Great Headwaters Trails

Enjoying the newest section of the Conover-Phelps Trail

Plan to enjoy this sweeping descent yourself this summer!

Get a map of the completed Conover-Phelps Trail - click HERE!

Help keep the trail in top shape and plan improvements. Email us at ghtinfo@ghtrails.org to learn more. Click HERE if you want to donate to the Trail Enhancement Fund.

Future trail route along the Wisconsin River

Our next priority project is the River Trail. It will make the nationally recognized, 55-mile-long Heart of Vilas Trail System longer and better! The Heart of Vilas extends from Mercer to Manitowish Waters to Boulder Junction to Sayner/Plum Lake to St Germain. It will be 10 miles longer and connect into Eagle River when the River Trail is complete.

You can help make that happen. Email us at ghtinfo@ghtrails.org if you want to provide some of your time and talent. Click HERE if you can become a donor.

A Ride with Leinie bridge crossing

This summer's Ride with Leinie will use the entire Conover-Phelps Trail, and more! Dick Leinenkugel will lead one of the rides that goes over this bridge at Muskrat Creek.

Click HERE to get the registration form for the ride or register online by clicking HERE!

Use this link to get a map of the newly completed trail.

2022 brings 2 great organized Rides!

This summer plan to enjoy RIDE WITH LEINIE on the newly completed Conover-Phelps Trail on July 30 and the eighth annual SEPTIMBER RIDE based at Tribute Brewery in Eagle River on Sept. 10.

Ensure the ongoing quality of the Conover-Phelps Trail!

DONATE NOW!

By 2017, 8.7 miles of trail was in place and paid for!

$300,000+ donated in 2020 and 2021 so the last section could be built

2021 - 1.9 miles of specially engineered trail built

8.7 miles built and paid for

Fundraising goals met in 2020 and 2021

Over $300,000 donated!

3.2 miles, 5.5 miles, 1.9 miles

Section by section, the trail is complete!

Building family-friendly biking and walking trails near the source of a Great River

Since its founding in 2010, the Great Headwaters Trails Foundation has been closing in on its goal to build 40 miles of biking and walking trails in eastern Vilas County. The system we envision will expand the Heart of Vilas Trail System and connect the towns of Eagle River, Conover, Phelps and Land O’ Lakes, resulting in a connected, family-friendly, hard surface trail system over 110 miles long.

The first leg of the Great Headwaters Trails system is the Conover-Phelps Trail which was completed this past summer. The next leg, the River Trail, will connect St. Germain to Eagle River.

HELP US GET THE WORD OUT about GHT's bike trails. Watch for details about our 2022 booths.

DONATE to help us build more trail!

Ride with Leinie continues in 2022

February 5, 2022

Registration is now open for Ride with Leinie with Dick Leinenkugel, happening this summer on and around the newly completed Conover-Phelps Trail! Ride with Leinie has been a popular summer event for the past ten years hosted by the Wilderness Lakes Trails (WLT) group in Land O’Lakes. When WLT decided…

Experience the New Trail!

September 1, 2021

GHT and the Friends of the Conover-Phelps Trail are happy to be collaborating with the Phelps Chamber of Commerce and Eric Eismueller at Old World Charm Bed and Breakfast to be hosting an open house for the newly completed trail on Saturday, Sept. 4. We invite everyone to come out…

VCEDC exec director presents GHT president award plaque

GHT named May Business of the Month!

May 28, 2021

The Vilas County Economic Development Corporation (VCEDC) has named the Great Headwaters Trails Foundation as their Business of the Month for May. The inscription on the award plaque reads, “In recognition of your tremendous commitment to help ensure a fabulous trail system for individuals choosing Vilas County to live, work,…

Be an active ingredient – all kinds of skills are needed to build top notch biking and walking trails. Add yours! <a href="https://ghtrails.org/volunteer-2/">VOLUNTEER</a>

Be an active ingredient – all kinds of skills are needed to build top notch biking and walking trails. Add yours! VOLUNTEER

Make the Northwoods even better – donate to help build the Great Headwaters Trail System <a href="https://ghtrails.org/donate">DONATE NOW</a>

Make the Northwoods even better – donate to help build the Great Headwaters Trail System DONATE NOW

When it comes to nonmotorized trails, here are the people – all volunteers - who are moving things forward in eastern Vilas County. <a href="https://ghtrails.org/about/">LEARN MORE</a>

When it comes to nonmotorized trails, here are the people – all volunteers - who are moving things forward in eastern Vilas County. LEARN MORE

Good trails pay off in fun, well-being, and dollars. Here’s what is in place and in the works right now! <a href="https://ghtrails.org/trail-system/plans-and-progress/">SEE THE PROGRESS</a>

Good trails pay off in fun, well-being, and dollars. Here’s what is in place and in the works right now! SEE THE PROGRESS