A HUGE Thank You to Our Incredible Donors!
The Wilderness Pedalers are overflowing with gratitude for your extraordinary generosity! Because of your incredible support, we have not only reached, but surpassed our fundraising goal for Trail #1, raising a phenomenal $523,000! Your belief in our vision to connect the communities of Presque Isle and Winchester to the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail has made this crucial first step a resounding success.
Established in 2015, The Wilderness Pedalers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to developing safe and accessible bike trails in our beautiful Northwoods. Our master plan envisions a network of trails that will enhance connectivity, promote healthy lifestyles, and boost local economies.
Our initial focus, Trail #1, aimed to create a vital link by expanding the shoulders on Highway W to include dedicated 5-foot wide bike lanes in both directions. This project will:
- Connect Presque Isle and Winchester directly to WinMan Trails, Manitowish Waters, and the extensive Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail.
- Welcome Heart of Vilas County trail users to explore the unique charm and offerings of Presque Isle and Winchester, supporting local businesses and events.
- Enable enjoyable loop rides within the Presque Isle and Winchester areas.
- Improve safety for cyclists traveling between WinMan, Presque Isle, and the Upper Peninsula.
We're excited to share some great news! Due to a beneficial rerouting of the project to utilize Old W, we've achieved a significant cost saving. The total paving cost for this first year is now projected to be $430,944, with additional funds allocated for essential signage.
Thanks to your incredible generosity, the Highway W project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by late Summer/early Fall 2025! Your contributions have directly enabled this vital infrastructure improvement that will benefit our communities for years to come.
While we celebrate this significant milestone, our work continues. Future efforts will focus on needed signage and ongoing maintenance of this crucial link (estimated at over $200,000 over the 30-year project life) and the development of Trail #2, connecting HWY K and Crab Lake Rd and other exciting projects outlined in our master plan. We will be reaching out in the future for your continued support in making our broader vision a reality.
From all of us at The Wilderness Pedalers, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your belief in our mission and your generous investment in our communities. We couldn't have done this without you!
CONNECT HWY K & CRAB LAKE ROAD
Plans are also under way for a 3.85 mile primarily "through the woods" paved bike trail from Hwy K at North Lakeland School, to Big Lake Campground, and ending at the intersection of Hwy P and Crab Lake Road (already a popular bike route). This new trail will provide countless campground guests and other cyclists living in or visiting the area, access to the Heart of Vilas paved bike trails, the Town of Presque Isle, and beyond.
The cost of this new trail is currently estimated to be in the $1.3 to $1.5 million range. Our hope is to secure Federal, State and/or Foundation grants to fund a large portion of this project but we anticipate still needing local financial support to cover as much as $300,000 to $400,000 of the total project cost.
