Minocqua Winter Park is your go-to place for fun

MINOCQUA – Now that Mother Nature has transformed the landscape into a winter wonderland, it’s time to explore the recreational opportunities at Minocqua Winter Park & Nordic Center, located several miles west of Minocqua. Winter Park offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, snow tubing, sledding, snow biking and skijoring. The ice-skating rink is a favorite of many. Free use of ice skates is available.

Winter Park’s trail systems traverse some 6,500 acres of scenic upland forest and lowlands. Weaved into the landscape are some 85 kilometers of PistenBully groomed XC ski trails (classic and skate), as well as 14.5 kilometers of single-track classic. There are 10.4 kilometers of snowshoe trails, winter fat biking trails and skijoring trails. The two dozen XC trails offer many options for distance travel and for all skill levels. All trails are marked at the intersections; paper trail maps are available at the chalet. Along those trails are shelters to rest, to warm up before a fire and to socialize with like-minded skiers and snowshoers.

The heated chalet is where you can purchase trail passes, warm up, store your gear, use the restrooms, rent ski equipment, sign up for PSIA-ski school lessons and prep your skis in the wax room. The chalet has free wi-fi. The café offers eats, including grab-n-go options.

The CXC Adaptive Center offers stand-up and sit-ski equipment to provide XC skiing to people with physical disabilities or visual impairments. Call for appointments for instructions and free equipment use.

Upcoming races and events this season, include the Wolf Tracks Rendezvous XC Ski Race on Feb. 4; candlelight ski on Feb. 18; snowshoe hike to Squirrel Hill on Feb. 25; Loopy Fest (CXC Youth Cup Races, Loopy Loppet & Beat the Bunny) on March 4; CXC Youth Cup Races on March 5 and candlelight snowshoe on March 11. For more information about times and registration fees, visit minocquawinterpark.org or call 715-356-3309.

The facility is located at 7543 Squirrel Hill Rd, Minocqua. Travel Highway 70 – 6.8 miles west of the U.S. Highway 51/70 intersection in Minocqua; turn south onto Squirrel Lake Road. Go south for 4.7 miles and turn left (east) onto Scotchman Lake Road and continue to Minocqua Winter Park.