Home - Great Headwaters Trails

Despite COVID-19, we're in the Homestretch

In this challenging time we need to stay healthy and do what we can to equip our communities for the economic recovery to come.

Thanks to the work of our volunteers and supporters, we are close to fully funding and completing the Conover-Phelps Trail this year. CLICK HERE to see a short video that tells how close we are.

Please help make sure trail completion does commence this year.

CLICK HERE to download a donation form or click the button below to donate online.

ADD MY DONATION!

In the works, the River Trail

We're laying the groundwork for this 10-mile extension of the 55-mile Heart of Vilas Trail System, connecting it to Eagle River and the 13-mile Three Eagle Trail.

Our boss is the River Trail Commission which is made up of the municipalities of St Germain, Cloverland and Eagle River.

SepTimber Ride coming again in 2020!

Almost 300 participants enjoyed SepTimber Ride's trail ride or road ride options last fall. The Ride is based at Eagle River's Tribute Brewing Co. and all options take you past a special rest stop at Three Lakes Winery.

The Ride brings in funds for area bike trail development and includes a raffle to win a Specialized electric bike or a Wilderness kayak and paddle Over $20,000 have been raised in the Ride's first 5 years!

Click here for details about SepTimber Ride VI, Sept. 12, 2020.

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 headwaters of the Wisconsin River. 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.

This grand vision will result 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. The next leg, the River Trail, will connect St. Germain to Eagle River.

The Conover-Phelps Trail

We're in the Homestretch! Don't let COVID-19 slow us down. Let's complete the trail for Conover and Phelps this year!

DONATE NOW!

First 3.2 miles -
in place and in use in spring 2016.

5.5 more miles
completed in 2017.

Check out the new trail!

Together we can complete the circle and build the final 1.9 miles of trail this year!

Built and paid for

Now

funded

Helping build the River Trail in the Age of Zoom

May 25, 2020

Despite COVID-19, progress on a biking and walking trail between Eagle River and St. Germain is moving forward. The River Trail Commission continues to meet, and the Friends of the River Trail (FoRT) has also been meeting and getting ready to swing into action. Zoom provided one way for the…

Equipping 2 communities for economic recovery – Pt. 1

May 3, 2020

Despite all the dark news, the current status of completing the Conover-Phelps Trail is bright: • Expensive special engineering needed due to the 2018 trail reroute has been completed. • To complement the last 2 miles of the trail, a multi-use trailhead is being planned north of Military Creek and…

Completing the Conover-Phelps Trail

October 20, 2019

Here’s where things stand as the summer of 2019 comes to an end. All the key pieces are in place to provide a complete biking and walking trail between downtown Conover and downtown Phelps. That includes the funding we believe will be needed to build the last 2 miles of…

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