Day 28

Austin to La Crosse

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

This morning, say goodbye to the home of Hormel as you make your way across the rest of southern Minnesota. Once again, the ride today is long and relatively flat. The highlight comes about halfway through when you enter the Root River Trail. Enjoy 40 miles of paved bike path as you meander through small towns set on the banks of the Root River. As the path ends, you’ll get a wake-up call in the form of a steep one-mile climb. After a few miles on the plateau, you’ll descend toward the mighty Mississippi River and the border of state number eight: good ol’ Wisconsin. Our home for tonight is The Charmant Hotel, a boutique hotel housed in a renovated candy factory. The name was inspired by a premium line of chocolates once made here. The maple flooring, wooden beams, and exposed brick of the original 1898 structure have been preserved, giving this historic hotel a warm, charming appeal. Enjoy the lovely setting with a drink on the rooftop terrace or take a stroll through the park to the bank of the mighty Mississippi River. Dinner tonight is on your own in this charming town of La Crosse.

Elevation Profile