WHERE TO GET OUT THERE!

Winter Trails

AREAS FOR CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, SNOWSHOEING, FAT TIRE BIKING, Please stay on trails designated for your chosen activity. Not all trails can be treated the same. Walking on groomed winter trails can destroy them.

AREA 178 • Winter• Snowshoeing • Chippewa Falls • corba.org Diverse waterfront scenery with old oaks and exposed bedrock along the trails. The trails are multi-use so all are asked to be curteous to other types of travelers.

BEAVER CREEK RESERVE • Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing • S1 Cty Hwy K, Fall Creek • beavercreekreserve.org A few minutes in your car and you can spend an entire afternoon in the quiet beauty of the woods. Beaver Creek Reserve has a number of wooded, groomed trails. Rental equipment is available.

BLUE HILLS • Snow shoeing • Cross-Country Skiing • Between Rusk County and Rice Lake • facebook.com/ BlueHillsTrail If you don’t mind a short drive (about an hour and a half from Eau Claire), check out the Blue Hills winter sports area, named for the blue-tinted forested hillsides when seen through the mist. There are tons of super sweet trails to choose from, for either ski skating or traditional cross-country skiing. Make it into a day trip or spend an entire weekend there.

BRUNET ISLAND STATE PARK • Cross-Country Skiing (Classic) • Snowshoeing • 23125 255th St., Cornell • dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/brunetisland There are more than eight miles of hiking trail in this state park, and they are perfect for showshoers in the winter. In addition, there are 4.3 miles of trail groom for classic-style cross-country skiing only. Park admission sticker required.

CARSON PARK • Cross-Country Skiing • 101 Carson Park Dr, Eau Claire • eauclairewi.gov/ recreation/trails/ski-trails During the winter season Carson Park offers 1 mile of groomed country country skiing with minimal elevation changes, great for beginners.

CENTENNIAL PARK • Fat Tire Biking • 3125 Spooner Ave, Altoona Features singletrack under full tree canopy. Plenty of opportunity for jumps, drops, climbs and a few log pile crossings.

CHIPPEWA MORAINE STATE RECRE-

ATION AREA • Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing • 13394 County Highway M, New Auburn • dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/chipmoraine While not groomed, they are open to snowshoeing, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Three self-guided trails beginning at the interpretive center will give you a look at kettle lakes, hummocks, and other glacial features. Admission stickers required.

CITY WELLS AREA • Cross-Country Skiing • Riverview Dr. , Eau Claire • Located on the east side of Riverview Dr.. About 3 miles of flat trails across from Riverview Park. A good course for beginners.

COON FORK SKI TRAIL • Cross-Country Skiing • County Highway CF, Augusta • eauclaire-info.com Located on Coon Fork Lake County Park, this trail is most suitable for beginner to imtermediate skiers, and offers level areas and rolling hills. It has a total length of 3.2 miles.

EVERGREEN SKI TRAIL • Cross-Country

Skiing • County Highway CF, Augusta • eauclaire-info.com Located on County forest land north of Augusta, this 2.2m trail is best suited for intermediate/advanced skiiers.

FAIRFAX PARK • Cross-Country Skiing • 4200 Fairfax St., Eau Claire • Fairfax Park is a 75-acre park located on the south side of Eau Claire, with accommodations including a baseball field, two Little League fields and walking trails. It can be accessed from either Golf Road or Fairfax Street.

GUETTINGER WOODS & WILDLIFE

AREA • Snowshoeing • Sandberg Road off Highway 37, Brunswick This little-known Eau Claire County Park has been called a “hidden gem.” You’ll find it about seven miles southwest of Eau Claire in the town of Brunswick. The 123 acres are open for snowshoeing, hiking, and wildlife watching, although there are no groomed trails.

HIAWATHA PARK • Fat Tire biking • A small park in Rice Lake with a single track bike trail.

HICKORY RIDGE TRAIL • Snowshoeing, Cross-Coutnry Skiing

• Fat Tire biking • 225th Ave,. New Auburn A 5K multiuse snowshoe and mountain-bike trail circles through absolute wilderness offering great views of scenery and wildlife. The Friends of Hickory Ridge also groom 27 kilometers (about 17 miles) of cross-country ski trails for both traditional and skating-style skiers. No dogs

HOFFMAN HILLS STATE RECREATION AREA • Cross-Country

Skiing • Off-Trail Snowshoeing • 730th Ave., Colfax • dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/hoffmanhills Don’t overlook the 707 acres of preserved and restored wooded hills, wetlands, and prairie, scribbled with cross-country ski trails for all levels. Glide through the snow while feasting your eyes on spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.

