Where to Rent & Buy Bikes
Compass Bike Lab
Come to Compass to check out Eau Claire's newest bike sale and repair shop! This shop carries Specialized Bicycles and Borealis Fat Bikes to cover bikers of all skill levels in every season. Bike riders can shop for casual commuting bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and bikes for the winter, and you're invited to bring your bikes back to the shop when repairs are needed. Compass is passionate about creating custom bikes tailored to everyone's specific needs and preferences on the bike trails!
Erik's Bike & Board Shop
Erik's has everything in stock for bikers, skiers, snowboarders, and skateboards visiting Eau Claire. Find selections of electric, road, mountain, recreational, commuter, BMX, specialty, and kids bikes at Erik's, and complete your look with biking accessories including helmets, eyewear, shoes, lights, locks, and much more. Shop for individual bike parts, or bring in your bikes for repairs at Erik's!
The Local Store
Beginning in the summer of 2023, The Local Store offers electric bike (and scooter) rentals right at their shop in downtown Eau Claire! As if you couldn't find the perfect gifts to remember your trip to Eau Claire at The Local Store, now you can get an entire outdoor experience at the shop as well! Your rentals include helmets, phone mounts, and maps created for every type of adventurer. Rent e-bikes for an easy tour around Eau Claire, or try out their e-scooter rentals for another thrilling way to zip around the city!
Riverside Bike & Skate
Located on Water Street in Eau Claire, Riverside Bike & Skate can hook you up with bikes and accessories to ride around town! This shop is conveniently located right off the Chippewa River State Trail for easy access to the rest of the trail systems in Eau Claire. Riverside is also near popular areas like Carson Park, Owen Park, UW-Eau Claire, and more notable parks and attractions for quick adventures in Eau Claire.
Scheels
Scheels is another sports shop in Eau Claire with a large selection of electric, mountain, hybrid, road, cruiser, and kids bikes. The sales experts at Scheels have all the knowledge to get you on a bike that fits your preferences, style, and experience level. Shop for brands like Trek, Haro, Retrospec, Electra, and more, and find all the gear, parts, and accessories you'll need at Scheels.
Shift Cyclery & Coffee Shop
A bike shop that doubles as a coffee shop?! Certainly, this is something you'll only find in Eau Claire! Stop at Shift for your morning latte, and stay for the bike sales and repair services. The team at Shift is experienced with road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids, electric bikes, and more. The shop can help with everything including wheel building, electronic gear systems, hydraulic brakes, suspension, belt drives, and tubeless tires. Check out workshops, education, and social rides that Shift hosts, and try out the bikes available with demos and rentals at Shift Cyclery & Coffee Shop!
Spring Street Sports
Spring Street Sports is a Chippewa Falls sports shop specializing in bike, ski, and snowshoe rentals. Shop for hybrid or fat tire mountain bike rentals for 4-hour or 24-hour slots, or rent for additional days to explore the Eau Claire area for a longer adventure. Some trails that the shop recommends include Area 178, Lake Wissota State Park, Hickory Ridge, Lowes Creek, Northwest Park, Tower Ridge, and more. Visit their website to learn more about Spring Street Sports' rentals and services.
Stache Bike & Adventure
For full services on bikes and e-bikes, stop at Stache Bike & Adventure in downtown Eau Claire! Summer services include standard tune-ups, safety tune-ups, full-send tune-ups, and one-wheel sales and repairs on bikes & e-bikes. If you're feeling brave, try out the one-wheel group rides on Wednesday evenings! Check out their website for more information.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Environmental Adventure Center
Open to students and the public, the Environmental Adventure Center at UW-Eau Claire offers bike rentals as well as bike safety inspections and tune-ups. Choose rental options that include day-overnight, weekend, or week-long slots, and ride either mountain or commuter bikes around campus and the rest of Eau Claire! Visit their website to learn more information and to book your bikes here.
Photo: Lowes Creek County Park
Trails to Explore
Centennial Park
This Altoona park follows along Otter Creek and holds 2.5 miles of singletrack trails for fat tire bikes, hikers, and snowshoers in the winter. Centennial Park is located just outside of Eau Claire and is the perfect place to get in a few miles in the snow!
Chippewa River State Trail
One of Eau Claire's grandest trails can be accessed from all over town and leads you to some of the best attractions. The Chippewa River State Trail extends for 30 miles and rides past various views including rivers, prairies, bluffs, wetlands, and more. There are many breweries, restaurants, and shops located along the trail, and it can be explored in all the seasons. Visit multiple bridges throughout Eau Claire, and explore the countryside of the Chippewa Valley on the trail!
Lowes Creek County Park
Ride in the woodsy wonderland of Lowes Creek County Park. This park includes 13 miles of single-bike tracks for fat bikes and snowshoes. Find biking events like the Red Flint Firecracker and Powder Keg, and get treated to glorious green trails, creeks, and more stunning views at Lowes Creek County Park.
Northwest Community Park
Northwest Community Park is a 120-acre area of wooded trails on the north side of Eau Claire. This is one of the locations on the Geau Outside mobile pass that holds 7 miles of single-track trails for biking and snowshoeing. Click here for more information about Northwest Community Park.
