Ride safely - Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Ride safely - Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Ride safely - Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
13<br />
JUST THE FACTS<br />
DISTANCE: 11 miles.<br />
DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate.<br />
TRAILHEAD LOCATION(S): South<br />
Lot – from Mosinee travel west 4 miles<br />
on Hwy 153 to lot on north side <strong>of</strong><br />
road. North Lot – from Mosinee travel<br />
northwest 4.1 miles on Cty B, then<br />
west 2.4 miles on Burma Rd to lot on<br />
south side <strong>of</strong> road.<br />
SEASON: The trail is closed in<br />
October, November and April.<br />
FEES: None.<br />
OTHER TRAILS IN THIS REGION:<br />
Lincoln County, Clark County and<br />
Jackson County trails.<br />
NOTE: Trails are numbered with<br />
orange and brown ATV signs.<br />
Restrooms are available near the northern<br />
trailhead. ATVs cannot be operated<br />
on county roads.<br />
CAUTION: Some trail sections may be<br />
closed periodically. Also, logging activity<br />
might be present.<br />
AREA ATTRACTIONS: Rib Mountain<br />
State Park, Hsu’s Ginseng Enterprises,<br />
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum,<br />
and Marathon County Historical<br />
Museum in Wausau; Big Eau Pleine<br />
County Park and the George W. Mead<br />
SWA near Mosinee.<br />
LEGEND: For a complete listing <strong>of</strong> all<br />
icons, see page 4.<br />
FOR MORE INFORMATION:<br />
Wausau/ Marathon County Parks,<br />
Recreation & Forestry<br />
715/261-1550<br />
www.co.marathon.wi.us<br />
30 Visit travelwisconsin.com<br />
Burma Forest<br />
ATV Trail<br />
ANN HARDEN<br />
Marathon County<br />
Just four miles west <strong>of</strong> Mosinee, the<br />
Burma Road Forest is a 1,480-acre<br />
haven for Central <strong>Wisconsin</strong> ATV<br />
enthusiasts.<br />
Trailhead parking lots on both ends <strong>of</strong><br />
the trail system afford<br />
quick and easy access.<br />
Free camping is <strong>of</strong>fered<br />
at either trailhead with a<br />
permit from the Park,<br />
Recreation & Forestry<br />
<strong>Department</strong>. Restrooms at<br />
the northern trailhead are a<br />
bonus amenity.<br />
Signage marks nine trail segments<br />
within the 11-mile system. The Burma<br />
Road Forest is one unit in the county’s<br />
28,000-acre forest system. The forest is<br />
managed for timber production, wildlife<br />
habitat, public hunting (October and<br />
November), and recreational uses. Filled<br />
with dense deciduous trees and stands <strong>of</strong><br />
pines, the Burma Road Forest provides scenic<br />
and enjoyable riding for ATVers <strong>of</strong><br />
every skill level.<br />
Because these are essentially logging<br />
roads, some <strong>of</strong> the trails here are more<br />
than 10 feet wide. The packed dirt on the<br />
entire trail system produces a smooth ride<br />
and excellent traction for all ATVs.<br />
However, even with the packed dirt, there<br />
are a couple <strong>of</strong> sections adjacent to the<br />
trail that can hold standing water and mud<br />
With only eleven miles <strong>of</strong> trail, you’ll<br />
probably ride every inch <strong>of</strong> the Burma<br />
Road Forest more than once. As you do,<br />
you may encounter a variety <strong>of</strong> wildlife<br />
including whitetail deer, wild turkeys and<br />
ruffed grouse. For safety, the trail is closed<br />
during hunting season in October and<br />
November. It also is closed from mid-March<br />
through the end <strong>of</strong> April to allow the<br />
ground to dry during the spring thaw.<br />
The Burma Road Forest stands at the<br />
confluence <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Wisconsin</strong> River and the<br />
Big Eau Pleine River. A dam on the<br />
<strong>Wisconsin</strong> River just below Marathon<br />
County created the 6,800-acre Big Eau<br />
Pleine Reservoir and 6,700-acre Lake<br />
Dubay – arguably the focus <strong>of</strong> water recreation<br />
and fishing in central <strong>Wisconsin</strong>. The<br />
Burma Road Forest is only two miles north