This 30-mile trail extends from Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire, at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers and travels south along the Chippewa River through a wide variety of habitat including river bottoms, prairies, sandstone bluffs and wetlands. The trail joins the Red Cedar State Trail in the Dunnville Wildlife Area near the confluence of the Red Cedar and Chippewa Rivers and ends at the town of Durand.

The Chippewa River State Trail is part of the Chippewa Valley Trail System. When completed, the trail system will feature an 80-mile network of trail stretching from Cornell, through Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire to Durand and Menomonie. Other trails in the system include the Red Cedar and Old Abe state trails.