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SaveThis system is made of fast track with some technical spots and challenging climbs. A lot of effort has been put into creating new single track in this trail system in the last couple of years. The first new section of single track can be found on the blue loop about a quarter of a mile beyond the Red loop trail head. This section offers tight switchbacks, logs and log piles all on a fast hard pack track. If you stay on the Blue loop, which is approximately 10 miles, you can look forward to some switchbacks, rocky, root laden terrain and a series of climbs to get your heart pounding. Those of you who are John Muir veterans will be pleased to know that the most of the geo-block has been removed from those climbs, making for a much nicer ride.
Challenging climbs are abundant at John Muir on many of the loops. One of these can be found on the Orange loop which provides a long, technical, climb (rocks, roots and sand) and changes direction three times before you hit the top at the White/Red trail head. The White trail also has a long, heart pumping climb immediately after the Green loop split. If a short steep climb is what you 're after, bypass the White trail head, stay on the Green loop and give this monster a try. This climb is covered with geo-block as well as 3"-4" high rubber strips, spaced about 50 feet apart, the width of the trails on the steepest sections.
For a great technical ride, and a shortcut to the Connector trail, check out the South Bypass. This is a new trail that offers switchbacks as well as an assortment of challenging obstacles to make most technical riders smile. It 's a short but excellent ride. Don 't miss this trail.
The Red trail is a non technical short loop of 1.5 miles. It 's great for beginners or to be used as a nice cool down.
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, take the connector to Emma Carlin and add roughly 15 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.
Challenging climbs are abundant at John Muir on many of the loops. One of these can be found on the Orange loop which provides a long, technical, climb (rocks, roots and sand) and changes direction three times before you hit the top at the White/Red trail head. The White trail also has a long, heart pumping climb immediately after the Green loop split. If a short steep climb is what you 're after, bypass the White trail head, stay on the Green loop and give this monster a try. This climb is covered with geo-block as well as 3"-4" high rubber strips, spaced about 50 feet apart, the width of the trails on the steepest sections.
For a great technical ride, and a shortcut to the Connector trail, check out the South Bypass. This is a new trail that offers switchbacks as well as an assortment of challenging obstacles to make most technical riders smile. It 's a short but excellent ride. Don 't miss this trail.
The Red trail is a non technical short loop of 1.5 miles. It 's great for beginners or to be used as a nice cool down.
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, take the connector to Emma Carlin and add roughly 15 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.
source: Fat Tire Guides
Primary Trail Type: Cross-Country
AKA: Kettle Moraine South
Land Status: State Forest

Access Info:
John Muir Trailhead
Links
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
25 trails
- Hike
31 trails
- Trail Running
28 trails
Region Details
- 5
- 10
- 10
Region Status
Caution as of Nov 25, 2022Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 33
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 25
- Trails Horse
- 4
- Trails Hike
- 31
- Trails Trail Running
- 28
- Trails Snowmobile
- 4
- Trails Nordic Ski
- 3
- Total Distance
- 41 miles
- Total Descent Distance
- 14 miles
- Total Descent
- 2,279 ft
- Total Vertical
- 198 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 1,029 ft
- Reports
- 205
- Photos
- 30
- Ridden Counter
- 3,977
Popular John Muir Trails Mountain Biking Trails
John Muir Trails Mountain Bike Routes
title | rating | distance |
---|---|---|
Blue Loop Full | 11 miles | |