IRVINE PARK TRAIL • Cross-Country Skiing

• Bridgewater Ave., Chippewa Falls • chippewafalls-wi.gov 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. Trails can also be accessed from small parking lot on Cty Rd S or on the parking lot above the zoo off Erma-Tinger Drive.

LAKE WISSOTA STATE PARK • Snowshoing, Cross-Country Skiing (Skate & Classic) wi.us • Just minutes south of Eau Claire, experience 250 acres of cross-country ski, snowshoe, and pet walking bliss. The two-way trail system separates skiers from snowshoers, and has many loops and shortcuts giving you a wide selection of route variety. Trails twist up and down hills, through creek bottoms and white pine forests, and range from easy to difficult, so a trail map is a good idea for those new to the park.

• 18127 County Highway O, Chippewa Falls • dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/lakewissota The 1,000-acre state park on the shore of Lake Wissota includes 10 miles of snowshoeing trails, 8 miles of cross-country skiing, and more.

LOWES CREEK COUNTY PARK • Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing • Fat Tire Biking• S. Lowes Creek Rd., Eau Claire • co.eau-claire.

MENOMIN PARK • Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing • Winter Biking• S. Lowes Creek Rd., Eau Claire • co.eau-claire.wi.us • Groomed singletrack and doubletrack trails.

Conveniently close to Menomonie.

NORTHWEST COMMUNITY PARK TRAIL • Cross-Country Skiing • Winter Biking

• 650 Van Es Parkway, Eau Claire Several loop trail options double as mountain bike and ski trails. Some are narrow and steep. From the North Crossing (Hwy 312) head north on Jeffers and turn right away on E. Prairie Lane to Arrowhead Drive to Van Es Parkway. Drive to the end of the street to the small parking lot.

PINEHURST PARK WINTER RECRE-

ATION AREA • Snowshoeing • Cross-Country Skiing • 3523 Delbert Road, Eau Claire • eauclairewi.gov 5.5 Acres. Hockey rink (boarded), ice skating, nature trails, parking lot, recreational field, scenic views, shelter, BMX bike park/ pump track, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, sledding/tubing hill, and toilet facilities.

PIPESTONE QUARRY • Snowshoeing •

Cross-Country Skiing • 3523 Delbert Road, Eau Claire • eauclairewi.gov 5.5 Acres. Hockey rink (boarded), ice skating, nature trails, parking lot, recreational field, scenic views, shelter, BMX bike park/pump track, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, sledding/tubing hill, and toilet facilities.

RED CEDAR STATE TRAIL • Cross-Country Skiing (Classic & Skate)•Snoeshoeing • 921 Brickyard Road, Menomonie • dnr.wi.gov Small bluffs with a waterfall will be on one side and the Red Cedar River on the other side. Bald eagles frequently sighted. Going other direction from Dunnville takes you through the Dunnville State Wildlife Area across a trestle near the confluence of the Chippewa River and the Red Cedar River.

RIVER ROAD CROSS COUNTRY SKI

TRAIL • Cross Country Skiing • about 2.5 miles north of Cornell • co.chippewa.wi.us Enjoy two separate trails for intermediate and advanced skiers through rolling terrain and along the more-gentle grade of the River Road to the parking area.

SILVER SKI TRAILS • Cross Country

Skiing•Snowshoeing • Biking • Barron County Forest Hand built primitive style single track with double track access roads. Elevation, flowy sections with some adrenaline climbs.

TOWER RIDGE • Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing • 955 S82 Ave., Eau Claire • co.eau-claire. wi.us Tower Ridge is a great place to enjoy the snow and workout. There are hilly and flat groomed trails for all levels. There are about 3 kilometers of lighted trails and a warming shelter that allows for night outings, a nice precursor to a warm fire.

