looks like the beer and maps are covered already (Sandcreek!). I'll just offer my recommendation for Levis navigation: Use Toad Road to ascend, and come down on North Face, Porky Point, Switchback, and Cliffhager. Also, find Sidewinder. I've never been disappointed by any of the Levis trail, but I defintely have favorites.

[buzzman]

Usually I'll warmup on Lower Glen (right out of the trailhead) flat, easy...then Yellowjacket, cross over to Goat Dance, then come back and do Sidewinder and head back toward Levis on Upper Hermosa-once back at Levis, maybe climb Northface and decend Cliffhanger and it'll dump you out near Snodgrass, which you can ride back to the trail head.....A good hour or two later.....of course there are other trails along the way.:)

[CookieMonster]

Hey MTBChick,
I grew up in Indy and got into mountain biking out at Town Run. I was back home visiting last summer and ended up having a few beers after a ride out there with a few of the hmba folks. When exactly are you planing to hit Levis? I could be talked into venturing out that way and ride with you all...or better yet you guys should make a pit stop in the Twin Cities and hit up some of our local trails with me :D

~Maura

[MTBChick]

I'll send you a PM with our plans for Saturday so you can meet up with us if it fits your schedule. Funny--soon as we saw your post, we remembered you from last year. It was at the Moondog, right? Our friend Mark (long red hair in a pony tail) met you in the parking lot at TRTP and invited you over for a beer . . .Are you comeing back this year? Got to try Brown County State Park. HMBA (Hoosier Mountain Bike Association) got a $150,000 Federal Grant for trailbudiling and we'll be adding to the 16 miles of trails already there.

[buzzman]

Jill
(Buzzman here) hope you have a good trip thru Wisconsin and out to Mahh dah hey- Hopefully you guys will like Levis also, it's just 10 miles off I-94. I won't be around for a tour (state HS track meet) but if you want to, drop my friend Dean a line,he helps build trails here too (skiglaze@hotmail.com) and is usually around on weekends.

Take care-enjoy the trip!

[MTBChick]

Thanks for all the great advice! We had a great ride last Saturday at Levis-Trow--did about 15 miles and ended only because it was getting a little dark. Turned out to be a great warm up for the Maah Daah Hey. We also had a nice meal and a few Sandcreek Beers at Molly's. It was the perfect topper to our our trip through Wisconsin! We may be back to finish the trails we missed, If you are ever in Indiana--look us up www.hmba.org (http://www.hmba.org).