CLOVERLAND — A packed room gathered in the Town of Cloverland on Oct. 22 to celebrate a major milestone for Northwoods trail enthusiasts: a nearly $1.3 million state grant to construct the first phase of the long-awaited River Trail.

Once complete, the planned 10-mile paved bicycle and pedestrian trail will connect St. Germain and Eagle River.

Hosted by the Town of Cloverland, local officials, trail organizers, and community members gathered to mark the funding award from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).

Cloverland town chairman Steve Favorite welcomed guests and expressed appreciation for the close partnership between the River Trail Commission (RTC) and the Great Headwaters Trails Foundation (GHTF) in advancing the corridor.

Jim Swenson, RTC chairman and St. Germain representative, noted that the project reflects a shared regional mission to expand bicycle and pedestrian access across Vilas County—one that organizers anticipate will deliver a significant economic boost to area communities.

Trail scope

Mike Maeirle, a GHTF volunteer and project team lead, outlined the project scope and timeline. Cloverland and GHTF submitted the joint application in October 2025, culminating in the state’s Aug. 21 grant announcement.

Out of a total requested project budget of $1,617,443 based on an 80% state and 20% local cost-share model, the state awarded $1,293,954.

Phase 1 will construct 3.6 miles of trail, consisting of 1.7 miles on-road via Old Highway 70, connecting to the Heart of Vilas trail network, and 1.9 miles of new off-road path running along Highway 70 to Wilderness Trail.

Next steps

Although state DOT funds are allocated for fiscal year 2030 and on-the-ground construction is not anticipated until at least calendar year 2029, organizers emphasized that groundwork begins immediately.

The first step will be selecting and executing a contract with an engineering design consultant.

Laura Van Valkenberg, president of the Great Headwaters Trails Foundation, made clear the coalition intends to maintain active momentum despite the multi-year state schedule.

“TAP funds won’t be available until fiscal year 2030, with construction anticipated to begin in 2029,” Van Valkenberg said. “That means we have some time before we see construction equipment out here — but we’re not going to sit and wait.”

Because the full 10-mile River Trail requires phased construction, organizers plan to pursue surrounding segments simultaneously while Cloverland’s section progresses through engineering and environmental review.

“Our goal is to keep moving forward on the other sections of the River Trail while this Cloverland section moves through its design and funding process,” Van Valkenberg added. “We don’t want to wait for one section to be completed before we begin working on the next.”

To bring the project to fruition, Van Valkenberg outlined the foundation’s substantial financial commitments.
“Great Headwaters Trails Foundation has committed to providing the required $324,000 local match, as well as the engineering design costs and the administrative costs associated with the project for Cloverland,” she said. “When you put all of that together, GHTF’s commitment will be more than $500,000 to help make this section of the trail happen.”

Van Valkenberg added that securing the grant validates years of cooperative effort across municipal boundaries.

“The good news is that this grant award demonstrates that these big projects are possible when communities, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, donors and volunteers work together,” she said. “The TAP award is a big deal. It’s tangible evidence that the River Trail is moving from a vision toward reality.”

She urged supporters to include the foundation in their annual giving plans, noting that private donations remain essential to finance engineering, local matches, and future segments.

More information on the foundation’s efforts or how to support the River Trail can be found at ghtrails.org.