River Prairie Trail
Take a family-friendly bike ride around the River Prairie Trail! Catch some of the area's best birds, coolest murals, wildest sculptures, and tastiest restaurants in this neck of Altoona. See all the ways to experience River Prairie here.
Pinehurst Park
Step it up a notch with a biking experience at Pinehurst Park, a bike park filled with progressive mountain biking trails, dirt jumps, and more! Pinehurst Park is another location on the Geau Outside pass where you can take on the more challenging trails and earn points for visiting. Visit the link to learn more about how to ride at Pinehurst!
Hickory Ridge
This multi-seasonal trail system is located north of Eau Claire in Chippewa County and is truly a hidden gem in the area. Hickory Ridge holds over 15 miles of trails for bikers to see stunning pond views, woodsy trails, and even some wildlife. Learn more about Hickory Ridge here, and check off this location on your Geau Outside pass!
Old Abe State Trail
The Old Abe State Trail is on an abandoned railroad grade in Chippewa County and connects Lake Wissota State Park and Brunet Island State Park. It's a paved 20-mile trail filled with natural beauty and wildlife and is a great way to explore the areas north of Eau Claire.
Red Cedar State Trail
Travel the trails to Menomonie, WI by taking the connecting Chippewa River and Red Cedar State Trails. This trail rides 14.5 miles through the Red Cedar Valley and passes prairies, marshland, river bottoms, farmlands, bluffs, and more. Hop on the Red Cedar State Trail at the Dunnville State Wildlife Area, and ride along to Scatterbrain Cafe, Lucette's, and more breweries in Menomonie!
Photo: Shift Cyclery & Coffee Shop
Bike-Friendly Restaurants & Attractions
Places to Eat & Drink
Breweries
Biking for brews?! Count us in! Not only is Eau Claire the hub for microbrews, but many of them can be accessed on the state trail systems. In downtown Eau Claire, Lazy Monk Brewing and The Brewing Projekt are located along the Chippewa River State Trail. If you head north on the Chippewa River State Trail, you can ride into Chippewa Falls and stop for beers and tours at Leinie Lodge. If you're looking for a longer ride, you can take the Red Cedar State Trail to Menomonie and sip on beers at Lucette, brewery nønic, and more. On your day trip to Osseo, bring your bikes for a ride along the Buffalo River State Trail, and fuel up at Northwoods Brewpub. Don't forget to check off these locations on your Eau Claire Brew Pass to earn prizes!
California Tacos
When your biking adventures find you working up an appetite, pull over for tacos at California Tacos on Water Street! California Tacos is located directly off the Chippewa River State Trail and makes quick (and delicious) authentic Mexican food. Get your grub on with a full Birria menu, tacos, burritos, tortas, and more!
Ice Cream Shops
On those hot summer days, you're definitely going to need a cold sweet treat to cool off with during your bike rides! There are various ice cream shops around Eau Claire to cool off at, and some are right along the trail. Roadside Ice Cream & Diner is right off the Chippewa River State Trail and is a vintage diner that serves insane ice cream treats and classic diner food. Downtown, get your cold treats at Ramone's Ice Cream Parlor, Olson's Ice Cream, and Acoustic Cafe. When biking to River Prairie, get your dessert at 44 Below. View a full list of places to get ice cream here.
The Lounge EC
Nothing will fuel your bike ride like an energizing tea. And The Lounge EC can hook you up! This new tea and shake shop is located on Water Street in Eau Claire with close access to the Chippewa River State Trail. The Lounge EC offers coffee shakes, flavored teas, boba, spritzers, aloe drinks, and more. They're healthy, protein-packed, refreshing, and delicious!
Racy D'Lene's Coffee Lounge
Grab your morning coffee at Racy D'Lene's Coffee Lounge, another Water Street coffee shop! Just steps away from the Chippewa River State Trail, Racy's is a longtime favorite coffee shop that still holds its charm today. Caffeinate before your ride, grab a pastry for something sweet, and enjoy the company of Earl the turtle!
Riverside Cafe
After a long bike ride around Eau Claire, treat yourself to a Korean corndog at Riverside Cafe– you've earned it! This new cafe creates iconic treats like the Flamin' Hot Cheetos Corndog, Potato Cubes Corndog, and an array of mochi donuts. The cafe is located right off of the Chippewa River State Trail for easy access to yummy food!
Scatterbrain Cafe
Scatterbrain Cafe made our list of small-town hidden gems near Eau Claire, and being able to bike to it makes it that much dreamier! Scatterbrain is a coffee shop and brunch cafe in the small town of Downsville, WI. This hidden gem can be found along the Red Cedar State Trail after a long ride down the Chippewa River State Trail. Get a taste of delicious brunch, sweet coffee, and unbeatable fresh baked goods at Scatterbrain Cafe.
Shift Cyclery & Coffee Shop
More coffee, more bike ride fuel! You'll notice that Shift Cyclery & Coffee Shop is a hub for bikers in Eau Claire. Not only can you find bikes here, get bike repairs & services, and meet up for biking events at Shift, but you can find some of the best coffee drinks in downtown Eau Claire! Find seasonal coffee, matcha, & tea drinks, mouth-watering pastries, and cozy vibes perfect for studying, catching up with an old friend, or hanging out before or after a bike ride around Eau Claire.
