Snowmobile trails in Oneida, Vilas counties remain closed

The snowfall received over the past two weeks has not been enough to open snowmobile trails in Vilas and Oneida counties. 

In a press release issued Thursday, Jan. 18, Todd Bierman, the Vilas County Forestry Department’s recreation manager, said the county’s snowmobile trail system, which includes all funded and non-funded trails and routes, “will remain closed at this time.”

“The Vilas County Snowmobile Alliance, at its January meeting, discussed the opening of the Vilas County trail system,” he explained in the press release. “Many factors were taken into consideration, including economic impact to area businesses, private property owners and most importantly, safe use of the trails. A majority of the voting member clubs recommended that the trails remain closed at this time, citing current marginal snow amounts, possible off-trail riding situations and the unsafe conditions currently found on the trail system.”

Bierman said the unsafe conditions were the “most important trail issue.”

“This was not an easy decision for these clubs to make,” he said, referring to the 11 snowmobile clubs that make up the alliance. “They ask for patience until the conditions allow for a safe and enjoyable experience here in Vilas County.”

In Oneida County, the situation is same. Eric Rady, the county forestry department’s assistant director and snowmobile coordinator, said Oneida County’s trails will also remain closed for the time being. 

“We took a vote and basically, between the nine clubs we have here in the county, we decided not to open for the same reasons,” he said. “This is crazy. We’re basically a month later than we typically open.”

Rady said there have been “a lot of people calling” the forestry office. 

“At the end of the day, we’re ready to go but we do not have the snow and there’s nothing we can do about that,” he said. 

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].