The members of the Barron Bears ATV Club are trying to find ways for their trails to cross the Red Cedar River safely. There a number of local riding clubs in Barron that are working to connect the two existing 4-wheeler trails into one. The "Cattail Trail" that spans Barron County from Turtle Lake, through Almena, Poskin and Barron along a railroad bed that parallels Highway 8 and the other trail is called "Wild River Trail" that runs through the Haugen area.
The riding clubs are working on planning a merger of the two trails but they are running into some traffic safety issues to overcome. According to Department of Natural Resources guidelines, OHVs can cross any bridge or culvert on a river.
Currently the main bridge that would be used to get from one trail to another has a four foot shoulder and would compromise the safety of the 4-wheeler riders. Even the Department of Natural Resources allows for use of the bridge for these purposes, the riding groups in the area are asking for alternative funding to get a separate bridge specifically for light, recreational vehicle traffic.
Local clubs are looking to obtain grants from the Department of Natural Resources that would foot the bill for the proposed bridge which would cost in the neighborhood of $200,000. Getting the funds requires following a certain procedure. Volunteers from the local clubs must get written proof from all landowners along the trail that they are willing to allow ATV traffic on their property. Once the trail has formal documentation to back it up and the only gaps left to fill in the trail system are to get ATVs from one side of the Red Cedar River to the other, then the county can apply for DNR funding that would complete the project.
If you have an similar issue in your local region, look to join forces with other riding groups and you can make big changes happen!
