Bikepacking Gravel Roads: Minocqua to Marshfield (Overnight Hammock Camping!)
- Randy Reek, The Great Out There
- Sep 4
- 5 min read
My idea of FUN is #bikepacking on lightly traveled gravel roads - away from the tourist traffic - through scenic northern and central Wisconsin!
I grew up in Marshfield, in the farm country of central Wisconsin. During these years, my favorite vacation destination was the lakes and forests in the Minocqua area. Later, I was able to relocate my business to Minocqua and lived there for 16 years. Now, in my semi-retirement, I once again live in Marshfield.
After more than 50 years of cycling experience, I am now a committed gravel biker! While I once avoided unpaved roads with my skinny 1-inch tubular tires, I NOW seek gravel roads for recreation, fitness riding, competitive "gravel grinders", and bicycle touring - which has been relabeled #bikepacking.
One of my favorite routes runs from Minocqua in the Northwoods down to Marshfield. This route includes the Bearskin Trail, a scenic Rails to Trails corridor between Minocqua and Tomahawk, Wisconsin.
The "Island City" of Minocqua is known for congested tourist traffic all Summer. The roads leading to the Minocqua area are characterized by speeding traffic in a hurry to reach this vacation paradise.
This is the PERFECT setting for a gravel bike! The trailhead for the Bearskin Trail is smack in the middle of town. Once you enter Torpy Park and you cross the old railroad trestle over the narrows on Lake Minocqua, you leave all the vehicle traffic behind.
This article is both a recap of how I pack for LITE bikepacking, and a review of the “commuter” bike I transformed into a capable gravel road bikepacking machine.
This ride was in late August, and the forecast called for PERFECT warm and dry early Fall weather in northern Wisconsin.
I left Minocqua on the Bearskin Trail after 1:00 PM. This former railroad bed is popular with bikers and hikers as it crosses many streams under tunnels of northern hardwoods. It is open for bikes in the summer and snowmobiles in the long Wisconsin Winters.
The Bearskin Trail ends after crossing under the busy highway 51 route to the Northwoods. Then I continued south and west on a series of paved county and township roads for about 10 miles until reaching more gravel roads through the Oneida County forest. The main traffic on these backroads, even on the busy Labor Day weekend, was ATVs and side-by-sides.
My next stop was in Tripoli, WI for snacks and water. (I carried three water bottles and about 1.5 liters of water in a Camelback. I also carry a mini Sawyer water filter for access to clean water from the numerous small streams, in case of emergency.)
I planned a no-cook menu for the trip. I caried enough snacks for a few calories each hour – even if the convenience store in Tripoli was closed! But the store was open and very busy on this Saturday evening during Labor Day weekend, so I was able to supplement my snacks with gas station pizza, besides water and Gatorade.
Leaving the BP gas station in Tripoli, my route traveled south on another county highway for a few miles until I entered the Lincoln Forest south of Spirit Falls. My plan was to hammock camp near the crossing of the Ice Age Trail – which winds through Wisconsin roughly on the edge of the ancient glaciers that formed the landscape.
Side note: see also my articles on hammock camping. The reason I prefer hammock camping is that the forest is DENSE. The best place to camp is not in the damp lowlands, but near the ridgetops, both for a breeze that helps reduce the concentration of insects and also for mature hardwoods which limit the undergrowth. However, even on these ridges the ground is uneven, making it hard to pitch a tent for a comfortable bed. Instead, a suspended hammock provides a warm, dry, and luxurious bed – literally sleeping on air!
Since this was only an overnight trip, I was able to pack very lightly. Besides the water bottles, my bike also has a lower mount that contains my tools. I run 50mm gravel tires on the bike, converted to tubeless. But I also carry a spare inner tube, patch kit, and pump in the frame bag.
My rear rack held a compression stuff sack with an air mattress, sleeping quilt, and a change of clothes, including warmer layers for the next morning. Another stuff sack on the handlebars contained my hammock, tarp, a ziplock of hygiene items, and the food I had reserved for the second day.
Here are scenes from the Minocqua to Marshfield gravel road bikepacking adventure:
I was awakened before daylight with bear hunters racing their trucks up the forest road. Apparently, I was camping in the forest on the opening of the bear hunting season, and the hunters were anxious to release their hounds on fresh trails at daybreak.
I alternated packing my camp and eating my breakfast of granola bars and Pop Tarts! I was riding south through the forest on the rolling route before 7:00 AM.
I chose this route for the nearly non-existent traffic (after the pre-dawn hunters) and miles of perfect gravel roads. Including the Bearskin Trail, this route was over 90% on unpaved forest and township roads.
After crossing Hwy 64, the forest opens to farmlands and woodlots. By 11:00 AM I arrived in Athens, WI for coffee and a muffin. Then it was a mix of gravel and paved country roads home to Marshfield. I arrived mid-afternoon, completing the route.
Bikepacking is not a speed test, but depends on the bike being solid, comfortable, and efficient for hour after hour of loaded travel. See the related article that details the modifications I made to this “hybrid” bike to outfit it for my style of gravel rides and lite bikepacking. - Click HERE.
The stock bike was supplied with narrow 37mm street tires. The wider 50mm tubeless gravel tires that I installed added both traction in loose gravel and cushioning to the ride.
The main feature that I appreciated on this ride was the Rockshox spring fork. When riding on good, paved roads, I lock out the suspension fork. The gravel tires don't have the same volume as larger MTB tires, however, so on rough paved roads and most unpaved roads the spring fork adds greatly to the comfort. With larger tubeless tires, it is easy to "air down" to absorb the continuous jolts and vibrations that would otherwise be transmitted through your hands and arms.
Although traveling with a light load, I still made use of the low gearing in the 1x12 cassette on the rolling hills through the forest. In total, I have found this bike to be a joy to ride unloaded for fun and fitness, as well as a capable machine when lightly loaded. Even on a longer route, I would carry roughly the same gear – unless I had no resupply options and needed to carry more food and water. Then I might add either mini panniers to the rear or cargo cages to the front forks.
I am truly spoiled by the unlimited gravel bike riding that I have available across the state. traffic is NEVER an issue and I rarely encounter more than ONE vehicle per HOUR! I give more reasons why everyone should ride more gravel in this related article - Click HERE.
Have YOU made the transition to gravel road cycling and bikepacking? Have you tried hammock camping on bike trips - or other adventures? Leave your comments below. Please also subscribe for first access to related outdoor content on the GreatOutThere.online blog.
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