The local organizations that make up the Vilas Area Walking and Biking Council are committed to expanding access to safe and reliable trails for all. Each organization faces its own unique challenges, but each group is equally committed to bettering the lives of all Vilas County residents and the thousands of visitors we host each year.
To learn more about current projects, and how you can help, click the menu below and explore the region where you would like to see more development.
The Wilderness Pedalers are currently working on developing an 3.85 mile primarily "through the woods" paved bike trail from Highway K at North Lakeland School, to Big Lake Campground, and ending at the intersection of Highway P and Crab Lake Road. This new trail will provide countless campground guests and other cyclists living in or visiting the area, access to the Heart of Vilas paved bike trails, the Town of Presque Isle, and beyond.
The cost of this new trail is currently estimated to be in the $1.3 to $1.5 million range. Our hope is to secure Federal, State and/or Foundation grants to fund a large portion of this project but we anticipate still needing local financial support to cover as much as $300,000 to $400,000 of the total project cost.
The Arbor Vitae Bicycle Trail Foundation is currently working to raise funds for the development of bicycle trails linking Arbor Vitae to other communities in Vilas County.
Overall goal is the construction of a trail linking Arbor Vitae with the Heart of Vilas County bike trail system at the intersection of Highway M and Highway N.
Great Headwaters Trails has several initiatives in the region. Currently they are actively working on the River Trail to connect Eagle River to the 52-mile Heart of Vilas County trail system. Other projects which are important, but currently on hold include:
The Mercer by Bike is a huge initiative underway to expand the current "Heart of Vilas County” paved trail system.
This expansion would extend the current trail through the town of Mercer and along County Road J, to the intersection at County Road W and WinMan Trails. This would create an ideal and desirable biking loop through Mercer thereby expanding the current paved trail system which has recently been granted the official designation as a National Recreation Trail.
Currently no active projects are underway.