Valley Burger Company
Believe the locals who say that Valley Burger Company serves some of the best burgers in town. This little burger joint is located on Water Street just off the Chippewa River State Trail. Their menu is small, but their flavors are mighty with their select classic, permanent burger options, and their rotating burger-of-the-month. Soak up the sun while dining on the patio, and head just down the street for dessert at Roadside Ice Cream & Diner.
Photo: High Bridge
Places to Visit
Dunnville State Wildlife Area
The Dunnville State Wildlife Area is your ultimate summer hideaway this year! What the locals refer to as the "Dunnville Bottoms," this location is a swimming spot along the Chippewa River where the Chippewa River State Trail meets the Red Cedar State Trail with a grand bridge. It's about a 25-mile ride from downtown Eau Claire, and it's totally worth the adventure. Safely enjoy the river waters and scenic views along the way!
The High Bridge
If you're biking along the Chippewa River State Trail, you'll eventually run into the historic High Bridge in Eau Claire. This bridge sits 80 feet above the river and grants you stunning views of Eau Claire. This scenic spot makes our list of must-see scenic views in Eau Claire and is a great place to stop for a photo while on your bike ride!
Owen Park
Pack your hammocks on your biking adventure, and make a pit stop in Owen Park! This downtown park is known for its giant trees perfect for hammocking, hosting the Tuesday Night Blues concert series, its playgrounds, and its pickleball courts overlooking the Chippewa River. All the best parts of summer can be found at Owen Park, and it's even better to ride your bikes there!
Pablo Center at the Confluence
While catching a show at the Pablo Center at the Confluence, take the trails for your night out! The Pablo Center has bike racks sitting outside the facility to welcome bike riders coming to watch Broadway shows, musical performances, and more entertainers.
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is in the hub of Eau Claire and is a common spot for bikers to set off in any direction on the trails. Start your journey on the Chippewa River State Trail in Phoenix Park, or take a relaxing bike ride to events like Sounds Like Summer, the Eau Claire Farmers Market, or Food Truck Fridays in Eau Claire. Check out more ways to experience Phoenix Park here!
Rod & Gun Park
One of Eau Claire's most beautiful parks is a fabulous spot to park your cars and start your bike ride! The Rod & Gun Park is located along Braun's Bay at Half Moon Lake and connects to Carson Park on the beautiful new boardwalk trail. Learn more about the Rod & Gun Park here.
Photo: Santa Cycle Rampage
Biking Events in Eau Claire
Coon Fork 40
Every summer, CORBA presents the Coon Fork 40, a gravel bike race that follows beaches, woods, and everything in between. This year, the Coon Fork 40 takes place on August 24, 2024, at Coon Fork Lake County Park in Augusta, WI. The race traverses through pine forests, waterways, and beautiful gravel roads in Eau Claire and Clark County. Choose from a 28, 45, or 88-mile race, and be a part of the other events throughout the day!
Deer Fly Chase
Head to Hickory Ridge for the Deer Fly Chase this fall! This race takes place in late September with 25 or 15-mile options and includes junior competitions and trail runs. During the Deer Fly Chase, you'll get a peek at one of the area's best locations to view fall colors in the woods.
Frosty Toona Fat Tire Race
Finish out the winter season with the Froosty Toona Fat Tire Race. This fat tire bike race takes place in Altoona and is the perfect opportunity to unthaw for springtime and get those final miles on the fat tire bike for the season. Stay tuned to find out the 2025 date for the Frosty Toona Race, and get your families signed up to compete!
Powder Keg
February is for snowy races on foot and on wheels! CORBA presents the Powder Keg in mid-February, a trail racing series including snowshoeing, fat biking, and cross-country skiing. Hit the tracks at Lowes Creek Country Park in Eau Claire, and experience the beauty of a multi-mile trail race.
Red Flint Firecracker
Light up the trails at Lowes Creek County Park just following your 4th of July celebrations. Save the date for July 6, 2024, for the Red Flint Firecracker, and take on the 7-mile mountain biking course, Lil' Snaps kids bike ride, or the 5k/10k trail run. The Red Fling Firecracker is a two-day event including a pre-party, group runs and rides, and, of course, the racing events.
Sadistic Century
On August 10, 2024, venture on the smooth, quiet roads of Dunn County during the Sadistic Century ride. Gear up for over 100 miles of riding, 8,000 feet of elevation gain, and over 30 climbs. This ride also welcomes e-bikes and includes some of the best rest stops throughout the journey! Visit the link to register for the ride.
Santa Cycle Rampage
Santa ditches the sleigh rides in Eau Claire and travels around town on bike– and you can too! The Santa Cycle Rampage is hosted by Volume One and invites riders to dress in their craziest holiday outfits for a jolly social ride. Bike riders come dressed in Santa suits, elf costumes, ugly sweaters, & reindeer antlers, and the bikes come decked out, too. The Santa Cycle Rampage travels around Eau Claire and kicks off the holiday season on December 7, 2024.