Muir and Emma Carlin Loop | 25 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 | |
19 mile John Muir Trails Ride | popular ridelog | 19 miles |
15 mile John Muir Trails Ride | popular ridelog | 15 miles |
Photos of John Muir Trails Mountain Bike
trail: White Loop
30 |
May 8, 2022 @ 4:56am
May 8, 2022
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
78 |
Jan 28, 2022 @ 6:18am
Jan 28, 2022
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
84 |
Jan 28, 2022 @ 6:09am
Jan 28, 2022
trail: White Loop
62 |
Feb 3, 2021 @ 12:24pm
Feb 3, 2021
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
80 |
Jan 19, 2021 @ 2:23pm
Jan 19, 2021
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
116 |
Oct 6, 2020 @ 8:37am
Oct 6, 2020
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
111 |
Sep 18, 2020 @ 11:35am
Sep 18, 2020
trail: Blue / Green / Purple Loop
109 |
Sep 18, 2020 @ 11:35am
Sep 18, 2020Recent Trail Reports
status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown Loop / Purple Loop | Nov 25, 2022 @ 11:51am Nov 25, 2022 | Variable | cchambers21 | ||
Brown Loop / White Loop | Nov 25, 2022 @ 3:51am Nov 25, 2022 | Variable | cchambers21 | ||
Orange Loop / White Loop / Brown Loop | Nov 25, 2022 @ 3:51am Nov 25, 2022 | Variable | cchambers21 | ||
Purple / Brown / White / Orange / Green / Blue Loops | Nov 25, 2022 @ 3:51am Nov 25, 2022 | Variable | cchambers21 | ||
Blue / Green / Orange / White Loop | Nov 25, 2022 @ 3:51am Nov 25, 2022 | Variable | cchambers21 | ||
Blue / Green Loop | Nov 25, 2022 @ 3:51am Nov 25, 2022 | Prevalent Mud | cchambers21 | ||
White / Orange Loop | Nov 25, 2022 @ 3:51am Nov 25, 2022 | Variable | cchambers21 | ||
Blue / Green / Orange / White Loop | Nov 25, 2022 @ 3:51am Nov 25, 2022 | Variable | cchambers21 | ||
Blue / Green Loop | Nov 25, 2022 @ 3:51am Nov 25, 2022 | Ideal | cchambers21 | ||
Green Loop | Nov 25, 2022 @ 3:51am Nov 25, 2022 | Freeze/thaw Cycle | cchambers21 |
Activity Feed
username | action | type | title | date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | BiblicaChanel | wishlist | region | John Muir Trails | Mar 19, 2023 @ 5:29pm Mar 19, 2023 |
![]() | BiblicaChanel | wishlist | route | Red loop | Mar 19, 2023 @ 5:29pm Mar 19, 2023 |
![]() | KristinejyKPP | wishlist | region | John Muir Trails | Mar 5, 2023 @ 6:34am Mar 5, 2023 |
![]() | EyeBiker | wishlist | region | John Muir Trails | Mar 2, 2023 @ 6:57am Mar 2, 2023 |
![]() | 7wD2l23b | wishlist | trail | Connector - Muir to Emma | Feb 3, 2023 @ 2:05pm Feb 3, 2023 |
Recent Comments
username | type | title | comment | date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | trail | Nowhere near a Black Diamond level... | Sep 27, 2022 @ 12:12pm Sep 27, 2022 | ||
![]() | report | Thanks no nn | Aug 21, 2021 @ 8:12am Aug 21, 2021 | ||
![]() | trail | Trails are hard packed with occasional muddy... | Jul 19, 2021 @ 2:55am Jul 19, 2021 | ||
![]() | trail | No suspension needed for this trail. | Apr 25, 2021 @ 7:41pm Apr 25, 2021 | ||
![]() | trail | Trail was open but quite muddy on the southern... | Apr 2, 2021 @ 8:16pm Apr 2, 2021 |
Nearby Areas
name | distance | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emma Carlin Trails | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4.4 km | |
Alpine Valley Resort | 7 | 4 | 10.7 km | ||
Jefferson County Mountain Bike Park | 1 | 14 km | |||
The Grand Geneva Resort | 18.2 km | ||||
Kettle Moraine SF - Lapham Peak Unit | 1 | 18.4 km |
Local Products
Activity Type Stats
activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | ridelogs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountain Bike | 25 | 21 miles | 971 ft | 7 miles | 161 ft | #1,592 | #865 | 29 | 205 | 8 | 3,959 | |
Horse | 4 | 10 miles | 663 ft | 4 miles | 184 ft | 20 | 2 | |||||
Hike | 31 | 41 miles | 2,280 ft | 14 miles | 197 ft | #1,205 | #756 | 1 | 202 | 4 | 67 | |
Trail Running | 28 | 37 miles | 2,123 ft | 14 miles | 197 ft | #1,210 | #753 | 202 | 3 | |||
Snowmobile | 4 | 10 miles | 663 ft | 4 miles | 184 ft | 3 | ||||||
Nordic Ski | 3 | 4 miles | 154 ft | 4,137 ft | 69 ft | 45 |
- By kwietrick
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