Goals, Priorities and Projects | Bayfield Area Trails
Projects
Economic Impact Study
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We know we love our trails! To better understand their impact, the Bayfield Area Trails Committee has partnered with the Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau and UW-River Falls Survey Research Center to conduct a yearlong study that was launched in September 2024.
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Volunteers independently conduct surveys for two-hour shifts at the trailhead of their choice. Survey shifts can be scheduled between the hours of 8a and 4p, on any day of the week. Click the button below to learn how to get involved in this important project.
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2025 Priorities
Our priorities for 2025 are displayed below. Please consider volunteering to help us reach our goals. Our 2025 Project Calendar is linked above as is our Volunteer Sign Up form. You can view our 2024 Annual Report to see what we were up to last year. Or view older accomplishments.
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Maintain & Enhance Existing Trails
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Develop New Trails
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Plan New Trails & Secure Access
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Communication & Outreach
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Build Volunteer Capacity
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Establish a Sustainable Organization
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Fire Tower Hill & Bayfield Hill Orchard Connections: We envision developing trail connections from the Big Ravine Preserve trail network to the orchards on Betzold Road and County J. This could create exciting opportunities for multi-mile loops, starting from the City of Bayfield and spending a day of walking up through the Big Ravine, visiting orchards, and exploring the newly acquired County lands on Fire Tower Hill. Developing these trails will require working cooperatively with willing landowners to establish public trail easements while respecting their private property. If this vision comes to fruition, one could hike as much as a 12-mile loop through the course of a day.
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Bayfield to Dalrymple: We envision a foot trail connecting from the lake access area at the end of Washington Ave. in the City of Bayfield along the lakeshore to Dalrymple Campground. This .5-mile trail was identified as a priority in the City’s Waterfront Plan in 2003. Not only would this add a pleasant walking trail in a natural setting in the City, but more importantly, it would enable campers to walk into the City without having to use the road shoulder on busy Highway 13. This trail would traverse very steep and thickly vegetated hillside for much of its route, posing substantial challenges to layout and construction. Additionally, trail easements need to be established across private property in cooperative manner. Therefore, we propose starting first with a short 600-foot segment that could be easily constructed from the edge of the beach to a series of rocky points along the lakeshore. Even this short segment would provide a nice walk and views of the Lake for citizens and visitors.
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Pike’s Bay to Salmo: This trail connection depends upon the restoration of the Brownstone Trail. The vision for this section would be to connect the Brownstone Trail to the Pike’s Creek Fish Hatchery via the Salmo Trail. It would require significant cooperation with private landowners at Pike’s Bay and Port Superior.
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Pike's Creek Fish Hatchery to Mt. Ashwabay: This potential foot trail would connect from the existing trail at the Pike’s Creek Fish Hatchery on Highway 13 to the Jolly Loop Trail at Mount Ashwabay. It would travel about 1.5 miles across Department of Natural Resources land along Pike’s Creek and then climb into the forested benches above the creek. It would provide an exciting connection that could be enjoyed throughout the year by hikers, fishermen, bird watchers, skiers, and snowshoers.
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