For the Tomahawk Leader
ANTIGO – Tourism entities in four Northwoods counties have joined forces to create a website specifically for ATV and UTV riders.
The site, www.northwoodsatv-utv.com, is a “one-stop shop for everything riders need to know for their next Northwoods four-wheeling trip, including trail descriptions and maps, info about ATV/UTV clubs, trailside restaurants and businesses and ATV/UTVing rules and regulations,” a release said.
Users can sort by any of the four highlighted counties – Lincoln, Oneida, Langlade and Forest – as well as by trail or club. Detailed trail descriptions that include length, elevation, parking areas, trail access information, and what riders will see along the way are also provided on the site.
“The site is an invaluable resource for riders,” said Deena Grabowsky, Executive Director of the Antigo/Langlade County Chamber of Commerce. “We recognized how important motorized sports are to Northwoods visitors and residents, so we partnered with the Wisconsin ATV Association to put all of our collective knowledge in one place. They were an enormous help with not only the website, but also ensuring we reached enough riders to survey for their input.”
The release said destination marketing organizations in Tomahawk, Merrill, the Rhinelander Area, Antigo/Langlade County, Forest County, Three Lakes, Minocqua/Arbor Vitae and Woodruff partnered together to make the site happen, with funding from a Wisconsin Department of Tourism joint effort marketing grant.
It began with strategic planning sessions and surveying trail users. The survey yielded some interesting takeaways from riders, including:
- Riders often select destinations to visit based on the riding, rather than just riding while they’re on vacation.
- More than 80% of ATVing/UTVing trips were planned within a month of the travel date.
- The Northwoods trails, with their variety of terrain, trailside stops, and natural beauty, are well appreciated.
- Scenery was the most important factor when choosing an ATV/UTV location, with 94% of riders saying a beautiful, scenic location was more important than all other trail factors and type of terrain.
- Public perception is that riders want muddy, aggressive rides, but most ATVers/UTVers surveyed wanted a smooth, scenic ride with access to businesses.
“The goal of the survey was to identify riders’ needs and wants and create a comprehensive website riders could use to get the most out of their Northwoods four-wheeling adventures,” the release said.
“The site is easy to navigate, it’s mobile friendly and very easy to use on your phone, even while you’re out on your ATV or UTV,” Grabowsky stated. “No more guessing about trail heads, or parking, how long the trail is, what’s private property. The info is right there in a clean, simple and welcoming format.”
To learn more, visit www.northwoodsatv-utv.com.