New Marquette recreational trail system is ready for use
Since June, 41 volunteers from 15 different towns have contributed 673 hours to build trails for phase one of Marquette’s new shared use recreational trail system. (Submitted photo)
Wildlife viewing opportunities are abundant along the Marquette recreational trails, and hikers and bikers will be treated to beautiful scenery. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
The first area of the trail system has a railroad theme, with names and signage tying to Marquette’s history. (Submitted photo)
Don Smalley, who spearheaded the trail efforts, heads off the Main Line onto the Milwaukee Road.
This map shows the current trails.
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
Hikers and bikers are welcome on the new shared use recreational trail system being developed in Marquette’s city-owned Ohmer property.
Phase one of the project has been underway since early summer, and included rehabilitation of an existing ATV trail accessible from Thornton Lane in the bench neighborhood as well as creation of single track sections in the area.
“The very first day I advertised for people to come up and help was June 1 because that was National Trails Day. I thought that would be a good way to kick things off. It was a rainy, crappy day, and three people showed up,” recalled resident Don Smalley, who is spearheading the efforts.
Since then, 41 volunteers from 15 different towns have contributed 673 hours to trail building. A “Mar-Mac Human Powered Trails” Facebook group has grown to 136 members.
“What is happening, and I knew would, is there are people in close proximity who have interest in doing this kind of stuff, whether it’s hiking, biking,” said Smalley.
A woman who lives just down the street from Smalley helped at recent work sessions. She’s an avid mountain biker who often drives to Dubuque to bike with a group of ladies.
“She lives right in Marquette. Who knew? Because there’s no place to ride around here, you don’t see people riding,” Smalley noted. “Nobody would know I’m a mountain biker unless they happened to be driving by my house while I’m rolling the bike out of the garage and putting it in the back of my truck.”
“I know there’s got to be more people around. Prairie du Chien, there’s got to be people over there,” he continued. “So, little by little, saying there are trails that can be used, signage so people don’t come up here and get lost, benches where they can rest. There’s some physical evidence now that this project is going to reach some kind of completion. Maybe it’s what I get done this year, but it’s more than there was a year ago.”
Smalley first approached the Marquette city council with his idea in February, advocating that a shared use recreational trail system could make the community a destination for mountain bikers. He touted benefits for local users, tourists and businesses. The council approved funding for phase one work and has since allocated $10,000 toward design of additional trails.
The Ohmer property is 240 total acres, and current work encompasses a fourth to a third of it, according to Smalley.
For the first phase, he walked the area several times and flagged routes for single track sections. Then he and volunteers got started clearing corridors of debris and cutting logs out of the way. Spots were raked and scraped clean.
“This was all hand tools, manpower,” said Smalley, while walking along one section.
The trails have a bit of slope, to help water run slowly across and limit erosion. But he knows some maintenance will be required.
“There are some problem areas that can be fine tuned. You can’t do it all at once,” Smalley acknowledged. “The focus now is to get the trail built. Get people up here and have them feel safe and comfortable. If anybody wants to bike it and they’re not mountain bikers and just want to ride a trail, it’s gentle enough. It’s a lot wider than what trails in year two or year three are going to be. Those trails will be further away from here and the people most likely to use those are going to be interested in spending more time, going farther, a more exciting experience.”
Smalley is excited that this first area has a railroad theme, tying the trails to local history. They are named, for example, the Milwaukee Road, Soo Line, Burlington Northern, North Siding and even The Roundhouse. Signage is up, and stickers featuring actual railroad logos have been used when possible.
With this step complete, Smalley expects the trail system to be utilized year round. Depending on winter weather, fat tire bike riders could come out. The area will also be great for snowshoers who prefer a marked trail.
Wildlife viewing opportunities are abundant, and users will be treated to beautiful scenery. The area has a forestry management plan that Smalley said goes hand in hand with trail work.
“Where the forest is predominantly maple, we should be thinning it out and getting rid of everything except the maple. Where it’s predominantly oak, we should be getting rid of everything that’s oak. We need to open it up and let some sunlight in and let trees fill in naturally without all the undesirable type trees,” he explained.
While Smalley enjoys hiking at nearby Pikes Peak State Park and Effigy Mounds National Monument, he said Marquette’s trail system is different.
“There’s the state park experience, and this isn’t. It’s just a little bit rougher—even the wood itself is rougher looking,” he said. “It’s not as polished, and I think that appeals to some people.”
Learn more about the project by joining the “Mar-Mac Human Powered Trails” Facebook group.
