Big Ravine’s East Rim Trail Reopened to Snowmobiles Under Dual-use Agreement

Signage guides foot travel and snowmobiles onto separate trails.

The snowmobile trail along the Big Ravine’s east side is reopened for snowmobile use. Also known as the East Rim Trail, it travels about 1.2 miles between Lynde Ave. in the City of Bayfield and the parking lot on Meyers-Olson Road in the Town of Bayfield.  Be aware: some sections of the trail will be used by both snowmobiles and foot travel. 

​The entire length is open to snowmobiles as an ungroomed trail with a posted speed limit of 15 mph. The trail segments under City and Town jurisdiction remain open to foot travel with a dog leash requirement. Thanks to the generosity of Chuck and Mary Finn, the Finn Loop and other side route are open for foot travel only. 

Big Ravine East Rim Dual Use Map. Click image to enlarge.

The two trail segments crossing private property are currently closed to foot travel while the City works with the private landowners, who have granted permission for snowmobile access, to establish updated agreements for pedestrian use, including the potential for separate routes to address safety concerns.

TO MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONSHIPS, PLEASE RESPECT TRAIL CLOSURES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

Signs guide foot travelers.

There are several locations where snowmobile use and foot travel can be separated. Toward the goal of coexistence, cautionary and directional signs have been installed to promote safety, respect private property, alert users to one another, and guide them onto appropriate routes. Foot travelers should follow signs and orange flagging along lesser traveled side trails.

On January 20th the City Council passed a motion for dual use of the snowmobile trail with specific temporary and long-term conditions, including: “installation of required signage; posting of 15-mile-per-hour speed limit; posting hours per ordinance 337-6, enforcement of leash requirements for dogs; coordination of enforcement responsibilities among applicable jurisdictions; and ongoing monitoring and reporting to Parks and Rec Committee by the Apostle Islands Snowmobile Club and Bayfield Area Trails.”

In the longer-term, the motion calls for “the formation of a working group consisting of representatives of the City of Bayfield, Town of Bayfield, private landowners granting trail access, Bayfield County, Apostle Islands Snowmobile Club, Bayfield Area Trails, and Bayfield School to develop a dual-use trail management plan, using the outline contained in the proposal and informed by monitoring, reporting, and public input from the 2026 season.”  We look forward to collaborating with this working group toward a harmonious trail for years to come.
 
More information is available in the City of Bayfield’s Frequently Asked Questions.

Speed limit 15 mph.