Much of the bluff riding you'll do along the Mississippi can be described as on-road mountain biking. But if it's an off-roading adventure you want, consider two of Wisconsin 's riverside state parks.

Wyalusing State Park at Bagley offers seven miles of mountain bike trails in two looped trail systems. The Whitetail Meadows Trail runs a ridge top between woods and prairie grassland. It's a 3.2-mile loop with a center cut-off. The Mississippi Ridge Trail is a more heavily-wooded, 3-mile loop. At its mid-point, it offers a dandy picnic shelter and overlook of the river. Both trails are rated easy/moderate, ideal for beginners and families.

For a more breath-taking off-road experience, ride the trails at Perrot State Park near Trempealeau. To cover the long loop (5.8 miles), you'll have to climb more than 250 feet several times. From the top of Chicken Breast Bluff, you'll fall 360 feet in a half-mile. It's a difficult trail intended for the experienced rider. For an easy roll, take the Wilber Trail, a 2.7-mile loop that won't leave you quite so breathless.