I wrote a news story recently on plans for a 17-mile reroute of the Ice Age Trail through the Blue Hills.
One point to emphasize in this news is that it is going to take a lot of time, money and work to complete this.
It will take years—five, ten, maybe more.
It will be worth it, however long it takes. The Blue Hills is perhaps Wisconsin’s best kept secret. A modern-built trail among the area’s geological wonders is sure to make the Blue Hills one of the premier hiking destinations along the Ice Age Trail, and even in the Midwest as a whole.
I know a thing or two about trail building and maintenance, as I’ve dedicated a lot of time to it at the Pipestone Quarry Trails in eastern Barron County, not far from the proposed Ice Age Trail reroute.
The terrain is rocky and doesn’t have enough soil to make for a smooth trail.
The Ice Age reroute will be through similar terrain.
It has taken volunteers five years to build about eight miles of single track trail at Pipestone (1951 27 1/2 St., Rice Lake).
The story is the same for Silver Creek Springs in southwestern Barron County (trailhead along 5th Street south of Hwy. D).
There are now two smaller trail systems near Rice Lake—Hiawatha Park and River Doc Trails.
Hiawatha Park is a compact system of 3–4 miles off Hwy. 48. New trail markers were recently installed, making it easier to navigate.
River Doc, which can be accessed along 24th Avenue between 18 and 18 1/2 Street, is new this year on property owned by Dr. Rod and Carol Olson. One of Dr. Olson’s many volunteer projects has been to improve water quality in the Red Cedar River watershed, thus the River Doc name.
A lot of people deserve a lot of credit for getting the first 3.5 miles of trail built quickly.
When Foster Friess gave $100,000 to each of his Rice Lake High School class of 1958 peers, Norm and Margaret Engstrom contributed $50,000 of that to Rice Lake Rotary. That was divided up into three projects, including a pollinator garden at the Rice Lake Public Library, improvements for the Cedar Side Trail in Rice Lake and the new River Doc Trails.
Funding allowed Ahmyn Masci, a local trail builder certified by the International Mountain Biking Assn., to get to work on River Doc. Many volunteers, including members of the Rice Lake Composite Mountain Bike team and their parents, have also played an important role in putting the finishing touches on the trails.
All the trails I’ve mentioned are mountain bike trails maintained by CORBA—Chippewa Off Road Bicycle Assn. But the organization now identifies itself as CORBA Trails for All—everyone is more than welcome to use them for hiking, snowshoeing and other activities.
These projects are of great value to the community.
I heard recently that modern top-tier mountain biking trails cost $50,000-75,000 per mile—it takes hours of both mechanical work and man power to make a great trail.
Minnesota has invested millions into trails in places like the Cayuna Lakes and along the North Shore.
People travel from all over to ride places like Copper Harbor and Marquette in the UP, which were among the first to invest heavily in trail building. But also to the Chequamegon Area Mountain Biking Assn. trails between Hayward and Cable, which have been largely volunteer built, though more recent improvements have been by paid professional builders. I’ve traveled to places North Carolina and Arkansas specifically to go mountain biking, but the trails of northern Wisconsin are still among my favorites.
A study in 2020 showed a $7.8 million annual economic impact to Sawyer and Bayfield counties through the CAMBA trails.
Of course, a wide variety of recreational pursuits are popular in this area and provide economic impact. But I think it’s important to highlight things that are new the mix.
Whatever your outdoor pastimes may be, remember that there are businesses, government bodies, organizations and volunteers making those experiences possible. Please support them financially and/or with your volunteer time.
I am Barron County’s representative on the CORBA board of directors, and we can always use some help in making the trails better. If anyone has any questions about River Doc, Hiawatha, Pipestone or Silver Creek, feel free to contact me or visit corbatrails.org. All are welcome on the trails.
Trail Maps:
MTB Project and Trailforks are also helpful apps for navigating.
URColumn #28 110321
More news at www.news-shield.com. Follow me on Twitter at @Urbanator88.
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