The Fox River State Trail connects Green Bay to Greenleaf — a straight shot of about 22 miles that most locals have never finished in a single outing. That’s not a knock on anyone. It’s just a longer, quieter stretch of asphalt and crushed limestone than the name suggests, and it earns its reputation slowly, mile by mile.
The northern trailhead sits off Dousman Street on Green Bay’s west side, near the old rail corridor that the trail follows south. You can park for free in the small lot there and be rolling within minutes. The surface is paved through most of Green Bay proper, which makes it smooth enough for road bikes, inline skates, or a casual walk with a stroller. Once you pass De Pere — about six miles in — the surface shifts to crushed limestone and the scenery opens up considerably.
De Pere is worth a pause. The trail passes close to the city’s historic downtown, and if you cross the bridge over the Fox River you’re within a short detour of a coffee shop or a sandwich. It adds maybe 20 minutes and it breaks up the ride in a useful way. Most people stop here, turn around, and call it a good 12-mile morning. That’s a completely reasonable plan.
If you keep going south of De Pere, the trail gets quieter fast. You’re moving through farmland and small woodlots, past grain elevators and the occasional road crossing with no stoplight. The Fox River is sometimes visible to your left, sometimes hidden behind a tree line. It doesn’t announce itself. On a weekday in September, you might go a mile without seeing another person.
Wildlife shows up reliably — great blue herons fishing in the shallows, red-tailed hawks perched on fence posts, white-tailed deer at dusk near the southern sections. Birders come specifically for the river corridor during migration. You don’t need binoculars, but they help.
The trail is open year-round, though the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources doesn’t groom it for skiing or snowshoeing in winter. A trail pass is required for anyone 16 and older: $5 for a day pass or $25 for an annual. You can buy both at the Iron Ridge Sports shop near the De Pere area, or online through the DNR before you leave the house. Don’t skip this — rangers do check, especially on busy weekends.
If you’re coming from outside the area and want the full distance, the southern terminus in Greenleaf is reachable in about two hours of steady cycling from Green Bay. There’s no grand reward at the end — just a small parking area, a kiosk, and the ride back. But the middle miles have a particular quality to them, wide and flat and genuinely still, that’s harder to find closer to the city.
Bring water. The trail has no services once you’re past De Pere. Sunscreen matters more than you think on the open southern sections. And plan your turnaround point before you go — the 22-mile figure sounds manageable until you’re 14 miles out with tired legs and a slight headwind.
