close
3D
Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
Trailforks scans users ridelogs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
Trail Last Ridden
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine the last time a trail was ridden.
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
Contribute Details
Colors indicate trail is missing specified detail.
- Description
- Photos
- Description & Photos
- Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months.
Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades.
Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
- not popular
ATV/ORV/OHV Filter
Max Vehicle Width
inches
US Cell Coverage
Legend
Radar Time
x
Activity Recordings
Trailforks users anonymized public ridelogs from the past 6 months.
- mountain biking recent
- mountain biking (>6 month)
- hiking (1 year)
- moto (1 year)
Activity Recordings
Trailforks users anonymized public skilogs from the past 12 months.
- Downhill Ski
- Backcountry Ski
- Nordic Ski
- Snowmobile
Winter Trails
Warning
A routing network for winter maps does not exist. Selecting trails using the winter trails layer has been disabled.
x
Missing Trails
Most Popular
Least Popular
Trails are colored based on popularity. The more popular a trail is, the more red. Less popular trails trend towards green.
Jump Magnitude Heatmap
Heatmap of where riders jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
Trails Deemphasized
Trails are shown in grey.
Only show trails with NO bikes.
Save the current map location and zoom level as your default home location whenever this page is loaded.
SaveThis system is made of fast track with some technical spots and challenging climbs. A lot of effort has been put into creating many miles of single track in this trail system over the years. More recent additions include a bike wash station, and changing rooms separate from the vault toilets. Other amenities include an information kiosk with maps and other info, a drinking fountain, fire ring, benches, many picnic tables, and a pavilion with a charcoal grill. There are no trash cans at this park, however, so please pack out what you pack in.
With the exception of a few very short sections, all trails in the John Muir / Connector / Emma Carlin trail system are ONE WAY ONLY There are signs and maps at the trailhead and at every trail intersection to point you in the right direction.
Please note that all riders 16 and older must have and carry a trail pass with them, and produce it upon request by the DNR. And lastly, ALL riders should wear a helmet.
Now on to the good stuff:
For Beginner riders, there is a very flat, easy-rolling half-mile trail through widely spaced pine trees, behind and to the right of the restrooms.
Test and build your bike handling on our Skills course, which has two wooden berms, several wooden skinnies, a small rock garden, and a few small drops and up/down ramps. The entrance is the wooden bridge by the bike wash station.
Next is the Brown loop, great for novice riders who have outgrown the Beginner loop. It is approximately 1.7 miles, with only a few small climbs, and an intro to rocks and roots. More advanced riders also use the Brown as a warmup or cooldown.
Step up to the White loop, coming in at just under 3 miles. It has fun, flowy downhills, long, rocky climbs, and a few other tricks.
One of the first trails to dry out after a rain is the 4.8-mile Purple loop, also known as Rainy Dew. It bypasses the Southern loops that stay wet longer, so we can open the Northern half for riding.
Technical riders might enjoy the Orange loop, 3.45 miles of challenging terrain. Roots, rocks, narrow track, climbs, and descents. This one has it all, the closest thing to a black diamond trail you'll find at Muir. If this isn't enough, head over to Emma Carlin.
Longer, but less technical, is our Green loop, at 8.25 miles. It does have some roots, rocks, hills, and deep sand, but is considered an intermediate trail.
Our longest single loop is the Blue loop, which is approximately 11 miles. It offers switchbacks, rocky, root laden terrain and a series of climbs to get your heart pounding.
The 1-mile Gnome loop begins and ends at MR13 "Crossroads" on the Blue/Green/Purple trails, taking you down to the Connector Trail at Hwy H, and all the way to Emma Carlin if you have the time and the legs.
All-in-all John Muir is a great trail system. These aren't the most technical trails in the state, but there are a total of over 27 miles of trails in the system with many loops to choose from. If that's not enough, try a "Big-Big", which is the John Muir Blue loop to MR13, Gnome loop to Connector to Emma Carlin, Emma Green loop, Connector back to Gnome to MR13 and finishing in the lot after 33 miles.
John Muir may be the most visited trail system in the state, with good reason; it's well maintained, and provides something for everyone. If you're in Southern Wisconsin, make sure you ride John Muir.
With the exception of a few very short sections, all trails in the John Muir / Connector / Emma Carlin trail system are ONE WAY ONLY There are signs and maps at the trailhead and at every trail intersection to point you in the right direction.
Please note that all riders 16 and older must have and carry a trail pass with them, and produce it upon request by the DNR. And lastly, ALL riders should wear a helmet.
Now on to the good stuff:
For Beginner riders, there is a very flat, easy-rolling half-mile trail through widely spaced pine trees, behind and to the right of the restrooms.
Test and build your bike handling on our Skills course, which has two wooden berms, several wooden skinnies, a small rock garden, and a few small drops and up/down ramps. The entrance is the wooden bridge by the bike wash station.
Next is the Brown loop, great for novice riders who have outgrown the Beginner loop. It is approximately 1.7 miles, with only a few small climbs, and an intro to rocks and roots. More advanced riders also use the Brown as a warmup or cooldown.
Step up to the White loop, coming in at just under 3 miles. It has fun, flowy downhills, long, rocky climbs, and a few other tricks.
One of the first trails to dry out after a rain is the 4.8-mile Purple loop, also known as Rainy Dew. It bypasses the Southern loops that stay wet longer, so we can open the Northern half for riding.
Technical riders might enjoy the Orange loop, 3.45 miles of challenging terrain. Roots, rocks, narrow track, climbs, and descents. This one has it all, the closest thing to a black diamond trail you'll find at Muir. If this isn't enough, head over to Emma Carlin.
Longer, but less technical, is our Green loop, at 8.25 miles. It does have some roots, rocks, hills, and deep sand, but is considered an intermediate trail.
Our longest single loop is the Blue loop, which is approximately 11 miles. It offers switchbacks, rocky, root laden terrain and a series of climbs to get your heart pounding.
The 1-mile Gnome loop begins and ends at MR13 "Crossroads" on the Blue/Green/Purple trails, taking you down to the Connector Trail at Hwy H, and all the way to Emma Carlin if you have the time and the legs.
All-in-all John Muir is a great trail system. These aren't the most technical trails in the state, but there are a total of over 27 miles of trails in the system with many loops to choose from. If that's not enough, try a "Big-Big", which is the John Muir Blue loop to MR13, Gnome loop to Connector to Emma Carlin, Emma Green loop, Connector back to Gnome to MR13 and finishing in the lot after 33 miles.
John Muir may be the most visited trail system in the state, with good reason; it's well maintained, and provides something for everyone. If you're in Southern Wisconsin, make sure you ride John Muir.
Primary Trail Type: Cross-Country
AKA: Kettle Moraine South
Land Status: State Forest

Access Info:
John Muir Trailhead
Disclaimer:
State Park sticker required for parking. Trail Pass required for riders 16+. Helmets required for all riders.
Links
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
33 trails
- Hike
104 trails
- Trail Running
101 trails
Region Details
- 7
- 4
- 20
- 1
Region Status
Open as of 20 hoursStats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 106
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 33
- Trails E-Bike
- 8
- Trails Horse
- 7
- Trails Hike
- 104
- Trails Trail Running
- 101
- Trails ATV/ORV/OHV
- 6
- Trails Snowmobile
- 4
- Trails Nordic Ski
- 3
- Total Distance
- 82 miles
- Total Descent Distance
- 27 miles
- Total Descent
- 4,406 ft
- Total Vertical
- 187 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 1,015 ft
- Reports
- 428
- Photos
- 27
- Ridden Counter
- 14,691
Popular John Muir Trails Mountain Biking Trails
John Muir Trails Mountain Bike Routes
title | rating | distance |
---|---|---|
Muir and Emma Carlin Loop | 25 miles | |
Blue Loop Full | 11 miles | |
Green Loop | 7 miles | |
Blue Loop | 11 miles | |
Blue Loop | 11 miles | |
Green Loop | 7 miles | |
Red loop | 2 miles | |
Orange Loop | 4 miles | |
13 mile John Muir Trails Cross-country Ride | popular ridelog | 13 miles |
17 mile John Muir Trails Ride | popular ridelog | 17 miles |
Photos of John Muir Trails Mountain Bike
trail: Blue Loop
81 |
Jul 6, 2023 @ 3:58pm
Jul 6, 2023
trail: White Loop
137 |
May 8, 2022 @ 4:56am
May 8, 2022
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
197 |
Jan 28, 2022 @ 6:18am
Jan 28, 2022
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
209 |
