Fall Greetings

Fall has settled in, and we reached peak colors last week. It was a spectacular site, and we hope you had a chance to enjoy the colors that Mother Nature provided.

The temperatures are definitely getting cooler, and we're enjoying crisp days that invite you the explore the Trail with less traffic and curious wildlife peaking at you as you ride by.

It's a great time to visit, and  our communities  are ready to welcome you. We look forward to seeing you on the Trail!
Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail Celebrates 25 Years

As we enjoy our 25th year providing riders a scenic route between our five communities, we're pleased to see we've been noticed by regional media.

Chelsey Lewis wrote that our trail is,  "One of Wisconsin's Best" in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel earlier this season. Here is an excerpt from the story:

Photo Courtesy of the Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce
"In a state filled with relatively flat, but otherwise great, rail-trails, it's refreshing for a bike trail to have some hills.

And a paved trail? In the usually rustic Northwoods? That's a rare and special treat, indeed.

That treat is the Heart of Vilas trail system, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

The system started small, with a small loop around a baseball park in Boulder Junction in 1994.

Twenty-five years later, it has grown into a 52-mile paved trail system, one of the state's finest.

The rolling, scenic trail travels through dense state forest, past sparkling lakes and through five Northwoods communities in Vilas County.

"The fact that it's all paved is very unique to our state. That really became a draw for folks," said Theresa Smith, the executive director of the Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce."  Read More

Keith Uhlig included our trail in his "5 Northern Wisconsin Trails for Hikers, Bikers, ATVers to Explore" that appeared in the Wausau Daily Herald.

"The trails ramble through the gorgeous Northern Highland-American Legion Forest, offering views of northern lakes and rivers. One of the coolest aspects of the system is that riders can go from town to town and take advantage of restaurants, cafes, coffee and candy shops.  Read More
10 Scary Things to do With Your Bike This Halloween

We all know that Halloween is fun with all the inventive costumes, scary decorations, trick-or-treating and horror movies.

But did you know that All Hallows' Eve can become even more entertaining if you invite your bike to join the party?

Fall Back

The Heart of Our Bike Trail

Meet the communities you'll enjoy along the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail:

Boulder Junction - Hop on the trail at the Chamber office and bike from Highways K & H through Boulder Junction south to Highway N. You'll find plenty of scenic stops perfect for taking beautiful photos along the way, as well as a picnic area.

Manitowish Waters - You may access the trail from several points, including the Manitowish Waters Community Center, Koller Memorial Park, Rest Lake Park and the North Lakeland Discovery Center. Restrooms and water stops may be found along the way, plus a playground.

Mercer - You may begin your journey from the seven miles of trails in Mercer, meet up with the rest of the Heart of Vilas trail system in Manitowish Waters, or make your way north from Manitowish Waters and connect with Mercer's trails.

St. Germain - You'll find the main trailhead behind the St. Germain Chamber, where Highway 70 meets Highway 155. The trail connects with Sayner and passes a wayside with restrooms, a picnic area, and the Awassa Nature Preserve & Hiking Trail, for those in the mood for a shady, level walk.

Sayner/Star Lake - Park at Froelich Drive and Highway N to access the trail, which runs from Highways M & N east toward Sayner, passing the Crystal Lake Campground, beautiful lakes and picnic areas for a quick lunch or snack stop.

If you're up for an extra-long ride, take the trail from community to community. Park in St. Germain and follow the trail through Sayner, Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters to Mercer. Or start in  Mercer and make your way towards St. Germain.

Visit any of the Chamber websites listed above for upcoming events and activities.  When hunger calls, stop in one of the many quaint restaurants, coffee shops and taverns in the area before continuing your ride.
Map and Route Information

Click on the image to view our online map. Download the Map It! Vilas County App for easily accessible trail information.

You'll find trail mileage and terrain information here.

We also have bike rental and fixtation information.
Plan Your Visit Today

Enjoy the many sights to be experienced on the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail.

As if you need another reason to get out and ride, here's what you're missing:

Visit our website for information on our communities that you're sure to enjoy as you travel along the Trail.