Red Arrow Snowmobile ATV Club

42 YEARS OF SERVICE TO NORTHERN OCONTO COUNTY 1968-2010

This site was updated on Monday September 6th

CAUTION!!!!

Please look out for construction equipment on Wildwood Trail this fall. Wildwood is the trail that goes east off the Nicolet State Trail right at the county line. There will be construction activity there thru the fall season so be careful!!!

Corn Roast and ATV Parade on Labor Day
Weekend was a huge success

Saturday of Labor Day weekend started out cool and cloudy with some rain showers. That did not deter nearly 100 ATVs and UTVs from lining up at Townsend Shell for the annual parade to the Red Arrow Corn Roast. After crossing Hwy 32 twice on the Nicolet State Recreational Trail the parade arrived at Barb's Valley Inn to kick off the party. Photos along the way were taken by Rob Seebers of Townsend shell from the boom truck provided by Duane Harris of Harris Tree Service in Wabeno...thanks Rob & Duane.

There was a big crowd all afternoon as the weather turned warmer and the sun came out (most of the time). Corn, brats, burgers and liquid refreshments were all available for those attending. Also, Red Arrow had many raffles with prizes donated by local businesses to raise funds for our trail betterment and maintenance.

Red Arrow wants to thank Rob and Kim Seebers of Townsend Shell for planning the ATV parade. The new owners of the Valley Inn, Barb and Jim Majestic welcomed the crowd and got an enthusiastic round of applause when they were introduced. Willie and Kathy Evans the former owners helped all day and Red Arrow thanks them for their many years of supporting our club. Annetta Janda our event chairperson deserves a HUGE THANK YOU for weeks of effort lining up prizes, workers and covering all the details to make the event a success. Finally, thanks to all the club members and friends who worked at the Corn Roast. Without your help we could not have been so successful. Plans are already made to hold the event in 2011 on the same Labor Day weekend Saturday at Barb's Valley Inn.

See more Corn Roast photos under the "Meetings,Events" Tab

Nearly 100 ATVs and UTVs left Townsend Shell for the Valley Inn with more riders joining in along the way.

Duane Harris of Harris Tree Service in Wabeno donated his boom truck for shooting overhead photos. Here he is parked at the Barb's Valley Inn after the parade arrived

Check this photo from Montana. if you can't wait for snow you can always check out the nearest "mud run" and hope for the best.

Club members Linda Brantmeier and Katie Mleziva along with Linda's grandaughter Eva decorate the Red Arrow drag before the 4th of July parade

Club president John Brantmeier gives his grandkids Mason and Eva a chance to sit in our John Deere tractor before the 4th of July parade. Future groomer drivers?

Groomer driver & ATV Committee head Dale Ott and his granddaughter Emily had a great time handing out candy while driving the John Deere in the 4th of July parade.

Red Arrow trail boss Jeff Kroll owns Kroll's Excavating and used his low-boy to haul the Ultimate Groomer in the 4th of July parade.

Red Arrow entered their John Deere tractor and Ultimate snow trail groomer in the Townsend 4th of July parade

One of two Red Arrow's 10ft Ultimate drags were made just north of Townsend in Laona. They do a great job of keeping our trails smooth all winter.

All Oconto County, Forest County, Marinette County, Florence County and Langlade County ATV Trails including the Nicolet State Recreational Trail (Grade) all the way to Michigan are open for ATV's and UTV's thru October 31st!!

UTV's (side by sides) are legal this year in all five counties. Check with the DNR and get a registration before you ride a UTV on any trail or route. As of this posting UTV's except the Polaris Razor (50 inch max rule) are not legal on National Forest Service routes and trails except ATV/UTV legal town or county managed roads.

On Saturday May 1st there was a dedication ceremony in Laona at noon. The final 5 mile segment of Nicolet Trail was opened allowing direct access all the way to Michigan for ATV's and UTV's. See photos below.

Most Town of Townsend Roads are open to ATV & UTV travel year round except Hwy 32, County T and a few roads that are marked "NO ATV" including Cathedral Pines.

Please stay on marked trails and routes and obey posted speed limits and all ATV/UTV riding regulations. Our trails are patrolled by the Oconto County Recreational officer and the DNR wardens. Note...because of dust control the speed limits will be strictly enforced.

UTV's (side by sides) will be allowed on the entire Nicolet Trail this year. Here one leads the parade into Laona for the ribbon cutting.

FCATVA officers, town, county and State representatives cut the ribbon on the new Nicolet State Trail in Laona

Conventional "straddle" type ATV's still make up the majority of machines on the trail. Here is a group headed to the trail dedication in Laona

Roger and Kathy Steinbach of the Woodland Trails ATV Club again were the top Trail Patrol winners at the WATVA convention. They each patrolled over 600 hours last year.

All trail reports are provided by area clubs and by our groomer drivers and club members. Red Arrow cannot be responsible for actual trail conditions at any given place or time. Riders are expected to ride responsibly and look for hazards. You ride our trails at your own risk!!

Townsend is one of the highest elevation areas in Wisconsin and that helps us keep our snow!!! The Carter hills between us and Carter are 1,781 feet above sea level vs Oconto at 530 feet...it does make a difference. The highest range is just northwest of us in Forest County at Sugerbush Hill...that area is 1,939 feet above sea level. Kent Tower Hill in Langlade County is 1,903 feet. Information from the new Wisconsin Blue Book published recently.

Photos needed. Send your photos of ATVing in the Townsend area to jbrantmeier@athenet.net and we will consider using them on this site. We can use scenery and people having fun while on the trail. Photo credit will be given if you ask for it.

Please e-mail our Secretary Mary Stehula at the following e-mail address if you wish to be added to our electornic mailing list...you do not have to be a member to receive these communications. We will not forward your e-mail address to anyone and you can opt out at any time!!!
mjsteh@hotmail.com

Red Arrow Snowmobile ATV Club Inc. was founded 42 years ago in 1968 during the very early days of Snowmobiling. Early club founders established a trail system utilizing old logging roads and rail spurs in the Nicolet National Forest. These trails were connected by utilizing the old railroad grade (now NIcolet State Trail) that runs south to north thru Oconto County and provided winter snowmobile access to connecting trails in Langlade County and Forest County as well as all over the state of Wisconsin. Most of those same snowmobile trails are in place today and are maintained regularly by Red Arrow.

In 2007 Red Arrow voted to add ATV trail responsibility in the Townsend area. At that time the Town of Townsend made all town roads legal year round for ATV travel and asked the club to help with safety training and help patrol the roads for "bonehead" riders. More recently the towns of Doty, Lakewood and Riverview have allowed ATV access on some roads during the summer ATV season. The club is currently working with the National Forest Service to add additional trails in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Red Arrow welcomes all snowmobile and ATV enthusiasts visiting our area and invites them to join our club. We understand that not everyone can be active but we need your financial support if you ride our trails. Townsend has become a year around hub for ATV and snowmobile activity. From our area you can literally ride anywhere in Wisconsin via snowmobile. The Nicolet State Trail thru Townsend is now legal for ATV's and UTV's all the way from south of Gillett to the Michigan border and beyond.

Townsend is located on Hwy 32 about 90 miles north of Green Bay and the Fox Cities. You will pass thru Gillett, Suring, Chute Pond, Mountain and Lakewood as you head towards Townsend. Carter (home of the Northern Lights Casino and Hotel) is located about 5 miles north of Townsend with Wabeno and Laona further north. Come visit us.....we are located right in the center of some of the best snowmobiling and ATV/UTV riding in Wisconsin.