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Now Available Online! Bayfield Peninsula Trails Plan

8/21/2026

Cover image of the Long-Term Plan Report

The Bayfield Area Trails Committee is excited to announce that the Bayfield Peninsula Long-term Trails Plan, Part One, is now available online at the BAT website. The plan includes extensive maps and trail descriptions in three chapters.

Chapter 1: Overview of Existing Trails by 3 Geographic Regions
Chapter 2: Improving Existing Trails: Recommendations for the Next Decade
Chapter 3: New Trail Proposals
- Maps and descriptions of 14 trails proposed for implementation within the next 5 years;
- Maps and descriptions of 13 trail proposals for additional analysis and implementation within the next 10 years, if deemed feasible;
- 50 trail concepts for consideration in 10 – 20 years.
Appendices with background information and detailed tables about existing trail conditions and recommended trail improvements.

We encourage review of the document and welcome comments and suggestions via the online feedback form. The final plan will be completed this fall.

READ THE PLAN HERE

PLEASE PROVIDE FEEDBACK HERE

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Salmo Lakewalk Accessibility Project: WisCorps and BAT Volunteers Make Huge Strides Toward Completion

8/5/2026

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Four people working on constructing or repairing a wooden boardwalk surrounded by greenery and water.

Andrew and Paris attach a tall post to a swamp pan.

Between July 20 and 31 the Salmo Lakewalk Trail was temporarily closed to allow a trail crew from the Wisconsin Conservation Corps (WisCorps) to make the trail more accessible. The WisCorps is building a 330-foot extension of the boardwalk from where the existing boardwalk ends, through the Pikes Creek slough, to a new observation platform at the beach.

A wooden boardwalk under construction winding through a green forested area.

A view of the start of the new boardwalk.

After two weeks of work, the WisCorps crew completed the boardwalk connection to the beach on Friday July 31st. This project included setting 42, 5-foot by 8-foot frames on pads and posts, then attaching decking and curbing. One of the big challenges was removing old bridges across four shallow channels and replacing them with new boardwalk.

A wooden boardwalk under construction surrounded by dense green vegetation and marshland.

WisCorps came fully equipped with tools.

Under the Town of Bayfield’s sponsorship, the 5-member crew was supervised by operational training manager David Wastart. The crew included leader Elizabeth Huyser from Iowa, Kyle from Eau Claire, Paris from Madison, Andrew from Louisiana, and Fernando from Texas.

Two people constructing a wooden boardwalk through a green, marshy area with dense trees in the background.

Fernando near the end of the boardwalk.

Two workers installing wooden planks on a newly constructed boardwalk surrounded by dense green foliage.

Elizabeth and Kyle attach curbing.

A man working near a water channel, using a tool to adjust or install a metal post next to a wooden plank pathway.

Kyle prepares to set a post and pan before crossing the channel.

A person using a power drill to secure posts along a newly constructed wooden boardwalk surrounded by greenery.

Paris uses the camodrive to attach decking.

WisCorps will return on August 10th through 12th to build the observation platform and complete other finishing touches on the boardwalk. As part of the partnership, the City of Bayfield allowed the trail crew to camp at the city's Dalrymple Campground in exchange for a day of labor where the crew built a bridge for one of the trails in the campground. Thank you, Bayfield!

In addition to the WisCorps work over the last two weeks, Friday July 31st was an amazingly successful day, thanks to a fantastic crew of Bayfield Area Trails (BAT) volunteers. The crew totally knocked it out of the park! The early morning thunderstorm and drizzle appeared ominous, but BAT volunteers showed up to shuttle, spread, and rake gravel on the far end of the trail via a relay of somewhat elaborate logistics.

Starting with loading 5 yards of gravel at the parking lot and shuttling it via UTV, the cargo was then transported via power wagon and an ATV with a dump trailer to the trail where it was raked and tamped on the trail. The gravel relay was accompanied by transporting brush to a central location where it was chipped and distributed along the trail edge. The final task of the day was transporting sections of the old bridges to the parking area where those in decent condition were stockpiled for repurposing on other trails.

A wooden boardwalk pathway extending through dense green foliage with a person seated at the far end.

The boardwalk winds its way to the lake.

A round of applause to the BAT crew:

Jon Crump (ATV & dump trailer operator)
Mike Eldred (loader operator)
Neil Howk (main gravel spreader & raker (all 250 feet of it))
John Ipsen (wood chipper operator)
Kate Kitchell (wheelbarrow operator & raker)
Todd Larson (power wagon operator)
Gerry Miller (UTV operator)
Jeff Nelson (wood chip assistant & spreader; gravel raker)
Kris Wegerson (brush gatherer/transporter & wood chipper assistant)

Three people working on a forest trail, spreading wood chips along a gravel path using a small orange Yardmax machine.

Todd delivers gravel while John and Jeff spread wood chips.

Many thanks for the following equipment loans:

Jon Crump - ATV
Doug Olson & Mt. Ashwabay – UTV
Sean Reagan – Kubota Tractor
Darren Miller at the Les Voigt Fish Hatchery–wood chipper & lawnmower transport
Erika Lang/Jon Martin & Landmark Conservancy - power wagon

A wooden framework of a boardwalk under construction extending toward Lake Superior, surrounded by greenery and trees.

The boardwalk ends at the lakes edge.

THE TRAIL IS CURRENTLY OPEN – SO CHECK IT OUT!

It will be closed again during the week of August 10th while WisCorps completes construction.

It is fabulous to see this project come together with so much community spirit and talent. It will be fun to celebrate when it is all done, which is expected by mid-September.

Thanks EVERYONE!

Two people outdoors near a wooden bridge surrounded by trees and greenery.

David and Kate saying THANK YOU and peace out!

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NEWS | Bayfield Area Trails

Now Available Online! Bayfield Peninsula Trails Plan

Salmo Lakewalk Accessibility Project: WisCorps and BAT Volunteers Make Huge Strides Toward Completion

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NEWS

Now Available Online! Bayfield Peninsula Trails Plan

Salmo Lakewalk Accessibility Project: WisCorps and BAT Volunteers Make Huge Strides Toward Completion

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