River Trail
River Trail 10 Miles of Trail
The proposed River Trail will create a 10-mile biking and walking connection between Eagle River and St. Germain, extending the nationally recognized 55-mile Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail System to Eagle River.
The trail is envisioned as a separated, multi-use path running generally parallel to Highway 70 along the Wisconsin River corridor, providing a safer alternative for bicyclists and pedestrians who currently must share the highway with motor vehicles.
The River Trail is being developed through a partnership between the City of Eagle River, Town of Cloverland, Town of St. Germain, and Great Headwaters Trails Foundation (GHTF). A multi-jurisdictional River Trail Commission was formed in 2018 to help guide the project.
Why the River Trail Matters
The River Trail would do more than connect communities. It would create a safe, non-motorized transportation route linking residents, businesses, neighborhoods, recreational destinations and existing trail systems.
The trail would:
- Provide a safer route for bicyclists and pedestrians traveling between Eagle River, Cloverland and St. Germain.
- Extend the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail System to Eagle River.
- Connect with the existing Three Eagle Trail and other regional trail networks.
- Provide residents and visitors with additional opportunities for bicycling, walking and outdoor recreation.
- Encourage visitors to spend more time—and more money—in the communities along the route.
- Support local businesses that benefit from outdoor recreation and tourism.
- Create a regional network of trails rather than isolated trail segments.
A Safer Route
Safety is a major reason for developing the River Trail.
Currently, bicyclists traveling between Eagle River and St. Germain often ride along Highway 70, sharing the roadway with motor vehicles. A separated bike/ped trail would provide an alternative for bicyclists and pedestrians, keeping vulnerable road users out of the flow of highway traffic.
The River Trail Commission has reviewed route options and reaffirmed the Highway 70 corridor as the preferred route, based on safety, access to residents and businesses, cost, and overall feasibility.
River Trail Progress
Transportation Alternatives Program Grant:
In August 2026, the Town of Cloverland was awarded nearly $1.3 million through the TAP program to support Phase 1 of the River Trail.
Phase 1 will include a 1.9-mile multi-use, off-road trail from Old Highway 70 Road to Wilderness Trail, along with bike route and wayfinding signage along the 1.7-mile stretch Old Highway 70 Road to create a connection between the existing St. Germain trail and the new River Trail segment.
The Town of Cloverland is the grant sponsor, and GHTF has committed nearly $500,000 to cover the required local match and cover the engineering/design costs.
The award marks a major step forward in creating the River Trail and advancing the larger connection between Eagle River and the Heart of Vilas County Trail System.
The proposed project is currently estimated at:
- Trail construction: approximately $1,617,443
- TAP grant funding: approximately 80% of eligible project costs
- Local construction match: approximately $323,500
Economic Impact
Outdoor recreation and tourism are important contributors to the Northwoods economy.
Wisconsin's tourism industry generated a record $27 billion in economic impact in 2025, according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. All 72 Wisconsin counties experienced year-over-year growth in total tourism economic impact.
Wisconsin Department of Tourism – Economic Impact of Tourism
Bicycling is an important part of Wisconsin's outdoor recreation economy. The Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation reported that bicycling generated approximately $1.42 billion consumer spending on bicycle-related expenses and producing $83 million in state and local taxes.
Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation
The Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail System:
The economic impact of trails can also be seen closer to home.
A 2025 economic impact study of the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail System found that the 55-mile trail system generates an estimated $25.7 million in economic activity for the surrounding area.
The trail system connects St. Germain, Sayner, Star Lake, Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters and Mercer. In 2020, the Heart of Vilas County Trail System received national recognition as a USA National Recreation Trail.
The communities connected by the system have seen significant benefits from visitors who come to bike, walk, shop, dine and stay in the area.
The Three Eagle Trail:
The popular Three Eagle Trail, connecting Eagle River and Three Lakes, provides another local example of the economic benefits of recreational trails.
A 2025 economic impact study estimated that the Three Eagle Trail generates approximately $2 million in visitor spending in Eagle River, Three Lakes and surrounding communities.
Together, these trail systems demonstrate the potential economic value of creating additional connections between communities.
A Growing Regional Trail Network
The River Trail is an important piece of a much larger regional trail network.
A completed connection between Eagle River and St. Germain would link the Three Eagle Trail with the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail System, creating new opportunities for longer-distance recreational trips while providing residents with a practical option for walking and bicycling between communities.
According to StreetLight's Active Transportation Monitor, bicycle ridership in the United States has increased substantially since 2019.
StreetLight – U.S. Bicycle Count Trends
Anyone who has visited St. Germain, Sayner, Star Lake, Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters or Mercer during the summer has likely seen the growing number of cyclists using the Heart of Vilas County trail network. The River Trail would help bring that same connectivity—and its potential benefits—to Eagle River and the communities along the Highway 70 corridor.
Your Support is Needed!
Show your support for the River Trail by contacting your municipal leaders and asking them to support this project!
Eagle River:
- Debra A. Brown – COERMayor@eagleriverwi.gov
- Vic Washelesky– COERWard1@eagleriverwi.gov
- Dan Grosskopf – COERWard2@eagleriverwi.gov
- Kim Schaffer – COERWard3-4@eagleriverwi.gov
- Dan Dumas – COERWard5@eagleriverwi.gov
- Robin Ginner, City Administrator – rcginner@eagleriverwi.gov
Town of Lincoln: (declined to join, but should be encouraged to join the cause)
- Bill Hassey – bhassey@frontier.com
- Kimberly Simac – bk951@frontier.com
- Ken Fox – wpine2fox@yahoo.com
- Dick Stoegbauer – dickstoegbauer@gmail.com
- Bruce Richter – Richterbrunan86@gmail.com
Cloverland:
- Steve Favorite – Chairman@townofcloverland.wi.gov
- Francine Gough – supervisor1@townofcloverland.wi.gov
- Mike Gough – supervisor2@townofcloverland.wi.gov
- Millie Ritzer – supervisor3@townofcloverland.wi.gov
- Joe Spitz * – supervisor4@townofcloverland.wi.gov
St Germain:
- John Vojta – 715-542-8024 Option 6, press 1
- Patric Niggemeier – 715-542-8024 Option 6, press 2
- Brian Cooper – 715-542-8024 Option 6, press 3
- Bob Olson – 715-542-8024 Option 6, press 4
- Peggy Nimz - 715-542-8024 Option 6, press 5
* Denotes River Trail Commission Members
For more information on the River Trail project:
- Scroll Down
- Call GHTF at (715) 303-4483
- Email GHTF
Thank you!
Updates on the River Trail
By Gary Ridderbusch The proposed River Trail connecting Eagle River and St. Germain with an off-road paved biking and pedestrian trail got a big boost last week when the town of Cloverland was awarded nearly $1.3 million in federal funding for Phase 1 of the trail project. The River Trail is a proposed 10-mile biking…
Federal Transportation Alternatives Program funding will support new multi-use trail and connection to existing St. Germain trails CLOVERLAND, Wis. — The Town of Cloverland has been awarded nearly $1.3 million in federal funding through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to support Phase 1 of the River Trail project. The award was…
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By Michelle Drew Editor The ongoing River Trail project took a step closer to becoming a reality last week when the Cloverland Town Board voted unanimously to reignite its support. Cloverland had previously been in support of the project since the formation of the River Trail Commission in 2018, but board members at the time…
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