Trail Overview
The Florence County F6 Mark Peters Memorial Trail is an easy, scenic 3.4-mile offroad route that is perfect for riders of all skill levels looking to explore the beautiful landscapes of northeastern Wisconsin. Running through the northwestern portion of the Spread Eagle Barrens State Natural Area, this route navigates rolling hills and winding terrain while offering spectacular views. The trail is roughly one and a half machine widths wide, making it highly accessible for SxSs, ATVs, and four-wheel-drive vehicles. The primary surface consists of sand and clay, interspersed with gravel sections. Riders will experience a unique transition from the wide-open, bracken grasslands of the barrens to dense, mixed wooded forests as they travel between Junction 2 and Junction 19 on Florence County Trail 6/6A.
With an easy technical rating of 2, the trail features manageable elevation changes ranging from 1,303 feet to 1,546 feet, accumulating approximately 371 feet of climbing. While the trail generally provides good sightlines and straightforward driving, heavy rain can occasionally wash out steep grades and expose medium-sized rocks. These minor obstacles are easily negotiated by slowing down or driving around them. The route can be accessed via Stateline Route 2, Florence County F15 North, or Florence County F6 North Horseshoe, and is also open to street-legal vehicles in certain sections. Travelers should plan to stop in the nearby town of Florence for trailside fuel and dining, or visit the community of Spread Eagle for local food options.
Difficulty
Individuals of all skill levels can easily ride this trail. The trail offers okay to good sight lines throughout and is roughly one and a half machine widths wide in its entirety. Occasionally after periods of heavy and large rainfall, there will be some hilly areas of the trail that will become washed out exposing medium-sized rocks under the trail surface. This area can usually be avoided entirely by going around the obstacle, or by slowly navigating through it.
History
Spread Eagle Barrens State Natural Area was established in 1995 to protect an extensive landscape of bracken grassland, a regionally unique type of pine barrens that is only present in northeastern Wisconsin. Consisting of a mosaic of six different natural communities, the 8,418-acre property includes bracken grassland habitat and associated flora and fauna that require large expanses of open vegetation. The lower reaches of the Pine River, a designated Wild River, traverse the site, and the Menominee River forms the property's eastern boundary. More information is available from the Florence County website: https://www.exploreflorencecounty.com/tourism/featured-destinations/spread-eagle-barrens-state-natural-area/
