To access the Hiawatha Trail from US 51, take Exit 229 for State Route 86 west/County Road D toward Tomahawk. SR 86 becomes East Somo Avenue. After passing through town, continue on Somo Avenue until you reach Sara Park, which will be on your left after crossing the intersection of North Railway Street and West Somo Avenue. Continue to veer right after passing the park facilities to reach the large parking lot. The Hiawatha Trail will be on your left.
This trail had been my favorite by far, the different roads you drive on, true windy trails, steep hills, multiple loops. I had a blast!!! Already can't wait to go again.
I’m not sure why there’s so many negative reviews? The trail is very nice with a cool bridge right by Sara Park, where there’s nice parking right next to the trail. It goes from there (Tomahawk) to Heafford Junction on a nice gravel trail that hooks up with the awesome Bearskin Trail.
We were skeptical when starting this ride that it was 14 miles on direction. Other sources, google maps, etc., led us to believe otherwise. Turns out we were correct. We started from our hotel on Menominee Court to West Mohawk Drive, in Tomahawk. A short distance to the trail. We rode South first, the route ended in 1.5 miles. We looped back, proceeding North. The trail merged with Bearskin about 4.5 miles later, a total of 6 miles, (not 14). That is an estimate as I am going by the first Bearskin sign we saw. We were aware that the trail connected to Bearskin. The trail is mostly packed gravel, but turned into heavy loose gravel (1/2" stones) for about 1 mile. We continued going North on Bearskin to complete our ride. If interested there is a review on that leg on the Bearskin State Trail. It wasn't the best. Our total ride was 30 miles. (we aren't quitters)
We road the Hiawatha Bike Trail in July of 2019. It has beautiful Northwoods scenery. Sara Park at the trailhead provides plenty of parking and restroom facilities. We found the trail well maintained and marked.
Beautiful trail and good riding experience.
I recently rode this trail and it was not an enjoyable experience from tomahawk to the Nokomis town hall the trail is just fine, but after that you are no longer on the trail but roads. One is hwy L which has fast moving traffic. You are biking through populated areas which I did not find enjoyable due to the fact of traffic. You then turn back onto crushed stone trail which was a pleasant ride but then you encounter run down trestles which should not have been there do to the fact that the portion of the trail was just redone. To put it in perspective this trail sucked.
Don't know why map lists 2 tunnels - there were none. A couple miles south of northern end point (Rocky Rd & Hwy L) has you traveling along Hwy L for a stretch, which has some pretty fast traffic but a fairly wide shoulder. Some nice bridges and lake scenery. Trail pretty flat, and good gravel surface well packed.
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