Trail Review: WinMan Trails in Wisconsin.

WinMan Trails entrance sign welcoming visitors to the park.

I’d been hearing about this bike park nestled deep in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, close to the Michigan border—WinMan Trails. I finally made the trip after signing up for an intermediate lesson with For the Love of BIKES. After finally making the trip, I can say it was worth every mile. Whether you’re an experienced rider chasing adrenaline or just want to enjoy some time in nature, Winman makes you feel at home on the trails.

In this post, I’ll share what stood out during my visit and why I think this place has something for everyone, no matter your skill level.

How WinMan Trails came to be.

WinMan Trails is more than just a collection of trails—it’s the product of a community effort to create an outdoor space where people can enjoy nature freely. The park runs as a non-profit, meaning there’s no fee to ride the trails. Instead, visitors are encouraged to leave donations to support maintenance, trail expansions, and amenities. This approach makes the park accessible to everyone, no matter their budget while relying on the generosity of users to keep the experience going strong.

The idea behind WinMan was simple: build a place where people of all skill levels could enjoy the outdoors. What started as a vision by a local family and outdoor enthusiasts grew into a year-round, multi-use trail system with various activities beyond biking. Today, WinMan offers mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, and fat tire biking during winter. Each activity has designated trails, ensuring everyone has room to explore comfortably.

A smooth flow trail at WinMan, winding through the fall foliage.

The park spans over 1,300 acres of scenic terrain, with each trail carefully designed for flow and fun. Trails are marked by skill level, from beginner-friendly paths to challenging technical routes with rock gardens, drops, and steep sections. What makes the design unique is how optional features—like jumps and obstacles—are kept to the side of the main trail. This way, beginners can ride at their own pace while advanced riders can push their limits.

Another big part of what makes WinMan unique is its community feel. The park offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere, with a chalet at the trailhead as the social hub. Open from 7 AM to 9 PM, the chalet has restrooms, changing areas, free Wi-Fi, and even a bike wash station. It’s the perfect place to relax between rides or meet fellow riders. The bar and apparel shop offers snacks, drinks, and Winman gear on weekends, with all profits returning to the trails.

From the beginning, WinMan’s mission has been to get people outside and active. It’s a place where families with kids, beginners, and expert riders all feel welcome. WinMan Trails has created something unique—an outdoor playground that belongs to everyone.

The Chalet: A spot to gear up and wind down.

The WinMan Chalet is the first place you’ll stop when you get to the park—and trust me, it’s more than just a pit stop. This is where you’ll fill up your water bottle, check the map, and get your bike ready before hitting the trails. It has everything you need—restrooms, changing rooms, and free Wi-Fi—so you can take care of things without feeling rushed. It’s also a great spot to meet up with other riders or just take a breather before heading out.

They even have an outdoor changing area, which makes it easy to freshen up if you plan to grab food or head into town after your ride.

The WinMan Bar and Apparel Shop is worth checking out if you're there on a weekend. They have cold drinks, snacks, fuel for your ride, and some cool WinMan gear. They’ve also set up a fire pit with benches around it, which is a nice spot to hang out, especially as the sun starts to set. If you want shade or cover, picnic tables are under a tarp, or you can grab one of the Adirondack chairs along the sides and just chill. It’s a relaxed, welcoming space—nothing fancy, just good trails, good people, and everything you need right there.

Let’s talk trails: A thoughtfully designed system.

The trail system at WinMan Trails is built around a unique hub structure that helps keep everything organized and flowing smoothly. Instead of a confusing web of crisscrossing paths, Winman uses central hubs to connect different trails. These hubs act like checkpoints, making it easy to figure out where you are and plan your next move. Whether you want to stay on the easier routes or tackle something more technical, the hub system keeps things simple. They have two full-time trail designers on staff, which is great as this means trail expansion.

Trail map of WinMan Trails showing hubs and trail connections.

How the Hubs Work

The trail system features two main hubs: the Front Hub (near the Chalet) and the Rear Hub, which is deeper into the trail network.

• The Front Hub is close to the chalet, so it’s an easy starting point, especially for warming up on trails like WinMan One or heading out on Flowage for some intermediate fun.

