Bayfield's Winter Recreation

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Mount Ashwabay Ski and Recreation Area

Located three miles south of Bayfield, Mt. Ashwabay offers both cross-country and alpine skiing in a magnificent setting, featuring stunning views of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the Chequamegon National Forest. Cross-country trails cover 35 km of wilderness trails with ratings from beginner to expert. All trails are groomed and tracked as needed. The beginner's trail is the picturesque Sugar Bush Trail. Intermediate terrain can be enjoyed on Anchor, Seagull and Raven trails. Advanced skiers can venture out on the longer 15 km loop, which combines Sugar Bush, Deer Path and Raven trails, returning to the Mt. Ashwabay chalet. Food, lounge, instruction and equipment rental are available at the chalet. The Ashwabay trails require users to purchase a daily or seasonal pass. These passes may be obtained at the Mt. Ashwabay Chalet. Trail user fees and donations made to the Ashwabay Education Foundation, earmarked for cross country ski trail maintenance, will go a long way in keeping this entire network groomed for your enjoyment. Call (715) 779-3227 for more details.
Report by Lida Malmgren and John Telford: March 10, 2010
Cross Country Report:
Base 12-15", 0" new, all trails groomed and tracked. 100% Open.
Downhill Report:
Base 30", 0" new, groomed and packed. 100% Open. Wednesday (10-9pm), Saturday (9:30-4:30) and Sunday(10:00-4:30).
Tubing Hill:
Open 12-4 on weekends.
Download a X-C trail map (pdf)
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Jerry Jay Jolly - Pikes Creek Trail Network

You are about to experience the close-knit relationship between the Mt. Ashwabay Education Foundation and Bayfield County's Departments of Tourism-Recreation and Forestry. The Star Route parking lot is the jumping off point for access to 15 more kilometers of groomed cross-county ski trails. These trails traverse the land Jerry Jay Jolly donated, and trail easements on the 160 acre parcel the family maintains to the south of Pike's Creek.
To the south and west, the trails meander through over one thousand acres of Bayfield County Forest, Wisconsin's Nourse Sugarbush Natural Area, and the Mt. Ashwabay Recreational Area. The Ashwabay trails, those to the south of Sugarbush Road, require users to purchase a daily or seasonal pass. These passes may be obtained at the Mt. Ashwabay Chalet. Trail user fees and donations made to the Ashwabay Education Foundation, earmarked for crosscountry ski trail maintenance, will go a long way in keeping this entire network groomed for your enjoyment. Please contact Bayfield County at (715) 373-6114 for more details.
Report by Scott Nesvold: March 3, 2010
New Snow in inches: Dusting
Most Recent Grooming: 3/2/10
New Snow: 0"
Conditions: Good to Very Good
Base/Trails in inches: 18"
Base/Woods in inches: 30"
Open Trails: 10
Percent of Trails Open: 100 %
Km groomed for Classic: 40
Km groomed for Skating: 25

Comments: Doc regroomed the Sugarbush classic trail to the tin shed this morning. I regroomed the skate lanes of Seagull, Anchor, Rollercoaster, and Telford loop.
Download a trail map (pdf)
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Mt Valhalla Winter Sports Area

Ten miles west of Washburn, on County C, is the Valhalla Winter Sports Area nestled in the Chequamegon National Forest, offering two sets of cross-country ski trails developed and groomed by the U.S. Forest Service. The three Valkyrie loops run through red and jack pine forests, with magnificent views of the area on the Sun Bowl Loop. The Teton Ski Trail also features three loops in a mixed birch and maple forest with a roller coaster near the end of loop "B". The entire Teton Trail is groomed for skating. County C runs between Valkyrie and Teton with parking area and rustic chalet on the Teton side of C. Please contact the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest office in Washburn at (715) 373-2667 ext 238 for more details.
Report by Karen Larsen: February 19, 2010
A week of daytime temperatures above freezing and lots of sunshine are beginning to take a toll on the trails. Watch for bare spots, areas of dirt and snow mix, wet spots and intermittent icy conditions, especially in open areas that are exposed to the sun.
Forest Visitors: Please note that the Valhalla and Drummond parking areas require a $5 daily fee or an annual parking pass. Daily passes can be purchased on site, and annual passes are available at district offices and area vendors. The 2009 forest passes are valid until March 31, 2010. Trail passes are also required for all non-resident snowmobiles and ATVs. These passes can be purchased for $35.00 at local chambers of commerce and sporting goods stores, and must be visible and permanently affixed on the forward half of the machine.
The following are reports on the current trail conditions throughout the Washburn Ranger District:
Snowmobile Report:
Ashland County:
The Ashland County Snowmobile Alliance reports the trails throughout Ashland County are still holding up in "good condition" with a few bare spots in the Butternut area.
Bayfield County:
Bayfield County Snowmobile Alliance groomers report the trails are in good to very good shape with some dirt showing on south facing slopes, open areas and trails leading into towns. Grooming is ongoing, but only at night. Logging continues on two 1-mile portions of Trail #31 south of Barnes and a 1 1/2-mile portion of Trail #17 north of Barnes for the remainder of the snowmobile season. Please slow down and use caution when traveling in these areas. Please be courteous to automobile drivers and don't spread snow on roads when crossing them.
Cross-Country Ski Report:
Drummond Ski Trails: Trails last groomed on Wednesday the 24th. Two inches of new snow were mixed in and new tracks were set throughout. Should be excellent conditions for the weekend!
Mount Valhalla trails: All loops of both the Teuton and Valkyrie trails were groomed on Monday, March 1st with the Teuton side readied for both classic and skating and the Valkyrie side tracked for classic only. Even with the warmer weather, conditions continue to be good. With the current weather conditions, grooming can actually be detrimental to trail conditions, so be aware that grooming may not be occurring on a regular schedule.
Download a Valhalla trail map (pdf)
Download a Bayfield County Snowmobile Map (10 MB pdf)
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Snowshoe Trails

