Great Sauk north: Goette Road to Keller Road
Wisconsin · Other separated ride
A roughly 12-mile return ride on the paved northern part of the Great Sauk State Trail, starting at the public Goette Road parking lot and turning around before the Keller Road crossing. This selection stays in the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area, away from the downtown trail segment. It suits riders who want a longer, relatively level outing through open country; wind and limited shade can make the return feel harder.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Merrimac area, Sauk County · Wisconsin
- Ride length
- 12 mi
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Asphalt
- Road crossings
- Northern ordinary-bicycle paved mainline only; turn before Keller Road. No downtown segment, future bridge, Walking Iron mileage, neighboring recreation-area paths or e-bike eligibility claim.
- Elevation
- DNR describes level grade; county northern mainline assets rate Easy. Retain a qualitative relatively level description and the practical effects of distance and wind; no maximum percent slope or accessibility certification.
- Starting location
- Goette Road, Town of Merrimac, Sauk County, Wisconsin
Approximate horizontal spherical length of eight connected county mainline assets, doubled for return; parking approach excluded and turnaround before Keller Road not separately measured. Not surveyed.
Approximate selected main-path endpoint near Goette Road from prior county reference review; not a surveyed parking entrance or navigation waypoint.
Great Sauk north: Goette Road to Keller Road — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-11. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A roughly 12-mile return ride on the paved northern part of the Great Sauk State Trail, starting at the public Goette Road parking lot and turning around before the Keller Road crossing. This selection stays in the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area, away from the downtown trail segment. It suits riders who want a longer, relatively level outing through open country; wind and limited shade can make the return feel harder.
| Ride detail | What to expect | |---|---| | Format | Out and back; return along the same path | | Distance | About 6 miles each way, about 12 miles total | | Surface | Asphalt on the selected main trail | | Terrain | DNR describes the trail as level; county assets are rated easy. No surveyed slope is claimed. | | Start | Public Great Sauk trail parking on Goette Road, at the mapped northern trail end | | Turnaround | Before the trail crosses Keller Road; remain clear of the roadway and other users | | Cost | Parking is free. Each bicyclist age 16 or older needs a Wisconsin state trail pass: $5 daily or $25 annual at the October 2026 review. | | Season | The trail is described as open year-round. Use this as a daylight, snow-free ride; obey posted hours, gates and conditions. |
The county trail page identifies Goette Road parking. Use the official DNR map page to find the lot and the Great Sauk alignment. Walk your bicycle from the parking area to the paved trail, then follow the Great Sauk south and west through the recreation area. Stay on the named paved mainline at junctions. Other recreation-area routes have different surfaces and uses, and neighboring research and tribal lands are not public trail shortcuts.
At Keller Road, stop on the trail before the road crossing, turn safely and retrace your route to Goette Road. There is no need to cross Keller Road or continue toward town to finish this outing. Pay attention at signed internal road and access crossings, yield to pedestrians and slow at junctions. This is a separated trail outing with road interfaces, rather than a promise of no crossings.
The DNR recreation page permits ordinary bicycles and describes a level asphalt trail. Its winter eagle closure concerns the section from Lincoln Avenue to the access path north of Prairie du Sac, outside this selected northern outing. That does not guarantee the northern path is clear of snow or other closures. Keep pets leashed as posted; DNR specifies a leash no longer than eight feet and requires cleanup. This guide does not establish e-bike eligibility.
Distance basis: About 12 miles is an approximate return distance, calculated from the connected northern mainline in the county's public trail geometry. The horizontal calculation is about 6.02 miles each way. Parallel access connectors were excluded. Parking approach and the short distance saved by turning before the Keller Road crossing are not separately measured. This is not a surveyed distance or a claim that the whole Great Sauk corridor is six miles long.
Checked October 11, 2026: The reviewed DNR notices and county news did not identify a closure on this selected northern section. The announced November 5 bridge crossing and subsequent Walking Iron work concern future connections and add no mileage here. Check current property notices and county updates before setting out. Desktop research does not confirm the surface on the day of a ride.
Editorial status: original ride entry complete; fresh access and notice checks, link verification and national-site integration remain before launch.