• The Rear Hub is further out, offering access to more advanced trails like Gene Machine and Perimeter, giving experienced riders plenty of technical terrain to play on.

Each hub is well-marked with signs and maps, making it easy to pick a new route on the fly. This design keeps things flexible—you can plan a longer route if you’re feeling good or take a shorter loop back to the chalet if you need a break.

The Front Hub

The Front Hub is your main gateway into the WinMan trail system, and it’s easily reachable from the chalet by two key trails:

Front Hub #10 sign with a spin-the-wheel game to pick a trail.

• WinMan One: This is the primary trail connecting the chalet to the Front Hub. It’s a smooth, beginner-friendly flow trail with gentle rollers, wide turns, and light berms, making it ideal for a warm-up ride or a fun, relaxed loop.

• Earn It: If you’re up for a climb, Earn It is the trail to take. True to its name, this one makes you work, with steady climbs that lead you straight into the Front Hub.

Once you get to the Front Hub, you have some choices, and those choices will depend on your skill level and what you want to do. The good thing is that there is a mix of greens, blues, and blacks. I have tried all of these trails, but two.

The start of Bridge Trail, featuring a wooden bridge through fall-colored trees.

• Bridge Trail: I love Bridge Trail with its flow sections and wood bridge features.

• Roller Creek: Green trail of 2.2 miles of flow.

• Red Tail: Test your rock garden skills on this black trail. I loved this one.

• Twin Trail: This dual slalom trail will test your out-of-the-saddle strength. Race a buddy or go it solo. It is a lot of fun.

• Winman One: If you rode Winman One to the front hub, you can continue on this 2.1-mile trail from the hub.

• Glacial Erratic: This is one I did not do but has features that make this trail black.

• Air Mail & Send It: These are two downhill jumps trails.

Red Trail entrance with a sign warning it’s for expert riders only.

Coach Brenda Zimmermann Thorpe, PMBIA Level 2 Technical and Air Instructor from For the Love of BIKES, guided a student down the infamous end of Red Trail, known for its long rock garden.

The Papoose Hub

The Papoose Hub is one of the trail intersections deeper into the WinMan Trails system, giving riders access to more scenic and technical sections. While the Papoose Hub may not have as many starting routes as the Front Hub, it is a key connector between several intermediate and advanced trails.

At this hub, you can switch things up—either loop back to the Front Hub for a more relaxed ride or press on toward the more challenging routes that test your endurance and technical skills. From Papoose, you’ll find flowy sections with rollers and tighter, rockier paths if you're craving more technical features.

It’s a great spot to pause and plan your next move—check your trail map, hydrate, and decide whether you want to explore more flowy terrain or tackle something a bit steeper.

The Rear Hub

The Rear Hub sits deep within the WinMan trail system, the gateway to some of the park’s more technical and demanding trails. It’s the perfect spot for riders looking to extend their adventure or push themselves on challenging routes. Unlike the Front Hub, which offers more beginner-friendly paths, the Rear Hub connects to advanced trails with steeper climbs, tighter turns, and technical features.

From the Rear Hub, you can explore trails like:

• Gene Machine: A mix of technical rock gardens, sharp turns, and fast sections—ideal for riders who like to keep things exciting.

• LAMBO Spur: This trail offers steeper, more technical terrain with quick turns, making it a favorite for advanced riders.

• Perimeter Trail: A longer route that gives you a bit of everything—climbs, descents, and flow sections.

The Rear Hub makes linking trails together for a longer ride easy, offering multiple ways to return to the Front Hub or the chalet. If you’re up for the challenge, it’s the place to be.

The Bottom Bracket Hub

The Bottom Bracket Hub is another key point in the WinMan trail system. It connects deeper into the network and gives riders a chance to explore some of the park’s more challenging terrain. Positioned further out, it acts as a midpoint for longer rides, linking trails like Rear Hub Return and LAMBO Spur.

From the Bottom Bracket, you can either push deeper into the park’s advanced trails or start returning toward the Front Hub. It’s essential for trail sessions and riders looking to piece together a more intense loop. The trails here are geared toward more technical riding, with steep climbs, quick descents, and tighter corners, making it a prime spot for experienced riders.

The Bottom Bracket Hub offers a great mix of flow and challenge.

Where I stayed: Pea Patch Saloon & Motel.

