RIB MOUNTAIN – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released earlier this month novel ideas and goals for the future of Rib Mountain State Park and awaits public opinion.
The novel master plan aims to turn Rib Mountain into a year-round facility, maintain downhill skiing as long as possible and preserve the park’s wildlife, history, culture and infrastructure, the DNR says.
Climate change is shortening the downhill skiing season, and the DNR wants to make the sport possible at Rib Mountain. Future plans for downhill skiing will be published in the fall once a climate change impact report is completed.
As part of the master plan, the DNR is considering creating mountain bike trails and multi-use trails, adding a campground, as well as climbing and bouldering opportunities that wouldn’t damage the park’s unique rock formations.
The DNR has been reviewing the Mount Rib Master Plan for nearly two decades and is seeking public input on its proposals. An open house to discuss the master plan will be held on June 22 from 4-7 p.m. in Room 1004A/B in the Health Sciences Center building at Northcentral Technical College, 1000 W. Campus Drive in Wausau. Presentations by DNR employees will start at 5:30 p.m., including: Link to enlarge available to people who cannot come in person.
You can also submit comments onlineby e-mail to: [email protected] or by mail to Department of Natural Resources, Attn: John Pohlman, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.
Hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing
Mountain biking is growing in popularity, especially around Wausau, and the DNR says adding extensive mountain biking trails could aid attract people from across the Midwest for multi-day mountain bike trips. They also suggest that a multi-use trail would be a popular amenity at Rib Mountain.
There are also no groomed cross-country ski trails at Rib Mountain, although people can still cross-country ski in many parts of the park, but there are several cross-country skiing opportunities in Wausau, including the Nine Mile County Forest, the DNR said.
Here are some of their suggestions.
- Add a 5- to 7-mile multi-use paved trail around the base of Rib Mountain. It would be 8 to 3 feet wide and relatively flat and would be used for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. Wouldn’t be ideal for mountain biking.
- During the winter, the DNR took care to prepare a multi-use trail for hikers, fat-tire bikers and cross-country skiers. The winter route did not run through the downhill skiing area. The DNR could connect a multi-use trail to the Nine Mile County Forest so people can ski to the park.
- Add 6 to 20 km of mountain biking trails of varying skill levels near the downhill ski area and the eastern side of the park. At least one uphill-only trail would be available, and hiking and biking would not share the same routes.
- Add 12 to 20 miles of mountain biking trails for all skill levels, including at least two all-uphill trails. Cyclists and pedestrians rarely apply the same paths. In winter, it would be possible to ride a bike on fat tires along these trails.
Rock climbing and bouldering
Bouldering and rock climbing are growing in popularity among younger generations, although few Wisconsinites participate in the activity, the DNR says. Rock climbing is not suitable for Mount Rib, but bouldering, which is similar to rock climbing but without ropes, is. Because these activities can damage rock formations, carefully plan where people can go bouldering and rock climbing.
Here are some of their suggestions:
- Work with the Wisconsin Climbers Association to identify good bouldering locations. These would be places that emergency personnel could easily access in the event of an injury and that would cause minimal ecological damage.
- As with bouldering, the DNR and the Wisconsin Climbers Association will determine locations that are suitable for rock climbing. These locations should have minimal impact on the environment and be easily accessible to emergency personnel in an emergency.
- It enables sport climbing with indefinite anchors in a former quarry.
Camping
There is no camping at Rib Mountain, but when the DNR completed its study in 2020, people showed interest in the possibility. The DNR stated that if campsites were to be built, it would be able to provide them for cyclists if mountain bike trails were created.
The campsite would be primarily for tent camping as there is no camping space available for RVs. Here are the additional details:
- The DNR will build approximately 10 campsites with central parking. It would include vault toilets, drinking water and electricity in a parking lot for electric vehicles, and a bicycle washing station. The campsites will not be suitable for motorhomes.
Amphitheater and day-use facilities
The DNR wants to make the amphitheater more of a community space and attract people from outside Wausau.
Proposals include:
- Upgrading mountaintop facilities to accommodate more visitors and a variety of events. Potential ideas include expanding and modernizing the amphitheater, adding a patio and space for food trucks or other short-lived vendors, and adding more parking spaces and bathrooms.
Nature center
The 2005 master plan called for a nature center that was never built because there was insufficient funding for the project, the DNR says.
Current proposals include:
- Construction of a nature center planned for 2005, including an outdoor terrace, classrooms, educational programs and equipment rental.
- Adding a visitor center at the park entrance with educational exhibits and classrooms/meeting rooms. The visitor center at the park entrance is already a key part of the park, so by adding more space, the DNR can include nature center elements without having to construct a novel building. It would be cheaper and easier to maintain.
More information about the offers can be found on the website Rib Mountain State Park Master Plan website.
MORE NEWS: Tourism spending in Marathon County increased 21% last year as people turned to outdoor recreation
MORE NEWS:Outdoor music and dining returns to downtown Wausau for the summer
Contact Emalyn Muzzy at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @EmalynMuzzy.
