Highway 70 Multi-Use Path Debate Splits Minocqua Community

The Minocqua Town Board found itself in the middle of a classic Northwoods disagreement this week. Snowmobilers want one thing, ATV riders want another, and everyone’s trying to figure out how to share 24 feet of trail space along Highway 70.

At stake is a proposed multi-use path that could reshape how locals and visitors move through one of the region’s busiest corridors. The catch? Nobody can agree which side of the highway makes the most sense.

It’s the kind of debate that matters up here — where trails aren’t just recreation, they’re infrastructure.

Why the South Side Has Snowmobilers’ Support

Jerry Wesner from the Cross Country Cruisers makes a compelling case for keeping the path on the south side of Highway 70. Shadow coverage extends the riding season by weeks, sometimes months.

Walk across Highway 70 today and you’ll see the difference yourself. The north side sits bare — brown grass poking through mud where the sun hits all day. Meanwhile, the south side holds snow like it’s got something to prove.

The south side stays rideable well into spring while the north side turns to soup by March.

For snowmobile clubs that groom over 1,600 miles of trails across the Northwoods, that extra riding time translates to more tourism dollars and longer seasons for local businesses. Wesner also points out that keeping the trail on one side eliminates dangerous highway crossings.

The Cross Country Cruisers are even willing to work with Wildwood Zoo and ATV groups to make a south-side route accessible for everyone. But not everyone’s convinced that’s the best solution.

The ATV Community Sees Different Obstacles

Corky Sheppard, president of the Lakeland ATV Club, laid out the engineering headaches a south-side trail would create. Stand at Wildwood and count the driveways across the highway — five or six properties, each with culverts running down to the creek.

DOT standards require 10 feet from the white line plus another 14 feet of gravel base. That puts you 24 feet in, right on top of existing drainage infrastructure. Sheppard’s not being difficult — he’s reading the rulebook.

ATV riders also need direct access into town for gas, food, and supplies. A north-side path connects more naturally to Minocqua’s commercial district without forcing riders to navigate a busy state highway.

This isn’t just about convenience. It’s about whether the path serves summer visitors as well as winter ones.

Bikers and Families Want Safe Access Too

Woodruff residents Bryon Black and Jennifer Smith brought a third perspective to the table. They’re thinking about families trying to reach the park, campgrounds near Highway 70, connections to the Bearskin Trail, and even the nursing home.

Nobody wants to cross Highway 70 on foot or bike if they can avoid it. Anyone who’s driven that stretch in July knows it turns into a parking lot between Minocqua and Woodruff.

Black acknowledged the tradeoffs: “Ideally, we’d be on the south side, but we’ll have to see how that all works out.” Smith emphasized that safety and accessibility should drive the decision, not just which user group yells loudest.

The proposed path would tie into the existing 26-mile Bearskin State Trail, which has connected hikers, bikers, and snowmobilers since the 1970s when Wisconsin converted an abandoned railroad right-of-way into public recreation space.

Funding Hinges on Community Support

The whole project depends on a Wisconsin DOT Transportation Alternatives Program grant. The money’s available, but only if Minocqua can demonstrate genuine community backing.

That’s where things get tricky. When snowmobilers, ATV riders, cyclists, and pedestrians all want different things, finding consensus takes more than good intentions.

• Construction likely won’t happen until 2030 or 2031
• The project would coincide with DOT’s plan to replace the Highway 70 bridge over the Tomahawk River
• Both timing and alignment decisions happen together — miss this window, and it could be another decade
• The town board expects to make a formal decision by April

Similar projects across the Northwoods have shown that multi-use paths pay for themselves through increased tourism and improved safety. The 2021 Highway 70 project in Minocqua already upgraded snowmobile crossings and ADA ramps for $1.4 million.

What Happens Next for Minocqua’s Trail Future

The April decision will shape Minocqua’s recreation infrastructure for the next generation. Whatever the town board chooses, somebody’s going to ride across less-than-ideal terrain.

Maybe that’s just how it works when you’re trying to serve year-round users in a place where winter and summer feel like different planets. The north side works better for ATVs and town access. The south side keeps snowmobilers riding longer and eliminates crossings.

Both sides have legitimate needs. Both contribute to the Northwoods economy that depends on people coming here to use these trails.

The best trail is the one that actually gets built and used safely by everyone who needs it.

If you’ve got thoughts on which side makes more sense, the town board wants to hear from you before April. This is your chance to shape how the next decade of trail access looks in Minocqua.

And if you’re itching to see what the fuss is about, the Bearskin Trail is open year-round. Get out there and see why we’re all so particular about our trails up here.