ATV proponents are threatening the usage covenant of the Pine Line rail trail in Taylor and southern Price counties in northwestern Wisconsin. The group hopes to open the nonmotorized trail to ATVs through the spring, summer and fall. The trail is currently split between pedestrian, bike and horse usage most of the year, with snowmobiles and ATVs having a right to the trail between December 1 and March 31 as snow conditions allow.

The ATV proponents, which include representatives of the Price County Tavern League, have asked the two-county Rail Trail Commission to open the trail to ATV usage year-round from the Taylor County hamlet of Whittlesey to the northern end, a distance of approximately 21 miles. The commission received legal advice from the Price County Corporation Counsel and Department of Natural Resources saying the conversion is not possible. State Rep. Mary Williams, a Medford Republican, is working with Price County ATV coordinator Eric Holm to see if there is a way to allow year-round ATV access to the trail.

The northern half of the trail has already suffered damage from illegal ATV riding.

The trail was developed in the late 1980s when the railroad line between Medford and Prentice was abandoned. It now operates as a 26.2-mile rail trail from its southern end in the Medford park system to Morner Road, just south of Prentice. The trail hosts the Pine Line Marathon in late April each year. The trail intersects the Ice Age National Scenic Trail north of the proposed ATV line.

To support keeping the trail nonmotorized, contact Taylor County Forest Administrator Brad Ruesch, 224 S. Second St., Medford, WI 54451.

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