ACCOMPLISHMENTS | Bayfield Area Trails

Bayfield Area Trails Accomplishments

We have accomplished so much over the past few years thanks to your support and participation! We've listed some of the accomplishments below. 

Maintain & Enhance Existing Trails

2021

• Installed standard Bayfield Area Trails signage on Big Ravine Trails. 
• Completed Big Ravine trailhead improvements. 
• Big Ravine West Side: Installed boardwalk to address wet sections of Striped Skunk Trail 
• Volunteer assistance to the NPS on the Lakeshore Trail at Meyers Beach.  

2022

• Developed standard Bayfield Area Trails signage. 
• Maintained Jerry Jay Jolly Trails. Added Overlook Loop, including boardwalk and footbridge; replaced bridge on main trail; added directional signage.
• Big Ravine Gil Larsen Trail: Reconstructed boardwalk and stone steps above the waterfall.
• Constructed new Brownstone Trail re-route to avoid highway 13 curve. 
• Explored purchase of Maki property and long-term remedy of Brownstone Trail slump. 
• Renovated Bayfield’s Memorial Park walkway.  
• Assessed condition and needed improvements of Raspberry River Trails. 2022 - Deemed impassable due to extensive timber blowdown
• Acquired the Big Ravine headwaters and initiated trails. 2022 - Land acquired and trails started

2023

• Big Ravine Trails: 
  • Gil Larsen Trail: Repaired and capped posts on lower boardwalk; added railing to stairway at first creek crossing; enhanced second creek crossing with large stepping stones; added steps on both banks at second creek crossing; reconstructed stairway upstream from the Iron Bridge intersection.
  • Lower Sweeny Switchback Trail: Added footbridge and box steps.
  • Pine Bluff Trail: Mitigated erosion issues by adding armoring in trail tread and improving drainage.
  • School Trail: Hillside restoration and stabilization on the slope at the top of the hill; added erosion control and rock armoring in gully below the outflow pipe from the school.
• Hatchery to Mt. Ashwabay Trail: Now called the Pileated Woodpecker Trail
  • Bridge across Pikes Creek: Cleared access on both sides of creek; purchased and installed bridge.
  • Constructed footbridge, boardwalks, and box steps across floodplain.
  • Constructed 1.1-mile-long upper section of trail to connect to Mt. Ashwabay trailhead; constructed footbridge across drainage on this section.
  • Ordered and installed directional signage.
  •  “Finish” and drainage work on trail: Carried into 2024 due to excessively wet conditions in the fall. 
  • Routine mowing on connecting hiking trails: Carried into 2024
• Brownstone Trail: 
  • Property purchase completed and ownership transferred to Bayfield County. 
  • Repaired drainage swale and restored trail at the south end of Fifth St.
  • Added box steps at the south end of Fifth St.
  • Replenished gravel on the trail next to steps south of Blue Wing Bay Rd. and below Wild Rice Retreat. Cleared drainage ditches to facilitate water movement.
• Siskiwit Preserve: Cleared and improved orchard trails; constructed stone steps along river; added box steps and improved trails adjacent to river on both sides.
• Trail marking/blazing: Assessed trails to determine needs for improved marking with blazing or signs – Carried into 2024
• Frog Bay: Maintenance, if Red Cliff TNR requests assistance – Carried into 2024
• Jerry Jolly Trails: Re-establish the trail connection from the “Overlook” to the Jolly Long. On hold, pending County approval.

Plan & Develop New Trails

2021

• Established a consistent approach for working with willing landowners on trail crossings and easements, including agreements, signage, monitoring, and communications. 
  
• Constructed the Hemlock Heights connection in the Big Ravine. 
  
• Extended the Gil Larsen Trail in the Big Ravine. 
  
• Constructed the school trail connection in the Big Ravine. 
  

2022

• Mapped the route to connect the hatchery to AWB trails; initiate permitting.  New trail approved by DNR and phase 1 of trail construction completed.
  
• Big Ravine Headwaters: Land purchased and ownership transferred to the Town of Bayfield. Initiated planning for trails network.
  

