Tomorrow River State Trail: Plover to Amherst Junction
The section of the Tomorrow River State Trail from Plover to Amherst Junction offers a delightful view of central Wisconsin farmland amidst a backdrop of forests. The 10.8 mile path crosses over a low moraine and through a sandy outwash plain, both created by glaciers thousands of years ago. The trail is often well-used on weekends, but a ride east from Plover is also peaceful and fairly secluded.
There are two starting locations for the Tomorrow River State Trail. The main trailhead is on Twin Towers Road. It has a large parking lot, park bench, information kiosk, self-registration station, and commemorative marker. An equine hitching post there is for use by horseback riders. The grassy sections of the path adjacent to the limestone bike trail is designated for their use. Cyclists should yield to horseback riders on shared sections of the trail.
The trailhead on Twin Towers Road is reached by car by taking exit 153 east from Interstate Highway 39. Drive a mile east on County Road B, then turn left (north) on Twin Towers Road. Drive 350 yards. The road crosses the trail, and the trailhead is on the right (east).
While the Twin Towers Road trailhead is a convenient place to begin a ride, it is located 1.5 miles east of the trail’s start. The Tomorrow River State Trail actually begins at the junction of Hoover Road in Plover. On the west side of this road, the path connects to Hoover Road Trail, a spur trail of the larger Green Circle State Trail.
The Tomorrow River State Trail crosses Hoover Road, running behind a large shopping center and factory. It then goes underneath Interstate Highway 39, next to a set of railroad tracks. The trail continues straight east past several factories and fields for another mile, before arriving at Twin Towers Road trailhead.
Trail-goers may want to begin a ride at the shopping center in Plover, then ride along Hoover Road to access the trail. The shopping center parking lot is substantial. They area has numerous amenities including restaurants, hotels, and a grocery store.
The Artist & Fare shopping mall has several shops popular with trail-goers. Mission Coffee House serves coffee beverages along with soups, salads, wraps, and sandwiches. They are strong supporters of the local community, donating $1 to local nonprofits for every pound of coffee sold. O’so Brewing Company is also located in the shopping mall too. Craft-brew enthusiasts may appreciate their substantial taproom, which offers 30 different beers.
The parking lot by the Plover shopping center is on the northeast corner of County Road B and Hoover Road. From Interstate Highway 39, take exit 153 west on County Road B. Drive a half mile and turn right (north) into the parking lot. A variety of other businesses are also located there, ready to serve visiting trail-goers.
Plover is named for the nearby clear stream flowing into the Wisconsin River. The area that became Plover was selected as the seat of government for Portage County in 1844. It was platted and received a post office in 1845. In the 1850s and 1860s, the village’s name was changed several times, until it was named “Plover” in 1864. In 1868, the county seat was moved to Stevens Point and the village dissolved. Attempts to re-incorporate as a village met defeat over the years until 1971, when through a narrow victory, the village reorganized.
Back on the Tomorrow River State Trail, the route continues east from the Twin Towers Road trailhead. It travels past fields of potatoes, beans, and corn for one mile before arriving at Kennedy Avenue. An interpretive marker next to the trail in this segment explain how irrigation systems are used to water crops in this sandy soil. This soil type in central Wisconsin is especially beneficial for growing potatoes.
After Kennedy Avenue, a corridor of trees lines the path. Elevation increases as the trail enters a long stretch of woods, running north-south. This is the ancient Arnott Moraine. The low glacial ridge has about 50 to 80 feet of elevation, and is a half mile wide. It extends 18 miles in a north-south direction. In addition to its peculiarity as a unique type of moraine, it’s home to a large variety of plants and animals.
Almost a mile after descending the moraine, the trail crosses County Road J and arrives in the tiny community of Arnott. In 1872, the railroad laid tracks through what is now Arnott. In 1881 and 1882, William Arnott, Joseph Bremmer, and Calvin Richmond organized the construction of a railroad depot. A small settlement emerged around it, named Arnott. A few homes, businesses, and taverns are located there today.
One mile further east is another trailhead on Custer Road. It has a gravel parking lot, information kiosks, self-registration station, and equine hitching post. The trailhead is one mile north of County Road B on Custer Road. By car, Custer Road is 4.5 miles from the county road’s intersection with Interstate Highway 39. According to trail distances, this spot is 5 miles east of the path’s start on Hoover Road.
For the next 2.2 miles, the trail continues to pass fields and wooded lots. Most of the way, a corridor of trees and bushes line the trail. In August, ripe raspberries grow on trailside bushes. The path crosses Tower Road and 4th Street before reaching Smokey Road and the little hamlet of Fancher. It was named for Orson Fancher, who operated the first post office there in 1891. Fancher was a “flag stop” on the railroad, to get its potato crop to market.
The trees surrounding the trail diminish as it moves east. The scene becomes more agricultural. Over the next 2.8 miles, the Tomorrow River State Trail crosses County Road K, Town Line Road, and Edgewater Drive. After Edgewater Drive, a dense forest appears to the left (north). A sign reading “toilet” directs trail-goers up a path and through a campground to a restroom. This little path leads to the south campground at Lake Emily County Park.
A short distance further east, the trail intersects Lake Drive, where an interpretive marker and secluded park bench are located at the park’s entrance. This 143-acre park on Lake Emily is a popular place to fish, boat, water-ski, and swim. The park is well-equipped with two campgrounds, a large picnic area, picnic lodges, a swimming beach, showers, a boat ramp, trailer dump station, playground, nature trail, and baseball field. The south campground works well for cyclists interested in tent camping, as it’s very close to the trail.
From Lake Drive, it is 0.7 mile to Amherst Junction. The trail passes under four lanes of U.S. Highway 10 and arrives at 2nd Street. The path ends there, and signs direct trail-goers to continue left (north) across railroad tracks to the trailhead. It has a gravel parking lot, picnic table, park bench, information kiosk, and self-registration station. There is also an interpretive marker that shares how Amherst Junction dealt with two railroad lines intersecting each other. While a bit difficult to see, a unique bridge was constructed to allow trains on the two lines to easily cross. The trailhead is next to this unique bridge.
The Amherst Junction trailhead on 2nd Street is reached by car from U.S. Highway 10. Take exit 238 and drive east on County Road B (Western Way) for only 400 feet. Then turn left (north) onto County Road Q and go 1.1 mile. The county road turns left (west) and becomes Main Street in Amherst Junction. Turn right (north) onto 2nd Street and drive 175 yards to the trailhead, located on the left (west) side of the road.
Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.
As the name implies, Amherst Junction was created when two railroads came through the area. Until 1875, the community was called Groversburg, after a local family. When a post office was established, it was renamed Amherst Junction, and incorporated in 1911. As a junction of two railroad lines, the village grew during times when the railroad prospered, and decreased when it diminished.
Trail last ridden and documented in August, 2022.