New high-grade ATV trail in area provides a scenic ride

Click here to read the article printed in the April 2007 Issue of ATVSPORT Magazine.

Minong ATV and Snowmobile Club volunteers and the Washburn County Forestry Department recently completed work on a scenic new 22-mile all-terrain vehicle trail through the Washburn County Forest between Minong and the Sawyer County trail system northwest of Nelson Lake.

On Sept. 30, Minong club members hosted a grand opening ride on the new trail. For most of its length, the trail follows Snowmobile Trail Eight to the John Waggoner Road,which connects with Duck Pond Road in Sawyer County and then to the North Country Riders trailhead parking lot on Highway 27, approximately one-half mile south of the Bayfield County line.


From there, riders can use the Seeley Fire Lane going east to Seeley and points beyond, or turn south onto a rebuilt trail connecting with the west end of Nelson Lake.

There’s not another trail in the state right now that’s been built (to the high standards) like this one has, so all eyes are upon it, It’s a showpiece part of the state. This is one of the few trails that’s been carved directly out of the woods. We have hard ground, soft ground, swamps, creeks.”

Over the past two years, the club did extensive work to rebuild, widen and upgrade the existing snowmobile trail.

In one area where the old snowmobile trail went through the Sink Creek swamp along Highway 77, the snowmobile/ATV trail was re-routed to higher ground three miles to the south, west of Trail 39. It includes part of an existing logging road, portions of town roads and some entirely new segments constructed through the forest.

The job included the construction of three wooden bridges and two steel bridges up to 110 feet long, 13 new culverts, digging of ditches, grading, graveling, widening and brushing of the trail. Also, new signs were put up.

Before the project started, satellite photos of the area were analyzed to determine the best route. A DNR permit was required for crossing of any navigable stream, and the wetland bridge crossings required an Army Corps of Engineers permit with DNR concurrence.

The water regulations people (DNR and Army Corps) went through this trail (in late September) and said we did a fantastic job of bridging,

This trail will open up a lot of ATV-ing, which has been needed here, It’s been a good effort between the forestry department and our club. The club purchased a pull type hydraulich road grader for their 7410 JD tractor to maintain the trail. “We’ve put about 10,000 yards of gravel so far on this project.” Gravel was hauled in last winter by the county.

Clearing brush and leaning or fallen trees off the trail is a constant job, he added. “We clear an area 16 feet across and 16 feet straight up. When a logger comes in (to cut a timber sale in the forest along the trail), he has to maintain the trail back to the way he found it. They can take stumps out and do other things we can’t do.”

Washburn County Forest Administrator Mike Peterson said the project was fully funded through ATV user fees (registration fees and gas tax) of $450 per mile which come to the county. The county and club applied for the funds and the county completed the project with the assistance of the club. The county provided heavy equipment (dozer, skidsteer, trucks) and hauled gravel for the project.

Under a contract, the ATV/snowmobile club is now responsible for maintaining the trail, Peterson added.

Grants for the trail project totaled $185,208, of which $130,000 has been spent so far, Peterson added.

“You can’t ask for a more picturesque area,” “You can get away from it all out here. It’s nice that the state, county and federal can work together with the club to achieve something. This is a fantastic opportunity for the community. It’s a win-win situation.”

The wooden bridges are double-decked with a four-inch-thick surface, 12-by-12 and 6-by-6 treated pine timbers. The county hauled in the lumber and the construction was done by hand with the aid of generators and power tools. State regulation signs were put up.

Access to the trail is controlled by gates, which are closed in the summertime but allow ATVs to get around them during the non-snow months (except that Washburn County trails are closed from April 1 to May 30). In the wintertime, the gates are opened to allow snowmobile traffic.

There will be a picnic area at the junction of Trails 8 and 39 for travelers to use. The area through which the trail passes includes many timber wolves. During a Sept. 29 trail tour, some deer were spotted in woods next to the route.

“We’ve got two more trails on the drawing board, both up here in this area (northern Washburn County Forest),”

For more information, visit the Web site at www.minongtrails.com. Trail condition information is also available via phone at (715) 466-5000.

 

 

 

  
 
 
 
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James E. Bartosh