Meet the Meme Miikana or Pileated Woodpecker Trail

Our new trail takes us on a 2-mile trip from the Les Voigt State Fish Hatchery up to the Jolly Long Trail – part of the Ashwabay cross-country ski trail network. It is a beautiful new trail taking people through a birders’ paradise with a lush growth of 6+-foot tall Cinnamon Ferns, Tall Meadow-rue, Cow-parsnip, and other rich under-foliage; across the fish-filled Pike’s Creek; then along the creek and up to the lower hills along a delightful hillside leading to the Jerry Jolly trail network that ultimately connects to the trailhead on Star Route.

Meme Miikana trail map. Click image to enlarge.

Pileated woodpecker along the Brownstone trail. Click image to enlarge.

The trail’s new name celebrates the north woods iconic Pileated Woodpecker, an awesome crow-sized woodpecker of woody woodpecker fame (and similar to the Ivory Billed Woodpecker) that can be heard and seen at times along the trail. The name in Ojibwemowin (the Ojibwe language) is Meme (pronounced may may’ – meaning Pileated Woodpecker) Miikana (pronounced mee (like the English pronoun) and cuh’ nuh).

The bridge across the creek is coming soon – to be installed in mid- July by the Anderson Bridges company (you’ve seen their bridges around if you’ve been on trails in northern Wisconsin and elsewhere).  Several volunteers have already cleared the bridge access, including cutting down large black ash trees, in preparation for the bridge installation. Brit's Tree Care removed the more challenging willow and box elder trees overhanging the bridge site to ensure that they don’t harm the white and yellow birches on the creek bank.

A really cool part of the project includes giving the wood from several large black ash trees to April Stone, a master black-ash basket maker from Bad River.  Some of the wood will also be made into musical instruments and other crafted products from the beautiful heartwood of the black ash trees.

April Stone admires the black ash logs. Click image to enlarge.

After the bridge installation, volunteers led by Ted May and Sean Reagan, will complete the final trail segment that will include a small footbridge, several sections of boardwalk, and box steps to climb out of the floodplain. We anticipate having the Meme Miikana ready for the public in August; just in time for enjoying a mosquito-free experience of this wonderful community trail. By fall, the 1.3-mile Meme Miikana will be complemented by an additional 1.2 mile trail link to Ashwabay, thereby creating a 2.5 mile trip between Ashwabay and the hatchery parking lots.

Bridge site cleared and ready for the new bridge. Click image to enlarge.

The new trails will be available for hiking and snowshoeing. Due to the DNR’s special management of the Pikes Creek Fisheries Management Area, no bikes are allowed. Meme will be closed during the mud-season to keep the trail in good condition through these sensitive areas.  Enjoy!

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Volunteer!

Sign up today to help build the final segment of the Meme Miikana at the end of july. 

SIGN UP TODAY!

Thank you!

A big thank you to all the volunteers who helped clear the bridge site!
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●      Ted May
●      John Ipsen
●      Kris Wegerson
●      Jon Martin
●      Sean Reagan
●      Gene Lemmenes
●      Sue Aiken