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Claude Ebling, it was with
his vision that Trail’s End Camp became a reality.
Trail’s End Camp
Making Memories Since 1933
Trail’s End Camp is a 149 acre property owned by Rusk County located 2
miles northeast of Bruce located along the Chippewa River. The facility
consists of 8 cabins, dining hall, assembly room, infirmary and
restroom/shower house. Numerous recreational facilities exist, including a
softball field, archery range, volleyball and basketball courts, swimming area,
horseshoe pitch and challenge course. There are hiking trails that can be used
for cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
The facility is a licensed recreational/educational camp that is used extensively
by county and out-of-county groups both youth and adult. Rusk County
schools use Trail’s End as an outdoor laboratory for environmental education in spring and fall with its undeveloped
natural setting. When the camp is not being used as a Rec/Ed camp, it is available for private use including reunions,
graduation parties, weddings, and more. Overnight private use is also allowed with some restrictions.
Although there is ½ mile of river frontage, access to the river for boats is limited. Trail’s End is largely unheated, limiting
use primarily to warmer seasons. Occasionally the Boy Scouts will brave the elements and stay overnight in the winter.
No matter what the season is, Trail’s End is a beautiful gem where memories can be made that
will last a life time.
The history of Trail’s End started hundreds of years ago as Native Americans made a trail along
the west side of the Chippewa River through today’s Trail’s End Camp. With the Homestead Act
of 1862 settlers traveling along the old native trails would improve the road width to
accommodate wagons and teams. This improved trail was known as the “Chippewa Trail”. In
1881 the Big Bend Stage Line was built for people to travel from Chippewa Falls to a trading post
88 miles north. The line passed through Trail’s End Camp and is still partially visible today.
In 1886 the Arpin Hardwood Lumber Company purchased the land
for logging and used the river to move them. By 1900 all of the trees
had been cut down and the land remained empty and unused. In 1928 the County of Rusk
purchased the land. In 1933, Claude Ebling, Rusk County Agent, took a plan to the Rusk
County Commissioners to deed 86.1 acres of the land to the Rusk County 4-H Club
Committee for use by Rusk County 4-H Clubs and Chapters of Future Farmers of America.
The first members of the committee were A.G. Krause, Mrs. T.Hiffernen and Fred Magnus.
The resolution passed unanimously and the County was instrumental in having a lot of work
done by relief workers. A stretch of road into the site was made, rustic bridges built, baseball,
tennis and volleyball grounds leveled off and a headquarters cabin erected.
The summer of 1934 marked the beginning of camp activities and nearly 600 people attended
this first official club outing. Tents were put up all over and plans were made for the
building of cabins in the flats by the river with one club building theirs up on high ground. The cabins were built, but the
spring floods wiped out all except the Onaway (Oak) Cabin built on high ground. As the years went on each individual 4-
H group re-built their own cabin on higher ground. A daily newspaper called the “Trail’s End Echoes” was printed daily
to report the camp activities. In 1963 the County voted to accept a federal grant to make improvements to Trail’s End
including a new kitchen and rest room. In 1974 Ebling Hall was built that is used mainly for educational purposes. Our
current Caretaker, Jim Moore had his graduation party in it in 1975. In 1977 the camp expanded from 86 acres to 149.22
acres. The boathouse/canoe shed was built in 1982 and in 2002 a new bathroom and shower house was built to the delight
of all campers. General upkeep and improvements continue to be made at camp.
In 1967, written policies were established as to who should govern the operation of Trail’s End. The Rusk County
Agriculture Committee was given the authority to appoint six trustees to administer the camp. These trustees are known as
the Trail’s End Trustees and there are currently nine trustees representing the public, 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,
Kinship, local schools, DNR and the UW Extension Education & Recycling Committee.
In 2009 a 75th anniversary of camping celebration was held at Trail’s End with a whole day of activities including camp
history, nature hikes, canoe trip and French voyagers. We welcome anyone who has knowledge of camp history to share
their information and stories with us so we can add it to our files and share it with others. A slide show was shown of
pictures from the early days of camping. Maybe you or your relatives are in these pictures? Copies of the “Trail’s End
Echoes” are available in the UW Extension office for reading.
If you would like to hold an event at Trail’s End, call Charmaine Johnson, Trail’s End Coordinator, at the UW Extension
office at 715-532-2151 to check availability or to schedule a tour. Priority is given to youth and adult groups up to March
1st and then the rest of the dates not booked become available. More information can also be found at
http://rusk.uwex.edu/trails-end-youth-camp/.
.
Crystal Spring tent with Naomi Schreiber. Camp opened for camping
in 1934 and was mostly done in tents. Spruce cabin is now in this location.
Lookout tower outside of Dining Hall. In the bottom was a concession stand.
Diving platform at the mouth of Devil’s Creek.
Abbotts Dairies in Bruce brought out fresh milk daily for campers.
The girls are enjoying an ice cream cone on a hot summer afternoon.
Facing the camera is Jennie Hiffernen an early 4-H leader.
Rustic bridge crossing Johnson’s Creek. Model A’s were able to drive
over the bridge up to Devil’s Creek.
Achievement Day at new amphitheater in 1937. The amphitheater was a
W.P.A and N.Y.A project.
Shown are Minerva Heath, Mrs. Oscar Peterson and Nanna Christman
working in the kitchen that used to be located in the Dining Hall. The
new kitchen was built in 1963.
One of the highlights at camp is to cross over the swinging bridge.
After a lot of fundraising, the new bathroom and shower house was
completed in 2002. It is also used as the storm shelter during inclement
weather.
In 2011 the Tamarack cabin was made into an infirmary to meet Rec/Ed
licensing requirements. There are now 8 cabins available with a capacity
ranging from 76 - 105 depending on the age of the campers. Two of the cabins
are handicapped accessible.
Canoes and life jackets are available for youth groups.
The Rusk County 4-H Leader’s Council maintains the canoes.