Jan 28, 2022 @ 6:09am
Jan 28, 2022
trail: White Loop
148 |
Feb 3, 2021 @ 12:24pm
Feb 3, 2021
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
175 |
Jan 19, 2021 @ 2:23pm
Jan 19, 2021
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
221 |
Oct 6, 2020 @ 8:37am
Oct 6, 2020
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
224 |
Sep 18, 2020 @ 11:35am
Sep 18, 2020Videos of John Muir Trails Mountain Bike

trail: Moraine Ridge (John Muir)
95 |
Aug 14, 2023

trail: Moraine Ridge (John Muir)
|
Aug 14, 2023
Recent Trail Reports
status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
County Highway Z | Apr 27, 2025 @ 8:56am 20 hours | Unknown | mtbnrn | ||
Blue / Green Loop | Sep 3, 2024 @ 5:50pm Sep 3, 2024 | Ideal | Jrsmail | ||
Blue Loop | Sep 3, 2024 @ 5:50pm Sep 3, 2024 | Ideal | Jrsmail | ||
Blue / Green Loop | Sep 3, 2024 @ 5:50pm Sep 3, 2024 | Ideal | Jrsmail | ||
Blue / Green / Orange / White Loop | Sep 3, 2024 @ 5:50pm Sep 3, 2024 | Ideal | Jrsmail | ||
Blue / Green Loop | Sep 3, 2024 @ 5:50pm Sep 3, 2024 | Ideal | Jrsmail | ||
Blue / Green / Orange / White Loop | Sep 3, 2024 @ 5:50pm Sep 3, 2024 | Ideal | Jrsmail | ||
Blue / Green / Purple Loop | Dec 8, 2023 @ 7:11am Dec 8, 2023 | Ideal | cchambers21 | ||
Blue / Green / Orange / Purple Loop | Dec 8, 2023 @ 7:11am Dec 8, 2023 | Ideal | cchambers21 | ||
Blue / Green / Orange Loop | Dec 8, 2023 @ 7:11am Dec 8, 2023 | Variable | cchambers21 |
Activity Feed
username | action | type | title | date |
---|---|---|---|---|
mtbnrn | add | report | activity #70493218 | Apr 27, 2025 @ 8:56am 20 hours |
Chadever | update | trail | activity #70459544 | Apr 26, 2025 @ 9:24pm 1 day |
Chadever | update | trail | activity #70353249 and 13 more | Apr 25, 2025 @ 11:11am 3 days |
Chadever | update | trail | activity #70341586 and 4 more | Apr 25, 2025 @ 8:00am 3 days |
Chadever | update | trail | activity #70320812 and 3 more | Apr 24, 2025 @ 8:15pm Apr 24, 2025 |
Recent Comments
username | type | title | comment | date |
---|---|---|---|---|
trail | Some of the most technical riding in the... | Oct 21, 2023 @ 10:33pm Oct 21, 2023 | ||
report | Nice work!! | Aug 28, 2023 @ 7:11am Aug 28, 2023 | ||
trail | Narrower than most trails in this area, plus... | Jul 15, 2023 @ 3:12pm Jul 15, 2023 | ||
trail | 95% smooth dirt trail, very easy blue. | Jul 6, 2023 @ 12:45pm Jul 6, 2023 | ||
trail | Smooth wide trail through the woods, has... | Jul 6, 2023 @ 12:42pm Jul 6, 2023 |
Nearby Areas
name | distance | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emma Carlin Trails | 5 | 6 | 4.4 km | ||
Alpine Valley Resort | 6 | 4 | 10.7 km | ||
Glacial River Park | 2 | 1 | 16.1 km | ||
Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures | 4 | 1 | 16.6 km | ||
The Grand Geneva Resort | 1 | 18.2 km |
Local Badges
-
Completionist9 awarded
Local Products
Activity Type Stats
activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | ridelogs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountain Bike | 33 | 38 miles | 1,657 ft | 12 miles | 174 ft | #2,011 | #1,090 | 26 | 426 | 8 | 5,801 | |
E-Bike | 8 | 22 miles | 499 ft | 8 miles | 174 ft | 365 | 53 | |||||
Horse | 7 | 18 miles | 797 ft | 7 miles | 184 ft | 24 | 2 | |||||
Hike | 104 | 78 miles | 4,249 ft | 27 miles | 187 ft | #1,549 | #963 | 1 | 425 | 4 | 234 | |
Trail Running | 101 | 77 miles | 4,236 ft | 26 miles | 187 ft | #1,549 | #957 | 425 | 62 | |||
ATV/ORV/OHV | 6 | 16 miles | 335 ft | 4 miles | 154 ft | 22 | ||||||
Snowmobile | 4 | 10 miles | 663 ft | 4 miles | 184 ft | 3 | ||||||
Nordic Ski | 3 | 4 miles | 157 ft | 4,144 ft | 69 ft | 61 |
- By Myszkewicz
SKORR & contributors
- Admins: SKORR, SKORR
- #5285 - 17,321 views
- john muir trails activity log | embed map of John Muir Trails mountain bike trails | john muir trails mountain biking points of interest
Downloading of trail gps tracks in kml & gpx formats is enabled for John Muir Trails.
You must login to download files.