CROSS COUNTRY SKI & SNOWSHOE in Northwest Wisconsin

AFTER THE SNOW HAS FALLEN,

take advantage of our winter pastimes, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The only sound you’ll hear is the swish of your skis or the crunch of the snow as you traverse the quiet forest and trails. Whatever your skill level, you will have incredible experiences on any of these trails.

Xc Skiing

1 American Birkebeiner Ski Trail

SAWYER COUNTY

Length: 26.1 miles/51km | Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult | Fee/Pass: Yes, available on Birkie.com | Parking, pit toilet, warming building, picnic area, food/lodging and ski shop nearby; lighted sections for nighttime skiing are from dusk to 10 p.m. The trails are groomed for both skating and classic skiing. Moderate to difficult skill level.

2 Balsam Branch Ski Trails

POLK COUNTY

Length: 11 km/4 km Lit | At D.D. Kennedy Park. 11 km of trails, 4 km lighted. Groomed for classical, skate skiing and snowshoe. Open December 1st with adequate snow.

3 Barron Area Nordic Trail Association

BARRON COUNTY

Length: 3.4 km/1.9 km/1.2 km | Fee/Pass: No, Donations welcome. The trail system consists of 3.4 km of trails through a mature oakmaple forest, 1.9 km of open field skiing, and 1.2 km of snowshoe/winter hiking trails.

4 Blue Hills Trails

RUSK COUNTY

Length: 20 miles | Fee/Pass: No, Donations Appreciated | An extensive 20-mile trail system located in the Blue Hills in Northwestern Rusk County. Groomed for classic and freestyle skiing. Variety of loops and terrains for different skill levels.

5 Brule River State Forest Afterhours Trail

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Length: 25 km | Fee/Pass: Yes | Afterhours Ski Trail includes an extensive network of some of the region’s finest and best maintained cross-country ski trails for both classical and skate skiing. Various loops provide a variety of terrain suitable for both beginning skiers and those with advanced skills.

6 Brunet Island State Park

CHIPPEWA COUNTY

Length: 4.3 miles | Fee/Pass: Yes | This state park located in Cornell offers 4.3 miles of groomed trail for classic style skiing.

7 Copper Falls State Park

ASHLAND COUNTY

Length: 13.7 miles/22 km classic, 6.5 miles/10.5 km skate | Fee/Pass: Yes | The park has trails to suite all skill levels from beginner to experienced skiers. Trails are groomed on a regular basis as the Lake Superior snow belt is known for constant snowfall.

8 City of Ashland Ski Trail

ASHLAND COUNTY

Length: 5 km | Fee/Pass: No | Most trails provide a combination of skating and classical skiing, with two trails for classic only. The trails are gently rolling to flat terrain meandering through pine forest comprising several loops totaling 5 kilometers.

9 Cumberland Area Ski Trail Association

BARRON COUNTY

Length: 30 km | Fee/Pass: No | Timberland Hills is a 24 km trail system with gentle rolling terrain to the screaming hills of "The Ridge Run" and the "Outer Loop". Timberland West is a 2.5 km lighted beginner-type ski trail with gently rolling terrain and no large hills. It is open daylight hours and during the ski season the lights come on at dusk and stay on until 11:00 PM.

10 Douglas County Trails

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Length: 10+ miles, 4 Loops | Trail Difficulty: Easy | Fee/Pass: Yes | Douglas County grooms and maintains over 10 miles (17 km) of cross-country ski trails between the Towns of Solon Springs and Gordon just off Hwy 53. Trails are groomed during the winter season for classic & skate skiing.

11 HASTA Hospital Ski Trail

SAWYER COUNTY

Length: 7 miles, 9 Loops | Fee/Pass: No | Parking, groomed for classic skiing. Easier ski trails: Buckthorn, Lakeview, Pine & Clear-cut loops. More difficult ski trails: Beaver Pond, Ox and Hilly loops. Darrell Trail for snowshoeing. Access is from the gravel parking lot on Hospital Rd.

12 Hatchery Creek County Park Trail

SAWYER COUNTY

Length: .4 km, 1.15 km, 1.9 km | Fee/Pass: No | Access to the Birkie Trail. Parking, pit toilet, warming building, picnic area, food/lodging and ski shop nearby; Lighted sections for night-time skiing are from dusk to 10 p.m. The trails are groomed for both skating and classic skiing. Moderate to difficult skill levels. Fee/Pass required: No.

13 Heartwood Ski Trails

WASHBURN COUNTY

Length: 20 km | Fee/Pass: Yes | Heartwood offers multiple loops and a wide range of trails. Groomed regularly, the trails wind through the 700-acre property. Ski rentals are available.

14 Hickory Ridge Ski Trail

CHIPPEWA COUNTY

Length: 16 miles | Fee/Pass: No | 16 miles of ski trails groomed for traditional or skate skiing winding through the quiet and scenic oak and aspen forest and consists of 3 challenging loops. Intermediate to expert.

