Mt. Horeb to New Glarus, The Long Way

MotorcycleRoads.com to MotorcycleRoads.com

https://goo.gl/maps/bm2Wr 1) Start in Mt. Horeb on the main drag (Rt. 78) heading West. 2) Turn right onto Fertile Ridge Rd 3) Turn left onto County Highway E 4) Turn left onto County Highway Z 5) Take the 1st right onto Barber Rd 6) Turn right onto County Highway F N 7) Sharp left onto Prairie Grove Dr 8) Turn left onto Mounds View Rd 9) Turn left to stay on Mounds View Rd (twice) 10) Turn right onto County Highway F S 11) Take the 1st right onto Co Rd H 12) Turn left onto County Rd K 13) Turn right onto County Rd K/Main St 14) Turn left onto WI-39 E/WI-39 Trunk E/County Rd K/Waldwick St - Continue to follow WI-39 E/WI-39 Trunk E 15) Turn right onto WI-78 S 16) Sharp left onto County Highway H 17) Turn right onto Sawmill Rd 18) Turn right onto Loyalty Rd 19) Slight right onto Yankee Hollow Rd 20) Turn left onto Gould Hill Rd 21) Take the 1st right onto Kainz Rd 22) Turn left onto WI-78 S 23) Continue onto S State St 24) Turn left onto Monroe St 25) Turn left onto W Puddledock Rd 26) Take the 1st left to stay on W Puddledock Rd 27) Turn left onto Puddle Dock Rd 28) Turn left onto Biggs Rd 29) Turn right onto County Highway A 30) Turn right onto County Highway H 31) Turn right onto County Highway H/County Highway J 32) Take the 1st left onto County Highway H 33) Turn left onto Marty Rd (Look for the Rustic Road sign) 34) Turn right onto WI-39 E 35) Turn right onto WI-69 S 36) Drive through town. New Glarus Brewing is past town on a hill to the left.

This is the SE corner of the Driftless, a non-glacial region. Starting off in the farmland around Mt. Horeb, you'd never expect what you are about to see, though it becomes clear the moment you turn off on Fertile Ridge Rd. It's hilly and windy in the Driftless, with plenty of streams, farms, and fields. Lots of forests to ride through. Seriously, this is the Midwest? With road signs showing squiggly lines and a 30 mph suggested speed? This area is why I bought a bike.

Words of warning - there can be a lot of gravel, especially around the apex. There is active farmland, so be on the lookout for drag-on. The roads, other than debris (which is why I knocked it down one star), are fairly well maintained. As to the fun bits, it's mostly a combo of high-speed sweepers and low-speed s-curves. There's decent elevation change, especially for the Midwest. The few straight bits simply take you to the next curve. Be on the lookout for "Rustic Highways." That's usually code for "Freaking Cool Road to Ride." I put on on the ride for your (Marty Rd).

Beginning and end - 4 Middle - 2 Mt. Horeb has plenty of restaurants and shops, including antiques and places to buy trolls (don't ask me). It's a cute town, though not really my thing. But, hey, there's cheap gas and cold sodas. New Glarus is really nice. It's a Swiss village transplanted to Wisconsin. Tons of restaurants and hotels. And the brewery (check the hours - they tend to close early) is worth it for a cold Spotted Cow and a gorgeous view. In between, you can gas up in Blanchardville and Argyle, but don't expect too much more.

You won't regret it.

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