GILLETT, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Many people are gearing up to take to the ATV trails in the Northwoods; those routes are scheduled to open Friday, May 12.
The ATV-UTV season typically begins the last week of April, but because of wintry weather conditions, this year is delayed.
“We’re so excited. We were a little scared there for a minute, because it just kept getting pushed back, and pushed back, but we’re ready,” said Taylor Courchaine, Gillett UTV Rentals Co-Owner and Manager.
Gillett UTV Rentals has five machines available for the season. Courchaine took one for a test run Thursday morning.
“It’s super fun to get out there, and look at all the scenery, just be out with nature,” she said.
Nature is in the air along some of the hundreds of miles of thoroughfares nearby, including Corridor 7, known locally as the Nicolet State Recreational Trail.
“The grade is kind of the backbone, the spine of our trail system. Not only Oconto County, but our surrounding counties as well. It lets you branch off to numerous counties, numerous locations,” said Samantha Boucher, Oconto County Tourism Director.
Samantha Boucher says the Nicolet stretches 90 miles from Gillett all the way to the border with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She says riders in Oconto County will see some upgrades.
“Do some grading. We put some new culverts in. Signage. We’re really big in signage this year. We don’t want anybody getting lost. We want to make sure that you know those dust start and end zones, the speed zones,” she said.
Back in Gillett, the test run is winding down. Taylor Courchaine says she hopes summer is busy.
“I think more and more people are getting into it. A lot of my business last year was people who wanted to try a side-by-side before they bought one of their own, and they didn’t know what they wanted. So it’s a perfect way to do that,” she said.
The Oconto County trails open Friday at 6 a.m.
Marinette County is open too. People are allowed to ride their ATV-UTV trails starting Friday, May 12, after midnight.
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