Trail Sections — Plover River Crossing Trail Spur


  • Length:

    0.3 mile

  • Surface:

    12 ft. wide paved and boardwalk surface (plowed in winter)

  • Activities:

    Hiking, jogging, biking, pets

  • Parking:

    Limited parking on Golla Road (east end) and Hofmeister Drive (west end)

Opened in 2026, the Plover River Crossing Trail is a 1/3-mile spur trail that connects the east side of Stevens Point to the Green Circle’s Plover River Trail segment. An expansive bridge and boardwalk spans the Plover River and its associated wetlands, providing scenic views and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. It can be accessed on its west end from the Plover River Trail segment near Hofmeister Drive, or on its east end from Peters Family Park on Ben’s Lane near the intersection with Golla Road. This trail spur is maintained by the City of Stevens Point.

Plover River Crossing Trail

Features


HENNEGHAN BRIDGE & SENTRY BOARDWALK

This 12-ft. wide segment features Henneghan Bridge, an imposing 110 ft. bridge spanning the Plover River, and Sentry Boardwalk, an equally impressive 700 ft. boardwalk that traverses diverse natural areas encompassing riverine, woodland, wetland, and prairie habitats. The boardwalk is specially mounted on helical piles to minimize its footprint and impact on sensitive wetland habitat.

SCENIC VIEWS OF THE HISTORIC PLOVER RIVER

The Plover River has always been an important transportation route in this region. Menominee and other Indian tribes canoed the waterway to reach hunting grounds or to visit other villages. French voyageurs traveled the river in the 1700s to trade with the Indians for furs trapped on the river’s backwaters. In time, treaties opened up the land to lumberjacks, who floated white pine down to the Wisconsin River. Today, this stretch of river is a popular recreational canoeing and kayaking route.

TRAILSIDE NATIVE AMERICAN ARTWORK & POETRY


The trail features custom artwork by Ho-Chunk/Ojibwe painter Christopher Sweet and Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican poet and writer Cathy Caldwell, whose works were specially commissioned for this site.

Birding Information


Similar to the south portion of the Green Circle Trail’s Plover River Trail segment, this short spur trail is packed with scenery and teeming with wildlife, including deer, rabbits, squirrels, weasel, fox, fisher, beaver and otter. Birds that frequent this area in spring and summer are numerous songbirds, woodpeckers, Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred and Great-horned Owls, Great Blue Herons, and Sandhill Cranes.

Photo Gallery