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| In Union Center on the 400 State Trail. 8/15/26 dwm |
If something happens twice, it might be the start of a streak. It's difficult to say if that's the case now, but for the second straight year I got to ride with my nephew, Harmon.
The name comes from the Chicago & Northwestern Railway's 500 passenger train which could travel the 400 miles between Chicago and Minneapolis-St Paul in 400 minutes.
For now, the starting point is in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Eventually, another trail will connect it to the Grand Sauk Trail which ends on the grounds of the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant.
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| The Hemlock Schlough. 8/15/26 dwm |
It's seven miles to LaValle. After passing through town, the Hemlock Slough or wetland is on the right. It's also where you get a good look at rock formation rise above the water.
This was my third time on the 400. I rode it in September 2013 and the 400 was part of the Ride Across Wisconsin in 2022.
It was the first time Harmon and I rode it together. Since he didn't have a bike available, he used my old one.
After LaValle, the next town on the former rail road was Wonewoc, another 7 miles away. We thought for a moment there was a welcoming party when we saw a group of people on the trail. It turned out to be the weekly farmer's market.
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| Wonewoc's farmers market. 8/15/26 dwm |
We walked our bikes through the market then got back on the bike for the next town which is Union Center, which is four miles north of Wonewoc and four miles south of Elroy.
Elroy was where we started and finished our ride last year, this time it was where we turned around, 23 miles into the trip.
In my two previous rides on the 400, I rode past a trail that takes cyclists to the community of Hillsboro. This time we took it.
The path was in excellent condition with mowed grass on either side of crushed limestone tracks and a large variety of Wisconsin wildflowers.
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| Harmon on the Hillsboro Trail. 8/15/26 dwm |
When we reached Hillsboro, we headed downtown looking for a place to eat. We chose Mom & Pop's, a diner on Water Avenue.
After quenching our thirst with cold glasses of water, our server delivered lunch to return to Reedsburg, 23 miles down the path.
Earlier in the week, the forecast for Saturday included strong chances of rain and potential storms. On Friday, the forecast was for chances of rain. It didn't rain, or even look like rain at any time Saturday.
The 400 is a beautiful trail, surrounded by farms and a lot of wetlands and forests. For much of the ride, it's like riding through a state park.
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| On the 400 where the railroad split rock for track. 8/15/26 dwm |
The bright sunshine made it warmer than expected but thankfully with much of the trail being lined with trees, there was shade for long sections of the bike path.
We've checked off the 400 and Elroy - Sparta state trails. If we're able to ride next year, we could choose the Omaha Trail, another spur off the main path, or the La Crosse State Trail which winds up in, of course, La Crosse. We'll have to wait and see on that.
Tale from the Bike Computer:
Distance: 57 miles
Ave Speed: 14.6 mph
Time in the Saddle: 3 hours, 54 minutes
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| Downtown Wonewoc, WI. 8/15/2026 dwm |
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| Our turn-around point in Elroy, WI. 8/15/2026 dwm |
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| Flags lined the 400 trail heading south out of Elroy. 8/1/2026 dwm |
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| Our lunch spot in Hillsboro, WI 8/15/26 dwm |
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| End of the ride. 8/15/2026 dwm |
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