2023

• Big Ravine Headwaters: 
  
  • Cleared and developed trails from Meyers-Olson Rd. to pond overlook, Bayfield Winery, and Gracie’s Trail.
    
  • Built viewing platform overlooking the pond.
    
  • Installed directional signs.
    
  • Installed kiosk with orientation and interpretive signage at trailhead and viewing platform.
    
• Fire Tower Hill: Planning initiated by County. Carried forward into 2024.
  
• Big Ravine: Explore potential connecting trail routes in and around the Big Ravine network, including to Brownstone.
  
• ​“Sweeny Loop” identified: construction proposed for 2024.
• Red Cliff Trails Plan: Under Red Cliff leadership, pursue TAP funding for a trails plan, including Red Cliff to Bayfield link. TAP grant approved: planning to be done in 2024 by contractor.
  
• Bayfield Area Trails “master plan”: Develop plan with input from Trails Forum & Trail User Survey. Ongoing
  
• Bayfield Hill, Orchards, & surroundings: Continue to explore and map potential trail connection routes; seek landowner permissions. Ongoing
  
• Pratt’s Peak: Develop trails if deemed acceptable. On hold.
  

Communication & Outreach

2021

• Established a communications team. 
  
• Developed a communications plan to define goals, audiences, messages, and implementation. 
  

2022 - 2023

• Annual Trails Forum: Held an annual meeting to share information and build long-term support/capacity. Done on 5/6/23; Planned for 6/1 -2, 2024.
  
• Recruit Volunteers: Added members to diversify and strengthen the Communications Sub-Committee. Ongoing
  
• Survey: Conduct Trail User Survey and Socioeconomic Study: Grants received: survey carried into 2024.
  
• Online Mapping: Improved availability of online map information. Ongoing: ad hoc subcommittee established under Trails Subcommittee.  
  
• Stewardship: Continued to promote responsible use and resource stewardship (RESPECT Campaign). Ongoing
  
• Online & Social Media: Maintained presence through website, blogs, Facebook page, Instagram, etc. Ongoing.
  
• Engagement: Establish mechanism for ongoing input/engagement in trails planning, volunteerism, & stewardship.  Not initiated. Carried forward into 2024.
  
• Creative: Developed capacity for graphics, signage, photography, and content for website. Carried forward into 2024.
  
• Outreach: Explored celebrating trails through photography & art: collaborate with Bayfield Artists Guild and Cheq. Bay Arts Council. Deferred indefinitely.
  

Build Capacity and a Sustainable Organization

2021

• Established volunteer policies and procedures with an emphasis on safety and responsible use. 
  
• Established standard project planning guidance and checklists.  
  
• Expanded volunteer support to the BAT organization through subcommittees 
  
• Trails and Communications Subcommittees established.
  

2022

• Established agreement(s) for managing finances on multi-partner projects.  Agreement Established with Recreation and Fitness Resources
  
  
• Volunteers: Expanded volunteer roster and coordination; recruit younger volunteers for long-term continuity.  More volunteers signed up on 2023. Continue to recruit with focus on younger membership.
  

​2023

• Adopt-a-Trail Program:  Enhanced program to conduct routine trail monitoring and maintenance; implement blazing as needed. Streamlined and put online. Under full leadership of TsC
  
• Chainsaw Program: Continued this educational program. Ongoing
  
• Policies & Procedures: Established and expanded volunteer policies and procedures; volunteer release forms; emphasize safety and responsible use.  Program streamlined by online volunteer release form. 
  
• Project Management: Established policies and procedures for standard project scheduling and planning: guidance, checklists, annual cycle. Ongoing as part of developing the Operations Manual.
  
• Multi-year Planning: Created planning process that identifies priorities, timelines, and resources needed for implementation. Carried forward into 2024.
  
• Organizational Sustainability: Strengthened and expanded self-sustaining Communications and Trails Subcommittees. TsC strengthened, expanded, & organized thanks to leadership from Kris Wegerson, John Ipsen, & Genevieve Johnson. 
  
• Staffing: Established a BAT Committee “Secretary” position that is responsible for minutes, record keeping: carried into 2024