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I didn’t really know about Lake Menomin Park or the trail here (sometimes called the Red Cedar River Shoreline Trail) until I moved back home.

I think it’s more popular for mountain biking but is also open for hiking, and we did see a few other hikers there, but no bikers.

There is a main trail that I think is primarily for hiking, but I would imagine it’s open for biking too. The main trail is wider than the trails that are definitely for biking (and also hiking), it’s pretty easy to tell what’s what.

Even though I lived here for four years in college, this trail, or park, never entered my brain in any way, and if it did, it obviously never stuck.

But, once I knew about it, I had to go ASAP. We went in early summer, in the morning and it was the perfect day for it. Sunny, but not too hot, not busy at all, and full of flowers and mushrooms (and mosquitos at the end).

The mushroom pictures are in the gallery at the end of the post.

From the parking lot, we hit the trail, starting off going downhill and curving to the left once we got to the bottom. We were headed to the shore of Lake Menomin, which can be pretty stinky in the summer, but thankfully wasn’t yet.

It was the perfect view of the lake. Blue skies, little to no haze, still water, just the right amount and kind of green along the shore, and one boat enjoying the water.

We enjoyed the view for a bit before continuing on. This is where we saw other people, along this lake shore section, but only one or two.

This part of the trail was very good for mushrooms, and I felt like I was constantly stopping for them. And they were all different which was even more exciting! And they weren’t all the same ones you see everywhere.

Soon, the trail goes in to the right a bit, passing through to a lovely, tall grassy meadow area full of wildflowers. You can also see the lake just a bit through the shrubbery on your left here. And at the end of the meadow is a fun little surprise, a pond!

We admired the pond a bit then continued on. At this spot, I don’t know if we realized it at the time, but you can go to the right or left around the pond. We went to the left and came back on the other side.

So from the pond we continued hugging the lake shoreline. There are some small side trails you can take that all pretty much meet back up with the main trail along here. The main trail did narrow down a bit from this point too.

This was the other part of the trail that was really great for mushrooms and we saw the coolest mushroom I’ve ever seen along here. It was a lumpy blue ball oozing orange goo out of a few different holes.

I’ve never seen an oozing mushroom before or since that day. I’d like to go back next summer and see if there are more of them. Or just more mushrooms in general.

Eventually you’ll come to a decision making point: go to the right and head back on the main loop, or continue straight among the biking trails. All of the bike trails are labeled and marked, but there are a lot more of them once you’re out further.

We continued straight on the bike trails and ended up at the Interstate. It’s literally right there. You could climb up to the Interstate quite easily, but don’t (obviously).

We turned around and wound our way around the various small trails around here but it was like we crossed an invisible line and the mosquitos, which were nonexistent before, were just out of control. So, back we went.

We headed back to the main trail then where you had the decision making spot earlier, we continued around in the woods instead of along the lake shore, eventually coming out by the pond, on the opposite side we started on.

That wooded section wasn’t as exciting as the whole first side along the water, but it was still a lovely walk. From the pond, it was a straight shot back up where we started to the paring lot.

In total, we hiked just shy of 3 miles (2.9) with 131 feet of elevation gain, most of it being the hill at the end (that you went down at the beginning) and at the end near the Interstate, but the end section was about half as high as the hill at the beginning/end.

I think this is possibly my favorite hike in the area so far. It’s mostly easy, beautiful, and, of course, the mushrooms and flowers! Plus, Menomonie is a really great little town (I may be biased), so set aside a couple of hours to visit the downtown, too (and be sure to stop at the bookstore and Raw Deal)!

I definitely think this trail (these trails?) are worth doing if you’re in the area, and it’s much more of a hidden gem. Still visit the Devil’s Punchbowl, but be sure to stop here, too if you have the time. And really, if you can only do one, I might say go for this one (unless you love geological formations, then do the punchbowl).

Where is the Lake Menomin Trail?

The Lake Menomin Trail, sometimes called the Red Cedar River Shoreline Trail, is at Menomin County Park northeast of downtown Menomonie.

It’s right by the Interstate but reached via county roads. It’s along the shore of Lake Menomin right where it meets the Red Cedar River north end.

It’s about 30 minutes from Eau Claire, 15-20 from Elk Mound, and 5-10 from downtown Menomonie.

How long is the Lake Menomin Trail?

The Lake Menomin loop is about 2.5 miles. but can easily be more or less with all the smaller connecting trails to choose from.

Is the Lake Menomin Trail hard?

Nope! There is some up and down but I would say it’s pretty minimal. There are about 95 feet of elevation gain but it’s fairly spread out so it’s pretty easy.

Is the Lake Menomin Trail worth it?

Yes! I had no idea what to expect from this trail but I LOVED it! It was beautiful, there were mushrooms and flowers everywhere, and it was nice and quiet.

This is definitely a hidden gem hike in Menomonie and worth a morning or afternoon of your time whether you’re hiking or biking.

Other posts you may like

Hit The Trails: Hiking in Menomonie, WI

Things to do in Eau Claire

Devil’s Punchbowl hike

Fall foliage in the Chippewa Valley

Hiking in Eau Claire

Have you ever hiked the Lake Menomin loop trail? What did you think of it? What is your favorite hike in Menomonie?