OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK)- Many have waited for Oconto County ATV-UTV trails to open for the season, and weather permitting, that wait could end Friday.
Stretching for about 90 miles, many consider the Nicolet State Trail to be a recreational lifeline connecting places like Gillett to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. But on Wednesday morning the gravel path was silent.
“Right. You can see it today. There’s not much going on up here. The last two weeks it’s kind of been that way,” said Jim Wisneski Hidden Bear ATV Club.
Monty Brink, Oconto County Forestry and Parks Administrator says the county allows for the trails to be open the last weekend of April.
“So when we went and inspected the trails when we were due to open in April, there was still snow on the trail. The late snowstorm caused a lot of flooding. Wrecked the trails a little bit and took the trees down.”
Brink says patience is the key as early season traffic could cause ruts and hurt trail conditions.
“We want to do the best we can with the environment, and not wreck the trails, and cause more work for the clubs that maintain these trails for me,” he said.
ATV club leaders agree. Jim Wisneski of the Hidden Bear ATV Club says quiet trails equals low business.
“It hurts the local businesses every time we have to delay it. Unfortunately, it hurts the economic impact in this area. At the same token, we got to make sure the trails are safe to ride,” said Wisneski.
If all goes well, the wait is almost over.
