Projects

2024 Project Calendar

​We have a full slate of project work lined up for 2024. Click the button below to view the full list.

VIEW 2024 PROJECT CALENDAR

SUBSCRIBE & VOLUNTEER

2024 Priorities

Our priorities for 2024 are displayed below. Please consider volunteering to help us reach our goals. Our 2024 Project Calendar is linked above as is our Volunteer Sign Up form.  You can view our Prior Accomplishments to see what we have been up to over the past few years.

Goals, Priorities and Projects | Bayfield Area Trails

Maintain & Enhance Existing Trails

• Brownstone Trail: Finalize restoration designs; continue fundraising; conduct invasive species control and native plantings. 
• Frog Bay Trails: Organize volunteers to assist Red Cliff TNR with spring maintenance.
• Siskiwit Preserve: Focus on signage/mapping, and site cleanup 
• Salmo Trail: Install interpretive and orientation signs/map at trailhead kiosk.
• Big Ravine Headwaters Trails: address drainage; add boardwalks; continue mowing.
• Big Ravine: Assess the potential need for bridges on the Gil Larsen Trail; West Rim Trail maintenance; replenish gravel on upper East Rim Trail.
• Ongoing maintenance identified by BAT Comm. members and Trail Adopters.
• Easements for existing Big Ravine trails.

Develop New Trails

• Pileated Woodpecker Trail: Complete the trail.
• Jerry Jolly Trails: Coordinate with Bayfield County to re-establish trail from the “Overlook” to the Jolly Long. 
• Big Ravine: Construct Big Ravine Sweeny Loop (if approved): link Martin Rd. to end of Chipmunk via Sweeny Ave. R/W.
• Fire Hill: Assist Bayfield County with trails planning and implementation.
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Plan New Trails & Secure Access

• Feasibility Study: Support Red Cliff on the TAP-funded feasibility study of trails, including Red Cliff to Bayfield link.
• Chequamegon Rd. to Salmo Trail: Pursue possible easements for a public connection to complete the Brownstone Trail. 
• Big Ravine: Explore possible new trails in the Big Ravine to create loop(s).
• Potential Connections: Continue to explore potential trail connections on Bayfield Hill, Orchards, etc. 
• Trails Master Plan: Work on new Bayfield Area Trails “master plan” based upon input from Trails Forum & Trail User Survey. 
• Big Ravine Coordinated Plan: consider a coordinated integrated management plan with City & Town.
• Fire Hill: Initiate follow-up on interest expressed at 2023 Trails Forum about mountain biking around Fire Hill and mushing trails. 
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Communication & Outreach

• Outreach: Conduct Trail User Survey and Socioeconomic Study.
• Maps: Improve availability of online map information, including QR codes, master map, and links to other trails. 
• Standardization: Develop and implement standardized coordinated maps and trail directional and interpretive signage.
• Team: Recruit additional members and strengthen the CsC to be self-sustaining. Develop capacity for graphics, signage, photography, and content for website.

Build Capacity for Trail Projects

• Place an emphasis on recruiting and developing younger volunteers for long-term continuity.
• Develop and implement standard volunteer and trail adopter training.
• Develop maintenance and management standards & guidelines.

Establish a Sustainable Organization

• Maintain fiscal sponsorship with Recreation & Fitness Resources. Consider other long-term strategies.
• Work on a strategic multi-year plan with priorities.
• Develop funding needs and fundraising strategies & procedures based on priorities. 
• Conduct annual Trails Forums to share information and build support
• Document roles, responsibilities of Chair & BAT Comm. procedures in the operations manual.
• Establish policies & procedures for standard project scheduling & planning: guidance, checklists, annual cycle.

Future Trail Ideas 

WISH LIST - MAP OF POSSIBLE TRAILS

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​Several new trails are being considered in the continued quest to create a unified trail system on the Bayfield Peninsula. The vision for each trail area is described below the map.

​​​​​Fire Tower Hill & Bayfield Hill Orchard Connections: We envision developing trail connections from the Big Ravine Preserve trail network to the orchards on Betzold Road and County J. This could create exciting opportunities for multi-mile loops, starting from the City of Bayfield and spending a day of walking up through the Big Ravine, visiting orchards, and exploring the newly acquired County lands on Fire Tower Hill. Developing these trails will require working cooperatively with willing landowners to establish public trail easements while respecting their private property. If this vision comes to fruition, one could hike as much as a 12-mile loop through the course of a day.​

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​​​​Bayfield to Dalrymple: We envision a foot trail connecting from the lake access area at the end of Washington Ave. in the City of Bayfield along the lakeshore to Dalrymple Campground. This .5-mile trail was identified as a priority in the City’s Waterfront Plan in 2003. Not only would this add a pleasant walking trail in a natural setting in the City, but more importantly, it would enable campers to walk into the City without having to use the road shoulder on busy Highway 13. This trail would traverse very steep and thickly vegetated hillside for much of its route, posing substantial challenges to layout and construction. Additionally, trail easements need to be established across private property in cooperative manner. Therefore, we propose starting first with a short 600-foot segment that could be easily constructed from the edge of the beach to a series of rocky points along the lakeshore. Even this short segment would provide a nice walk and views of the Lake for citizens and visitors. ​

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​​​​Pike’s Bay to Salmo: This trail connection depends upon the restoration of the Brownstone Trail. The vision for this section would be to connect the Brownstone Trail to the Pike’s Creek Fish Hatchery via the Salmo Trail. It would require significant cooperation with private landowners at Pike’s Bay and Port Superior.

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​​Pike's Creek Fish Hatchery to Mt. Ashwabay: This potential foot trail would connect from the existing trail at the Pike’s Creek Fish Hatchery on Highway 13 to the Jolly Loop Trail at Mount Ashwabay. It would travel about 1.5 miles across Department of Natural Resources land along Pike’s Creek and then climb into the forested benches above the creek. It would provide an exciting connection that could be enjoyed throughout the year by hikers, fishermen, bird watchers, skiers, and snowshoers. ​​