What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
When you roll out onto the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail System on a crisp summer morning, you’re not just pedaling through some of Wisconsin’s most stunning forest scenery—you’re participating in one of the Northwoods’ most successful economic engines. Last year alone, this 52-mile network of paved trails pumped $25.7 million into Vilas County’s economy, supporting 141 local jobs and drawing about 160,000 riders annually. That’s the kind of impact that transforms a region.
What makes this trail system remarkable isn’t just the numbers, though they’re impressive enough. It’s how five communities—St. Germain, Sayner, Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, and Mercer—came together to create something bigger than any single town could accomplish alone. Each maintains its own segment, yet together they’ve built a seamless ribbon of pavement that winds through 223,000 acres of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, earning National Recreation Trail designation in 2020.
The average overnight visitor drops $287 per day on lodging, meals, and supplies while exploring the trail, and here’s the beautiful part: the trail itself costs absolutely nothing to use. No fees, no passes—just you, your bike, and miles of pristine Northwoods landscape stretching between vibrant small towns where you can fuel up with a burger or browse local shops before heading back out.
The Heart of Vilas County system didn’t appear overnight. Construction kicked off in the late 1990s, built segment by segment as funding and community support materialized. The Boulder Junction section, which started paving in 2009, became the cornerstone that proved the concept could work. What began as optimistic planning became reality through persistent collaboration among chambers of commerce, town boards, and trail advocates who saw beyond their own municipal boundaries.
Mary Jones, Executive Director for the Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce, watched this transformation firsthand. “People love to ride their bikes and obviously we are a very outdoor recreation-centered community,” she notes. “It’s just been a huge draw for tourists and community members.” That draw intensified after the final connections to Manitowish Waters and Mercer were completed around 2019-2020, right before the pandemic biking boom brought even more riders north.
The engineering deserves recognition too. The 40-foot bridge spanning the Manitowish River near Mercer stands as both functional infrastructure and a scenic overlook where riders pause to watch the water flow beneath. These thoughtful touches—the way the trail dips into deep forest shade, then emerges along glacial lakes, crosses streams on solid bridges, and provides parking at strategic access points—show careful planning that prioritizes user experience.
One of the system’s greatest strengths is connectivity. “You can go from St. Germain, which is in the middle of Vilas County all the way to Mercer, which is in Iron County—without being on the road,” Jones explains. That off-road experience matters enormously for families with kids, older riders, and anyone who’d rather focus on scenery than traffic.
The route showcases the Northwoods at its finest. You’ll pedal past wetlands where herons stalk the shallows, through upland forests of maple and pine, across prairie restoration areas alive with wildflowers in summer, and alongside some of the region’s most beautiful lakes. Sometimes you parallel roads for stretches, but then the trail veers away into woods where the only sounds are your tires humming on pavement and wind rustling through canopy overhead.
Each connected town offers its own character and amenities. Stop in Boulder Junction for their community playground and local eateries. Explore Sayner’s museums and lake access. Grab supplies in St. Germain before heading north. Manitowish Waters provides a perfect midpoint break, while Mercer—your northern terminus—sits near the massive Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, where paddlers explore 14,300 acres of interconnected waterways. The trail doesn’t just move you through space; it introduces you to the fabric of Northwoods community life.
The Heart of Vilas system’s success has sparked ambitious expansion plans that could transform it from impressive to truly extraordinary. The Great Headwaters Trails Foundation is spearheading efforts to add 40 miles of new trails in eastern Vilas County, including the Conover-Phelps Trail and the proposed River Trail that would connect Eagle River, Three Lakes, and St. Germain.
That River Trail proposal, discussed since the formation of a commission in 2018, addresses real safety concerns along Highway 70 while opening access to river fishing and boating opportunities. If completed as envisioned, these expansions would link eight communities in a loop configuration, allowing circular routes and incorporating the area’s biggest population centers—Eagle River, Arbor Vitae, and Minocqua—into the network. The WinMan trails near Mercer would also connect, creating possibilities that current riders can only dream about.
Funding is flowing to support this vision. The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has provided over $6.5 million in grants for Vilas County trails, including nearly $300,000 recently for Great Headwaters projects. These investments recognize what locals already know: quality non-motorized infrastructure pays dividends far beyond the construction costs. “Having that paved off-road trail is really valuable to people to be able to ride and know that they will be safe,” Jones emphasizes.
The Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail System represents something larger than recreation infrastructure. It’s proof that rural communities can compete for tourism dollars by investing in their natural assets and working together. In a region where winters are long and traditional industries have evolved, outdoor recreation has emerged as an economic anchor that doesn’t deplete resources or contradict the area’s identity.
Those 160,000 annual riders aren’t just passing through—they’re staying in local lodges, eating at local restaurants, shopping at local outfitters, and telling friends back home about the Northwoods experience. They’re supporting the 141 jobs directly tied to trail activity and countless others indirectly benefiting from increased visitation. They’re discovering that this region offers world-class outdoor experiences without the crowds or costs of more famous destinations.
As bicycling continues growing statewide—Wisconsin’s cycling contributed $451 million to the state economy in 2022—the Northwoods is positioned to capture an expanding market. The combination of natural beauty, quality infrastructure, and authentic small-town hospitality creates competitive advantages that marketing budgets can’t buy. The trail system showcases what makes this region special while generating economic activity that sustains the communities we love.
So whether you’re a local looking for a family-friendly afternoon ride or a visitor planning a multi-day cycling adventure, the Heart of Vilas County trails offer something genuinely special. Fifty-two miles of paved pathway through some of Wisconsin’s finest forest and lake country, completely free, connecting real communities with real character. It’s the kind of resource that makes you grateful to live up north—or inspires you to visit more often. Either way, the trail is waiting, and it’s better than ever.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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