Skating Rinks

ALTOONA HOBBS SPORT CENTER 2300 Spooner Ave., Altoona • altoonahockey.com

BLOOMER SKATING RINK 1304 Grove St., Bloomer • www.ci.bloomer.wi.us/parks-and-recreation/pages/winter

BOYD PARK 1202 Fairway St., Eau Claire • eauclairewi.gov

CHIPPEWA AREA ICE ARENA 839 First Ave., Chippewa Falls • chippewahockey.org

DEMMLER PARK 524 Putman Dr., Eau Claire • ci.eau-claire.wi.us

DUNN COUNTY RECREATION PARK 620 17th St., Menomonie • menomonie-wi.gov

HOBBS ICE ARENA 915 Menomonie St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-5040

MITSCHER PARK 3507 Sharon Drive, Eau Claire

NEWELL PARK (SHAWTOWN PARK)

S122 S. Michigan St., Eau Claire

OAKWOOD HILLS 4433 Oakwood Hills Park- way, Eau Claire • ci.eau-claire.wi.us

PINEHURST PARK 3523 Delbert Road, Eau Claire • eauclairewi.gov

PUTNAM HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY 633 W. MacArthur Ave., Eau Claire

RIVER HEIGHTS PARK 615 24th Ave., Menomonie • menomonie-wi.gov

ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY 908 Folsom St., Eau Claire

SAM DAVEY ELEMENTARY 3000 Starr Ave., Eau Claire

REGIONAL SKI & SNOWBOARD DESTINATIONS

Afton Alps 6600 Peller Ave. S., Hastings • (651) 436-5245 • aftonalps.com With nearly 300 skiable acres, 50 trails, 18 lifts and four terrain parks, there is enough terrain to challenge experts to beginners, day or night. Two tricky terrain parks, tubing, tow ropes and chairlifts galore, all types of rentals, a ski shop, two chalets, two restaurant/bars, and instruction available.

Bruce Mound Winter Sports Area N 791 Bruce Mound Ave, Merrillan • (715) 743-2296 • clarkcountywi.com/brucemound Maintained by Clark County, this lighted winter rec area has premium snowboarding, tubing, and skiing conditions with a recently installed chairlift and onsite chalet.

Cascade Mountain W10441 Cascade Mountain Rd., Portage • (608) 742-5588 • cascademountain.com They have 41 runs, the longest being a full mile, and a vertical drop of 460 feet. Six terrain parks will keep anybody occupied, while they have tubing for less intense riders. Towropes and chairlifts, rentals, a ski shop, chalet/ restaurant/coffeehouse, and lessons available.

Christie Mountain W13755 County Hwy. O, Bruce • (715) 868-7800 • christiemountain. com Twenty-two lighted runs up to 4,000 feet long, with a 350-foot vertical drop with one double chairlift, one t-bar and three rope tows, tubing runs, towropes and chairlifts, rental gear, chalet, and instructions available.

Christmas Mountain S944 Christmas Mountain Road • christmasmountainvillage.com 16 downhill runs with a wide variety of trails. Alpine skiing, snowboarding, tubing with great views. Chairlift, handle tows to get back up the hill, Onsite lodge, resort, and dining.

Coffee Mill Ski & Snowboard Resort 99 Coulee Way, Wabasha • (651) 565-2777 • coffeemillski. com From the gentle slopes of Chippewa to the radical pitch of O’Chute, each run is obscured from the next by an abundant growth of birch, oaks, and pines. Snowmaking, snowboarding terrain park, modern grooming, towropes, chairlifts, rentals, chalet, on-site dining, and instruction.

Granite Peak 3605 N. Mountain Rd., Wausau • (715) 845-2846 • info@skigranitepeak.com • skigranitepeak.com A massive place with 74 runs up to 1.5 miles in length and an awesome vertical drop of around 700 feet. They also have tubing, tons of rentals, a ski shop, chalet, lodging, restaurants, snowmaking, and instruction.and a bar, and a 516 foot vertical drop.

Trollhaugen Ski Area 2232 100th Ave., Dresser • 800-826-7166, (715) 755-2955, or (651) 4335141 • trollhaugen.com 20+ downhill runs for skiing and snow tubing, with a chalet, ski ship, restaurant, terrain park, snowmaking, and on-site instruction available. The longest is 2,500 feet and a vertical drop of 286 feet.