On September 9, the Town of Boulder Junction held a non-binding, advisory survey vote for residents only. There was only one question on the survey, which was, “Do you support ATVs/UTVs on Town roads?” The results were 55% (220) against and 45% (182) for. Thank you to everyone that voted and sent emails! While the results were not what we hoped for, we are still hopeful that the Town Board is willing to work with us on finding a solution that includes opening of most, if not all, town roads. The next steps are critical: The town board will have to take into account all of the data and dynamics of the matter and reach a decision on how to move ahead with the ordinance and how to manage ATVs/UTVs in our town. Since the county highways have been open since February, ATVs/UTVs are already here in town, with no town ordinance in place to properly manage them. The next Town Board meeting is Tuesday, September 23 at 6:30pm and we anticipate the vote/survey will be on the agenda. Please plan to attend and if you’re comfortable speaking, reach out to us and we will discuss ahead of time.
On September 9, 2025 the Town of Boulder Junction will hold a non-binding ELECTOR ONLY SURVEY REGARDING ATV’S/UTV’S that will take place at the Boulder Junction Community Center, Dairyman’s Room at 5392 Park St., Boulder Junction from 7:00am – 7:00pm. The poll will be IN PERSON ONLY and limited to registered town electors as of the April 1, 2025 spring election. The question on the poll will be as follows:
1. Are you in favor of ATV/UTV use on Boulder Junction town roads?
The proposed town ordinance has been modeled after other Vilas County towns and mirrors the state statutes that control and define legal ATV/UTV recreation in our state. Voting “yes” on September 9 means you support the Town Board’s effort to create an ordinance and to define controlled access to our town roads.
In May the Club submitted a Draft Ordinance to the Town Board. This version was modified (to Draft v8) and formally introduced by the Town Board during it’s June meeting. At this time we are in a public comment period. Current planning by the Town includes a possible Advisory Vote on September 9th. This will be for Electors only, on the voter rolls in April 2025.
The current Draft of the Ordinance opens all but a few specified Town Roads. Public comments, the advisory vote, and any other clarification, will then be worked into the final version of the Ordinance.
We are hopeful that a First reading of a final Ordinance will be held in September as currently planned.
The Vilas County Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution allowing ATV/UTV traffic year-round on all county highways, except for those in the town of Lac du Flambeau.
The permitted highways have been properly signed and are now open to ATV and UTV traffic.
County Highways included in the resolution are County Highways A, B, C, E, G, H (town of Boulder Junction only), J, K, M, N, O, P, S, and W.
ATV and UTV travel is illegal on numbered highways (17, 32, 45, 47, 51, 70, and State Highway 155) with some exceptions:
- State Highway 17 from County Highway E to Deerskin Road (Phelps)
- State Highway 70 from State Highway 155 to Parkway Drive (St. Germain)
- State Highway 155 from State Highway 70 to Birchwood Drive (St. Germain)
- State Highway 155 from County Highway N to Plum Lake Drive (Plum Lake)
Please note that not all town roads are open to ATV/UTV traffic. Check with local municipalities or ATV clubs in the area to verify which roads can be used.
ATV and UTV riders should obey all traffic laws when riding on Vilas County highways:
- Stay to the right and travel in the direction of traffic
- Stay on the paved portion of these roads
- Ride single file
- ATV/UTV speed limit is 35 mph
- Put your headlights on for safety and dim your lights when traffic approaches from the other direction after dark
For more information, contact the Vilas County Forestry, Recreation & Land Department at (715) 479-5160.