Progress — 2014
Page 37
Three Eagle Trail sees expansion
with opening of Eagle River section
It was a big year of progress for the
Three Eagle Trail as the all new Eagle
River section opened June 29, 2013.
A cool drizzly morning didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the cheerful
crowd at the grand opening ceremony.
Especially interesting was the opening
of the Four Women Boardwalk, a 660foot long structure spanning scenic
Mud Creek and its surrounding wetlands and floodplain.
The new section provides Eagle River residents and visitors easy access to
secluded woodland and wetland areas
along a well-maintained biking and
walking trail free of motor vehicle traffic.
From the historic rail depot in
downtown Eagle River, the trail heads
south past Dairy Queen and follows a
10-foot wide, crushed limestone path
along the former Chicago & Northwestern Railroad grade for about 1.5
miles.
The trail then leads through a mix
of open land and forest to an impressive boardwalk and bridge. Beyond the
boardwalk, the trail continues on to a
wooded upland, terminating at a primitive rest area almost 3 miles south of
the Dairy Queen near Section 9 Road.
This southern terminus of the Eagle
River section of the trail is about 1.5
miles north of the Sundstein Road
Trailhead for the original Three Eagle
Trail that runs 8.4 miles to Three
Lakes.
The original Three Eagle Trail, open
since 2007, is an 8.4-mile long pedestrian pathway with a 10-foot wide,
crushed limestone surface.
From Three Lakes it begins at Don
Burnside Park and heads north following the former Chicago & Northwestern Railroad grade. At mile 3.5, the
trail turns away from the rail grade
and winds through a beautiful landscape of woodlands and wetlands. Features along the way include two scenic
boardwalks and a bridge. The terrain is
level to gently rolling. The area is quiet and remote.
Riders should be prepared with water, a first-aid kit, insect protection and
bike repair tools.
The north trailhead, including a
small parking area, is located on Sundstein Road, about 4 miles south of the
city of Eagle River. This trailhead is
just 1.5 miles from the new Eagle River section of the Three Eagle Trail that
opened last year.
Winter access offered
In the winter season, the northern 5
miles of the Three Lakes section of the
trail are groomed for cross-country skiing with a skate lane and classic track.
The Four Women Boardwalk on the Eagle River section of the
Three Eagle Trail is 660 feet long and offers 360 degrees of
The ski trail can be accessed from a
small parking area on the west side of
Highway 45, just three miles north of
the Three Lakes business district, or
from the Sundstein Road parking area.
Also in winter, there are marked
snowshoe trails at both ends of the
cross-county ski trail and near the
southern terminus of the Eagle River
section of the trail, near the end of Section 9 Road, about three miles south of
Eagle River on Sundstein Road.
The trail has been increasing in
popularity among residents and visitors alike. The fresh smiles on the
glowing faces of trail users bears out
the health benefits that are well substantiated in medical literature.
Also, anecdotal reports from area
businesses indicate that the trail has
been a helpful and environmentally
sustainable boost to the local tourism
economy.
In the words of Dan Anderson, owner
of the Eagle River Dairy Queen: “The
Three Eagle Trail has really been a
boost to our business. Users of the trail
will often park near our store at the
trailhead and come in for some lunch or
an ice cream treat when they finish their
walk or ride. Since we have added bike
racks and some extra picnic tables, we
are also getting bikers parking their
bikes at our store while they walk to other businesses, and they almost always
make a purchase. We offer a 10% discount for customers with a bike helmet.
Overall, the trail has had a very positive
impact on our business.”
This lends further support to the recent report from the University of Wis-
scenic beauty. The trail is accessible near the Eagle River Dairy
Queen or off Section 9 Road.
—Contributed Photos
consin-Madison/Extension
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
regarding the beneficial economic impacts fro