The WisconsinHighways.org The State Trunk Highway section of the website says: “One of the notable features is the meandering nature of some of Wisconsin’s highways. Just pick one of the state’s longer routes, and you’ll likely find multiple stretches designated concurrently with other freeways and some meandering behaviour. ” I love winding highways. My favorite rides include State Routes 32, 47, 52, and 55. It’s not the Smoky Mountains, but it does have some car trails. Best machine in Wisconsin.
Scan the QR code above or click here for a route on REVER
This route is figure 8, and I prefer to start from the top at Laona. The Shell terminal there has ethanol-free 91-octane gas and Trig beef sticks. Fuel for both me and the bike is a good way to start the trip, and several stops for both are available along the route.
Advertisement
I headed west on US 8th Street towards Crandon. It was a nice, sunny day, but there were clouds in the air. The faint smell of smoke swirled through the windshield. The news reports said it was due to the large wildfire in Ontario. It occurred to me that I hadn’t been to Canada in 10 years, and that was a long way off. Hopefully one day it will be easy to cross the border, Covid will be under control, and the fire will go out.
These are some of the straightest highways of the ride, and I screwed up my old Twin Cam to hit the bends. I’ve owned a variety of bikes over the years and toured them all – Honda Gold Wing, Suzuki V-Strom, Yamaha FJR1300 – but I always seem to have a Harley by my side. It’s a Wisconsin thing.
Outside of town, I entered the green hardwood forests. Many species are part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, which limits growth and provides natural viewing opportunities with minimal human intrusion. I was approaching the Potawatomi Community of Forest County, enjoying the undulating hills and views from the tops of those hills. This stretch of US 8 is located about one mile from Sugarbush Hill, the third highest point in Wisconsin.
The tiny city of Crandon offers another opportunity for food, fuel and shelter, but I’m in a hurry. I rolled through town and took Highway 55 south and headed towards Lake Mole. The road surface is nice, spacious and has some gentle curves, however this is an agricultural and residential area so the road is relatively straight. The highway continues through Sokaogon Chippewa Community, home to a casino and anything else a tourist might need.
I’m on a quest, because when I clear Mole Lake, I’ll be entering Langlade County. The path changes. I can feel curves and elevation changes. The forest is closed around the road with lots of nice sweepers from 40-50 mph. This continues towards the town of Pickerel, where the road opens back into an agricultural area and we see the Wolf River for the first time. The shifting landscape continued for miles as we passed the small town of Lily, the middle intersection of figure-8.
The smell of freshly cut hay released the thick smoke of a forest fire. The V-Twin continues to pound to a beautiful beat. I gradually entered Langlade, and took a closer look at the Wolf River, which parallels Highway 55 all the way to Keshena. The number of curves increases as the road follows the path of the river.
Crossing Menominee County Road, the road changes dramatically for the better. The Menominee tribe has been managing their land for sustainable timber for about 150 years. Mature trees are allowed to grow right up to the shoulder of the highway and the canopy in some places. The combination of the bends, the view of the Wolf River and the feeling of riding through the forest are the best parts of this ride. This is what I’ve been waiting for, and I love leaning the old Ultra back and forth all the way to Keshena Falls, which is the bottom part of figure-8.
Turning right onto Highway 47, I drove in the direction of the Northwest. The curves are not spectacular, but I still like the scenery of the area. I ran past a few other areas of shady canopy and bent around the back waters of Neopit Mill Pond. Returning to Langlade County is like walking out of a tunnel in the woods and into the neatly organized fields of traditional Wisconsin dairy farms.
The road opened up as I sailed through Phlox into Antigo, the largest city on the route with plenty of stopping opportunities. I like to follow the old Highway 52 through the hospital and city parks and into the large orderly fields of the Antigo Flats. It is home to Antigo Silt Loam, the official state land of Wisconsin. Highway 52 has 90-degree curves along the boundaries of dairy and potato farms. The highway climbs out of the apartments to the Kettlebowl area, which has a volunteer-run ski hill and the only “Caution Steep Grade” sign for the ride. The climb south of Kettlebowl is rough, but the road going down is fresh and smooth.
Wide curves continue into the town of Lily, where we cross the center of figure-8 again and turn north onto Highway 52. The road is great, but the sidewalks in this area are over beyond its useful life by a decade or two, so I keep the speed gentle to be on the safe side. The road follows a 90-degree curve for several miles through the Freeman community. People are still farming here, but with much smaller operations than in Antigo. Highway 52 ends at Highway 32 just west of Wabeno and the ride is coming to an end. I headed north and relaxed a bit on the straight, wider highway back into Laona.
I experienced the wonderful roads, the sights and the scents as well as the varied backgrounds, the bends, the bends, the hills and even a little sunburn. It’s hard to beat a day just hanging around on a motorcycle.
Advertisement