15 Holy Cross Trail

Price County

Length: 6 miles | Difficulty: Easy/Moderate | Fee/Pass: No | A good trail for families. Features multiple loop sections of varying lengths. Groomed for classic skiing only. Excellent for viewing wildlife. Moderately hilly through a variety of timber types.

16 Irvine Park

CHIPPEWA COUNTY

Length: 2 miles | Fee/Pass: No | Located in Irvine Park the trails are growing in size and can be found throughout the 320 acres. Woods trails above the zoo area double as ski trails. Loop back down and visit the zoo afterwards. Trails also go past Glen Loch Lake.

17 Ladysmith Lighted Loop

RUSK COUNTY

Length: 1.5 miles | Fee/ Pass: No, Donations Appreciated | Relatively flat, groomed for classic and freestyle skiing.

18 MECCA Trails

IRON COUNTY

Length: 21 km | Fee/Pass: No, Donations Appreciated | Several trail loops total 21 km in rolling wooden terrain. Some loops are classic and skating and some are classic only.

19 Montreal Trail

IRON COUNTY

Length: 10 km | Fee/Pass: No, Donations welcome | This is a 10 km classic trail that passes the remnants of the Montreal Mine with interpretive signage on mining. The terrain is wooded and intermediate.

20 Mt. Ashwabay Recreation Area

BAYFIELD COUNTY

Length: 40 km | Fee/Pass: No | 40 km of classic and skate skiing in a beautiful setting through woods on and near Mt. Ashwabay. Difficulty: Beginner to Expert.

21 Nordic Woods Trail

WASHBURN COUNTY

Length: 15 km | Fee/Pass: No | Located on county forest land, this trail is a favorite with the locals and is groomed for classic. Two parking areas are available. Membership encouraged.

22 North End Ski Trail

BAYFIELD COUNTY

Length: 7.6 miles | Difficulty: Intermediate to Difficult | Fee/Pass: No Skate/classic through the Bayfield County Forest and connecting to the American Birkebeiner Trail & Birkie Classic Trail. Parking, toilet, and warming cabin. Food & lodging nearby.

23 Phillips School Forest Trail

PRICE COUNTY

Length: 3.5 miles | Difficulty: Easy/Difficult | Fee/Pass: No | A scenic trail, groomed for classic and skate skiing, winding through a diverse forest and open meadow consisting of 5 loops ranging from gently rolling to steep climbs and winds.

24 Silver Creek Trails

BARRON COUNTY

Length: 6 miles | Fee/Pass: No | Silver Creek Trails are hand built primitive style single track. The system now has approximately miles of single track with 7 plus miles of access roads available for biking, hiking, snowshoeing, and adventure style cross country skiing.

25 Sisters Farm Trails

RUSK COUNTY

Length: 3 miles | Fee/Pass: No | About 3 miles of cross country trails, groomed for classic and freestyle skiing.

26 Solberg Lake/ Squaw Creek Trail PRICE

COUNTY

Length: 3.4 miles/ 5.4 km | Difficulty: Easy/Moderate | Fee/Pass; No | A very good scenic trail for beginners or older skiers seeking a relatively flat trail for a daily exercise routine. Groomed for classic skiing.

YOUR ESCAPE. YOUR ADVENTURE.

27 Spooner City Park

WASHBURN COUNTY

Length: 6 miles | Difficulty: Easy/Moderate | Fee/Pass: No | Located within Spooner City limits, the well-maintained trails offer classic and skate skiing. A warming house, plentifiul parking and even a lit ski trail are available.

28 Stower Seven Lakes State Trail

POLK COUNTY

Length: 14 miles | Fee/Pass: Yes, Skiers over 16 | Trails winds near 7 lakes and passes farmlands, woods, rolling hills and glacial topography. This is not groomed for skiing, snowshoeing does not require a pass. Equestrian use permitted October 1st to first day of WI Gun Deer Season.

29 Superior Municipal Forest

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Length: 36 km | Difficulty: Beginning to Advance. | Fee/Pass: Yes Trails are tracked and groomed seven days a week, weather permitting, for both skate and classic skiing.

30 The Casper Trail on Madeline Island

ASHLAND COUNTY

The main trail runs from Big Bay Road to Middle Road – and the Nucy Meech Trail runs off the main trail. With towering snow covered pines around, it’s a perfect spot for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing at an easy pace.

To obtain specific maps and detailed information on any location, contact the corresponding County. See page 2.

31 Timberland Hills

BURNETT COUNTY

Length: 15 miles | Fee/Pass: No | Machine groomed out and back and loop trails. Trails are 16-20 feet wide. Beginner to expert. One lighted trail. Forested, Clam River headwaters, wildlife. Picnic shelter. Warming house.

32 Uller Trail

IRON COUNTY

Length: 15 miles | Fee/Pass: No | This is a backcountry trail winding through the Penokee Range between Whitecap and Montreal. The total trail is 30 km but there are several spurs to shorten the distance.

33 Upper Phantom Cross Country Skiing & Hiking Trail

BURNETT COUNTY

Length: 3.7 miles | Fee/Pass: No | Crex Meadows Wildlife Education Center and throughout the Wildlife Area. 4 connected loop trails. Restrooms at Education Center.