The Green Circle Trailhead is an ideal place to start your exploration of the trail! It is located in Schmeeckle Reserve, 2419 North Point Drive, just a short drive from exit 159 or 161 off Interstate 39. It offers free parking, EV charging stations, a year-round restroom building with flush toilets, drinking water, a bicycle repair station, the Menzel Pavilion picnic shelter, and an informational kiosk with Green Circle map brochures. The Sentry Plaza, a large concrete circle, is a popular gathering area and provides easy access to the Green Circle Trail, the Schmeeckle Reserve trail system, and the Green Circle pet route along North Point Drive (pets are not allowed in Schmeeckle Reserve). The trailhead is surrounded by restored native prairie that showcases colorful blooms in the summer and fall.
The Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center, open daily, is located just a short walk from the trailhead. The building has an information desk, a gift shop with Green Circle merchandise, and a nature discovery area. Knowledgeable staff are available to answer your questions. The visitor center is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Directions to the Green Circle Trailhead
Green Circle Trailhead
2419 North Point Dr.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Open every day from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Click here for a map to the trailhead
A Partnership of Giving
The Green Circle Trailhead project was constructed in 2020 through a partnership between Schmeeckle Reserve, part of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Portage County. The trailhead serves as a gateway for visitors to explore the Green Circle and Schmeeckle Reserve trail systems. The project was funded through a Wisconsin DNR Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant and generous community donations. The the Green Circle board and Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve contributed substantial funding toward the project, and the groups are assisting in the maintenance and development of the site.
For more information about the history of this project, visit https://friendsofschmeeckle.org/trailhead/.