Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail

Today was another fantastic day with cool temperatures, smooth roads, clear skies, and little traffic.  One of the neat finds was the Heart of Vilas County Trail in northern Wisconsin.  We rode on it for about 13 miles.  The trail is between Mercer and Boulder Junction, Wisconsin.  Looking at it on the map, we thought that it was a rail conversion, but as we rode it we realized that it had been developed without a rail predecessor.  The trail was just paved last year and it is beautiful.  Here's Paul C zooming along the first stretch.

Sunlight filtering through tall trees adds a spectacular dimension to the faint hints of fall color on the Heart of Vilas Trail.

There are several long bridges that span the swampy soil between Manitowish & Boulder Junction.

 The trail is popular with locals as well as outsiders like us, not only due to the scenery, but also due to the asphalt paving.  While the paving is expensive, it provides a surface that road bikes and mountain bikes can both use.  In addition, the hard surface makes it accessible to wheelchairs, scooters, tricycles, and roller blades.  Here, a group of local women enjoy the pretty sights and the company.  

We only got to experience the Vilas trail and part of the Crystal Lake trail, but this part of Wisconsin has hundreds of miles of paved bike trails - a real find!