Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest · Wisconsin · Trail 126

River Saddle

River Saddle Trail is a 18.1 miles trail in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking.

Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.

Map

One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.

One end45.9183, -90.2384 · Directions ↗
Other end45.9257, -90.0825 · Directions ↗

The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start.

The trail

Length18.1 miles
Trail class3, developed
Typeland trail
Surfacenative material
Typical tread width18-24 inches
Motor vehiclesClosed to all motorized use year-round
AccessibilityEvaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines
Trail numbers126
ForestChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (unit 0913)
StatesWisconsin
Detail publishedmanagement level, with uses

Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.

Allowed uses

HikingAllowed year-round

A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.

Trailheads

The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.

Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date. The recreation page link goes to the Forest Service site, which may redirect to the forest's recreation index.

Camping nearby

Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Bog

    19 mi from the trail midpoint · 94 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.

Explore

Reference

Questions people ask

How long is the River Saddle Trail?

18.1 miles, the sum of the 1 segment the Forest Service records under this name in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

What is allowed on the River Saddle Trail?

hiking. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Where does the River Saddle Trail start?

The line begins at 45.9183, -90.2384 and ends at 45.9257, -90.0825. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Is the River Saddle Trail in a wilderness area?

No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Where can I camp near the River Saddle Trail?

Smith Rapids Pavilion (0 mi), Smith Rapids (0 mi) and Twin Lakes (2.1 mi) are within five miles of the trail. Site counts and booking links are on Campsite Atlas.

Source: Campsite Atlas

How developed is the River Saddle Trail?

Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

How steep and how wide is the River Saddle Trail?

The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Is the River Saddle Trail accessible?

No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.

Source: Forest Service trail layer

Who manages the River Saddle Trail?

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Forest Service unit 0913. The trail is in Wisconsin.

Source: Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest official page

Is there a fire near the River Saddle Trail?

1 active incident within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Bog at 19 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.

Source: Fire nearby

Source

This page is built from 1 segment named RIVER SADDLE in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0913. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.