By Amanda N. Wegner
After years of planning, the new Harley-Davidson Museum roars to life in downtown Milwaukee on July 12. Located on a 20-acre site, it celebrates everything Harley with artifacts and motorcycle models from the company’s nearly 105 years in business. Here you’ll find the history and heritage of the brand, and stories of people who make and ride these distinctive bikes. The complex includes a museum store and restaurant.
Riding into Milwaukee to see this Harley shrine? Make some time to traverse Wisconsin’s scenic back roads and rural routes. Here are two southeastern Wisconsin rides for enthusiasts making the pilgrimage to the home of Harley this summer.
Holy Hill, Washington CountyConsidered a sacred place by early Native Americans, Holy Hill is a place of awe and wonder. Plus, the ride there includes straight county highways, winding back roads and beautiful hills.
Distance: About 26 miles.
Time: One to two hours.
Route: From Interstate 41/45, exit at Highway 167 (also called Holy Hill Road) and go west to Highway 175. Turn north (right) on Highway 175 toward Slinger, then head west (left) on Highway 60.
Turn south (left) when you reach County Highway CC. Ahead on the right is the Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. (If you want to enter the park, continue west on Highway 60 to the entrance.) Hike up the unit’s Powder Hill to catch a great view, or take a dip, picnic or, if you plan ahead and pack some gear, cast a line to catch some walleye, for which the lake is known. For more information, go to
dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/pikelake.
Either way, your trip continues south on Highway CC back to Highway 167/Holy Hill Road, where you turn right (west). Enjoy some gentle “twisties” before turning left (south) onto Carmel Road, which branches and swoops around Holy Hill (
www.holyhill.com), which is located on the highest point in southeastern Wisconsin. It’s worth a stop.
From Carmel, turn left (east) on Donegal Road, then take a wide left (northeast) onto Emerald Drive. Turn right on St. Augustine Road and follow it left as it turns into Hogsback Road, then Hubertus Road. Follow the loops on Hubertus Road to Highway 164, where it straightens out and stay eastbound on Hubertus Road.
When you get to Scenic Road, turn left (north), riding back to Highway 167. Head east to catch the Interstate.
Janesville-Jefferson-Kettle Moraine loopTake in some city, some country and a whole lot of kettles and moraines. Just watch out for deer crossing.
Distance: about 100 miles.
Time: three to five hours.
Route: Meet at Janesville’s Kutter Harley-Davidson (3223 N. Pontiac Dr.,
www.kutterharley.com) or another locale near the 171A exit off Interstate 39/90. Head north on Highway 26, riding through Janesville and Milton.
Approaching Fort Atkinson, take the left branch of Highway 26 that goes west and north of the city, not Business 26. Continue north to Jefferson, and once there hang a right on Highway 18 (Jefferson Street).
Loop and swoop through Helenville to Sullivan, where Highway 18 veers north, connecting with Main Street. The highway skirts the southern edge of Golden Lake, where the road doubles as Sunset Drive.
Turn right (south) onto Highway 67 toward Dousman. Notice the landscape change – this is the prime area of the southern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. (For more information, head to the unit headquarters, three miles west on Highway 59 in Eagle;
www.dnr.state.wi.us/ORG/land/parks/specific/kms).
Continue on Highway 67, heading south. Head west (right) on Highway 12. On the south edge of Whitewater, turn left (south) onto Highway 89. If you’re ready for a break, however, take Business 12 into the city before you get to Highway 89. Go over the bridge and take a left on E. Milwaukee, and try Randy’s Restaurant & Funhunter’s Brewery (841 E. Milwaukee St.,
www.funhunters.net).
Whether you take a break or keep going, the next leg of your trip is south on Highway 89 until you get to Highway 11/14, where you head west toward Janesville. Near Janesville, keep north on 14. Once in the city, either hop on the Interstate or meet back at Kutter’s, which is just off Humes Road/Highway 14.
For more on the museum, visit
www.harley-davidson.com.
Amanda N. Wegner is a freelance writer based in Madison. Content produced in cooperation with Wisconsin Trails,
www.Wisconsintrails.com. For a complimentary copy of Wisconsin Trails magazine, please e-mail info@wistrails.com.