Chippewa River State Trail
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(715) 232-1242
Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Partial closure Chippewa River ST Junction with Red Cedar Trail to Fuller Rd. Closed (Fall 2026)A 12-mile section of the Chippewa River Trail from Fuller Road to the junction with the Red Cedar Trail will be resurfaced beginning Sept. 15, 2026.… (more)
A 12-mile section of the Chippewa River Trail from Fuller Road to the junction with the Red Cedar Trail will be resurfaced beginning Sept. 15, 2026. This section may be closed during construction. Work is tentatively scheduled to last through fall 2026. Impact: High.
Posted by the park 2026-08-03. Official alert
Overview
Chippewa River State Trail is a 348-acre trail in Eau Claire County, about 4 miles west of Eau Claire.
Things to do include canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, and biking.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| The park’s wording doesn’t give clock times — see the official wording below. | |||
Official wording
The trail is open year-round.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets allowed on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet at all times and under control; loose pets may be seized. Property-specific pet areas/restrictions appear on park pages.
Statewide rule from Wisconsin's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, resident vs nonresident pricing: a vehicle admission pass is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas (daily $13 WI / $16 out-of-state; annual $28 / $50; rates effective Aug. 19, 2025). State trails use a per-person trail pass for certain uses. Heritage Hill SP charges a per-person admission instead.
Statewide fee rule from Wisconsin's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Wisconsin park passes
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (Wisconsin plates) — $28. All Wisconsin state parks, forests and recreation areas for 12 months Details
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (out-of-state plates) — $50. Same, nonresident vehicles Details
- 12-month pass, Wisconsin residents 65+ — $13. Resident senior vehicles Details
- 12-month reduced-rate pass (additional household vehicle) — $15.50 resident / $32.50 nonresident. Additional vehicles at the same household address; bought with a full-price pass Details
- Daily vehicle admission pass — $13 resident / $3 resident 65+ / $16 nonresident Details
From the Wisconsin state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
Canoeing and kayakingHuntingBiking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa River State Trail | 30 mi | — | Rail trail: YesAsphalt - 18 miles. Asphalt emulsion - 12 miles surface |
Trail descriptions from the park
- Rail trail: Yes
- Length: 30 miles
- Surface: Asphalt - 18 miles. Asphalt emulsion - 12 miles
- Counties: Eau Claire, Dunn, Pepin
- Communities: Eau Claire, Caryville, Meridean, Durand
Boating and paddling
The trail is ideal for a bike and paddle trip. Sections of this former rail corridor parallel the Chippewa River. You can paddle downstream and then bike back to your starting point or vice versa. In season, vendors in Eau Claire offer a peddle and paddle option along the trail.
Getting there
- Nearest town
- Eau Claire — about 4 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 44.8000, -91.5802 (from PAD-US)
- Phone
- (715) 232-1242
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
There are access points at Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire, State Highway 85 west of State Highway 37, in Caryville on State Highway 85 west of the Eau Claire/Dunn county line and Meridean north of State Highway 85 on County Highway O. Tarrant Park along State Highway 85 at the northeast end of Durand, is the Chippewa River Trail's southwest trailhead. This 16-acre park features parking adjacent to the trail, picnic areas, playgrounds, athletic fields, a swimming pool, water, toilets and the only campground on the Chippewa River State Trail.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Wisconsin State Park System — park page — last checked Oct 30, 2026
- Wisconsin DNR 'Find a Park' directory (server-rendered Drupal view, ?page=0..5), filtered to /topic/parks/ property pages
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology