Hiking, Vehicle Groups Work Together

Wisconsin hiking and all-terrain vehicle organizations have agreed to work together on trail issues such as maintenance, safety, and trespass.

On September 29, 2005, Randy Harden, president of the Wisconsin All-terrain Vehicle Association (WATVA) and John Shank, president of the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation (IAPTF), with the endorsement of Scott Hassett, Secretary of the Wisconsin DNR, signed a memorandum of understanding between their two organizations.

The WATVA and IAPTF face similar issues. The agreement is a guideline for the groups to use in their collaborative efforts to provide quality outdoor experiences for both ATV riders and hikers.

In the document, WATVA and IAPTF express respect for each other's forms of recreation and a desire to help the public understand which trails are open to specific uses.

Text of the Memorandum of Understanding [PDF 44KB]

As described in the agreement, an incident report form has been created to provide trail users a way to report any incident, illegal activity, or maintenance issue involving Wisconsin's trails. The report should be printed, filled out, and sent to the address on the back of the form. This is a pilot program aimed at improving visitor experience on Wisconsin's trails, and all trail users are encouraged to use the report.

Trail Condition and Incident Report [PDF 43KB]