Wiouwash State Trail (South)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Fishing · Lake · River/Creek

Trailhead Park in Larson has restroom access.

Flat and wonderful! Keep an eye out for bikes.

Running from Oshkosh to Hortonville, the 22-mile southern portion of the Wiouwash is a flat gravel and dirt path. Starting from Arboretum Drive in Oshkosh, the Wiowash runs next to Lake Butte des Morts. In Winnebago County, it crosses through tall-grass prairie, Wisconsin farmland, and wildlife areas. At State Highway 10, the Wiouwash connects with Menasha's Friendship Trail.

The Wiouwash is the best rails-to-trails has to offer, as it follows a former rail corridor. The trail is well-maintained and flat, and offers some of the best surroundings of any trail in central-eastern Wisconsin. Near Oshkosh, walkers, bikers, and dog-walkers use the first two miles of the trail regularly. Horseback riding is also allowed.

The main parking area in Winnebago County can be found off Westwind Road, near where State Highways 41 and 45 meet. There is also a trailhead at County Highway T at the aptly named Trailhead Park in Larson, and in Medina, at the southwest corner of the trail intersection with State Highway 96.

The Wiouwash trail offers great opportunities to view birds in different habitats, including waterfowl near Lake Butte des Morts. The lake offers great shoreline fishing, with northern pike, white bass, perch, and crappies caught regularly.

The trail offers great birdwatching in both brushy and open-field and tall-grass prairie environments. The several tall-grass prairie preserves are great spots to find native plants and animals, including spring and summer wildflowers. The trail passes through the Rat River Wildlife Area where spotting beaver, muskrats, deer, and many birds is easy, although they can also be found on other parts of the trail as well.