During my visit to WinMan Trails, I stayed at the Pea Patch Saloon & Motel in Manitowish Waters, WI. My coach, Coach Brenda Zimmerman, referred me to it. It’s a cozy, vintage, laid-back spot with an old-school key to get into your room. The motel has 11 rooms overlooking Rest Lake and the Manitowish River, making it a great place to relax after a day on the trails.

Pea Patch Motel and Saloon sign with the building and fall foliage in the background.

The Pea Patch Saloon gives the place a unique vibe. It serves good food and local drinks. It’s a popular spot with locals, known for having some of the area's best burgers and cheese curds.

Red, vintage-style room key for Pea Patch Motel.

It was a convenient base for me while visiting WinMan Trails. Plus, having a saloon downstairs where you can unwind without driving anywhere is nice. If you're planning a visit to Winman Trails, I'd recommend it as a comfortable, no-fuss option that fits well with the park's easygoing vibe.

For more information about the Pea Patch, check them out here.

First coffee: Dixie’s Coffee House for coffee.

Dixie’s Coffee House sign welcoming visitors in Manitowish Waters.

I got a tip that Dixie’s has great coffee, and I was bummed to miss it on my first day. On Day 2, I made sure to start my morning there. Dixie’s Coffee House in Manitowish Waters is a cozy spot right on the shore of Vance Lake. I grabbed a seat on the couch by the fire and chilled for a bit before heading out for the day’s ride.

Fall leaves reflected in Vance Lake, behind Dixie’s Coffee House.

They serve New Roots coffee, teas, paninis, soups, and pastries from a local bakery. It’s the perfect spot to fuel and relax before hitting the trails. To learn more and see their menu, visit here.

The future of WinMan Trails.

One of the most exciting developments is the introduction of BaseCamp, a project designed to offer on-site lodging, making it easier for visitors to extend their stay. BaseCamp will feature campsites, cabins, and group spaces right next to the trails, allowing guests to stay overnight and roll straight onto the trails in the morning. I cannot wait.

Future plans include expanding trailheads, like the new Papoose Trailhead, which will open later this season. This will make trail access even more seamless. Updates to the Front Hub, including improved signage, shaded seating areas, and bike repair stations, are also in the works, making the experience even more rider-friendly.

These developments aim to provide a top-tier outdoor experience that keeps riders, skiers, and hikers returning season after season.

For more detailed updates on their plans and how to support these efforts, visit Winman Trails.

Wrapping it up

Outside the Chalet at WinMan Trails, from left to right: Robin Grapa, Coach Brenda Zimmermann Thorpe PMBIA Level 2 Technical and Air Instructor, Coach Karyn Iskra BICP 1 Coach, Coach Kim Basala PMBIA Level 1 Instructor and guide, and me.

I had such a great time here last weekend that I have not officially wrapped it up. I am heading back this weekend. If you are anywhere near WinMan Trails, you should check it out. I can tell you about it here, but you have got to see it for yourself. And, if you want a lesson, check out For The Love of Bikes, Believe, Session, Send it! Three keys to success: Believe in yourself Balance. Eyes up. I learned so much from this crew. Happy trails, Y’all.

Check out some of our other blogs on Wisconsin.

• Wisconsin mountain bike races that build and sustain our trails.

• Race Wisconsin: A guide to mountain bike races for women shredders.

• Top Mountain Bike Trails in Wisconsin: A Guide to the Best Trails.

Check out our first t-shirt at Overland Girl General Store.

I’ve always had a huge passion for animals—and I especially love chipmunks. They’re everywhere along the trails here in the Midwest, and I can’t help but worry about them as we ride. After all, the forest is their home, and when we’re shredding through it, it’s important to respect their space.

This t-shirt is a little reminder to be mindful of the tiny critters that call the forest home. When you wear this shirt, it’s a pledge to brake for chipmunks—giving them a chance to safely scurry across the trail or disappear up a tree. It’s about riding with care, knowing that we’re all sharing the outdoors.

Pick one up today at the Overland Girl General Store—a simple way to show your love for animals and the trails we ride.

Front of t-shirt, black with yellow impring of chipmunk holding sign share the trails and is wearing a mountain bike helmet

The front of the T-shirt