A Gift of the Future
Tara Lila is a wilderness conservation project born out of a collaboration between land owners Richard and Amy Jo Aylward and the Three Eagle Trail. We currently manage 1600+ acres of private land in three park units: Sundstein Road, Ripco Road, and Section 9, all within beautiful Vilas and Oneida counties. With over 20 miles of trails accessible to the public, Tara Lila provides all season recreation opportunities for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fatbiking for visitors to Northern Wisconsin.
Tara Lila Park Units
Sundstein Road Unit
The 650+ acre Sundstein Road Unit was our first conservancy park and the site of the first Snowshoe Celebration. The expansive park features miles of rustic trails and hosts the Three Eagle Trail from Sundstein Road to the Black Spruce Boardwalk. The Green, Red, and White Tara Lila trails offer opportunities for both the novice and more adventurous hiker alike.
Ripco Road Unit
As Tara Lila’s largest, the Ripco Road Unit’s nearly 800 acres and miles of trails present opportunities for a wide range of recreation including hiking, snowshoeing, and fatbiking. Straddling Ripco Road in the town of Sugar Camp, the land is delineated into three natural regions. The Eastern Samadhi area is defined by stunning elevation changes and the hallmarks of its glacial ancestry. The Western Jewel Tree area’s rolling landscape dominated by towering basswood slowly transitions to the expansive bog that defines the Northern Sunyata area.
Section 9 Unit
As Tara Lila’s smallest, the Section 9 Road Unit’s size belies its variety and many opportunities for recreation. From the main entrance on Section 9 Road to just north of the stunning Four Women Boardwalk, the Three Eagle Trail bisects the park. The land North/West of the Three Eagle Trail hosts a double ridge system. Two rustic trails follow the ridge tops. The high plateau is reminiscent of an alpine meadow. The Land to the South/East transitions from upland forest to sphagnum bog and cedar swamp. Several enormous boulders - reminders of the region’s glacial heritage- are featured along the route.
The names of many trails and locations at Tara Lila have their roots in Eastern Tradition. In Eastern theology, Tara is the name given to the divine feminine form, her many colors giving hints to her temperaments and personalities. In Sanskrit, the word Lila means “to play”. Therefore, Tara Lila means: “Where the divine comes to play”.