Volunteers Work to Improve the Big Ravine Headwaters Trail

Gerry waits for Ted to load the logs.

Volunteers worked on July 11th to make a better walking experience on one of Bayfield Area Trails’ (BATs) newer trails - the Big Ravine Headwaters Trail.

​This trail, found at the north end of the Big Ravine Trail on Meyers-Olson Road, is a critical sponge of storm waters at the top of the ravine, reducing the chances of flooding into Bayfield. Because of the high-water table here, a pond exists and wildlife flourishes. Trail users regularly see beaver, otter, turtles, Kingfishers, Sandhill Cranes, as well as a myriad of birds during migrations. 

While the trail was initially developed in 2023, refinements were made last year and again this month to make the walking experience even better.
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A popular destination of the trail is the viewing platform overlooking the pond and western hills. However, the ground around the platform was very uneven, making ankle-twisting a possibility.  Wood chips were donated by arborist Bob Kelly to even out the mini dips and swales making for soft and easy walking.

Because of the high-water table found here, some trail stretches tended to be squishy and a couple small runoff gullies bisected the trail guaranteeing wet feet after snowmelt and rains.

​BATs volunteers added log corduroy to fill in soft sections of the trail and built two short wooden bridges to span the gullies. Wet feet no more!

“This trail lets the visitor experience forest, pond/marsh and meadow habitats,” said Kate Kitchell, BATs Committee Chair.

​“And it provides an important link connecting downtown Bayfield and the Big Ravine Trail to the orchard uplands including the Blue Ox Cidery and Gracie’s Trail that leads to the County’s Fire Tower preserve now being planned.”