If skiing isn't quite your cup of tea, but you are still looking to explore the beautiful trails Bayfield has to offer at this time of year, snowshoeing is always a great adventure. The Brownstone Trail runs along an old railroad bed which skirts the lakeshore just south of Bayfield. Trailhead access is at the kiosk on Third Street, kitty-corner from Maggie's Restaurant. You'll enjoy splendid views of Madeline Island, see people ice-fishing in the Chequamegon Bay and enjoy the sights and sounds of winter in Bayfield.
The Ravine Snowshoe Trail travels uphill along the steep, hemlock-studded rim of the big ravine. Take young children by the hand! Trailhead access is on 4th Street uphill to the Bayfield School. Turn left on Sweeny and park at the baseball field. The trail is behind the fence to the right. Also a part of this trail system is the Iron Bridge Nature Trail. This magical winding trail is for sure footed hikers and follows the ravine creek under the old Iron Bridge and uphill to a rocky grotto with small waterfall. Pick up the trail at the Iron Bridge located at 3rd Street and Rice Avenue.
You can also snowshow along any of the Jerry Jay Jolly - Pikes Creek Trail Network, but please stay off of the groomed ski track.
Download a Big Ravine trail map (pdf)
Download a Brownstone trail map (pdf)
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Access to Madeline Island

Last Updated: March 10, 2010
Ice Road is closed to traffic. For ice road information call (715) 747-5400 - 24 hours a day.

Windsled/van schedule subject to change without notice.

Monday - thru - Friday

Leave Madeline Island

Leave Bayfield

7:10am

7:20am

9:00am

9:30am

10:30am

10:45am

11:30am

1:00pm

3:45pm

4:00pm

4:30pm

5:00pm

Saturdays only

Leave Madeline Island

Leave Bayfield

9:00am

9:15am

11:30am

12:15pm

4:00pm

4:15pm

Sundays only

Leave Madeline Island

Leave Bayfield

9:00am

9:15am

12:00pm

12:15pm

4:00pm

4:15pm

For windsled/ice road information call (715) 747-5400 - 24 hours a day.

Download a Ferry Schedule.


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Ice Cave Access - Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Report by Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: March 10, 2010
Cave Conditions: Not Accessible by Ice
Visitors to the park's mainland unit can view portions of the mainland sea caves from the Lakeshore Trail. The trailhead is adjacent to the parking lot at the end of Meyers Road. A rugged two mile hike along the trail brings hikers to the top of the cliffs above the sea caves. The trail offers several views of the caves from the clifftops.
Meyers Beach is a Recreational Fee area. Please pay your fee before heading out on the ice or trail. Please use the west side of Meyers Road for overflow parking. Traffic cones will be placed in the parking lot to block off areas for emergency vehicles.
Snowmobiling and ATV use is not permitted within 1/4 mile of the mainland from Saxine Creek to Sand Point.
The most up-to-date information on ice conditions is always available on the Apostle Islands ice line: (715) 779-3398 x3.
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Bayfield County Snowmobile Trails

Report by Gary Dalzell March 10, 2010
Trail Conditions: Poor: 20-26 inches
Welcome to this site. This is my sixth year compiling the report for Bayfield and west to the Valhalla area in the Chequamegon National Forest. You will find that my report is valid and based on my first hand experience while riding my sled, talking to the area groooming coordinator or going out to measure the snow depth and a visual of the trails.
Mother Nature is not doing the northwoods any favors with the warm temps and no snow. Now there is rain in the forecast today through Thursday AM. Its a shame as the groomed trails and forest roads have a very good base as has been the case all Winter. And March was set to provide more good riding.
The Valhalla groomer has not run since before last weekend and is on the sideline indefinitely. Trails are in unrideable to good shape and conditions will vary in a short distance.
If the rain is light, forest road's will provide good riding as most of them have not been harmed much by the warm weather.
TR 3 just south of TR3 and BattleAxe Rd. has been re-routed as has TR31 in the Bladder Lake area north east of Iron River. So has the sharp corner on TR31 north of Iron River along the highline to provide better visibility and greater safety. TR63 going north of Hwy 2 Corridor has been rerouted and now avoids riding the road shoulder. Much better.
Remember that forest roads are not groomed, lack stop signs and curve signs, have many unmarked intersections and conditions will vary greatly. In addition, various FR's have been plowed to support logging and other activities.
Be aware that dogsled teams train in the area on the marked dogsled trail system (blue paw print signs) and the forest roads.
Ride safe and keep to the right!!
Download a 2007-2008 Bayfield County Snowmobile Map (10 MB pdf) Stop at the chamber to pick up a new 2009-2010 map.
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Bayfield Sled Dog Trails

Report by John Thiel: February 16, 2010
Trail Conditions:
Lots of snow on the trails and they are all packed well. The gravel pit Apostle Islands Sled Dog Race site is plowed with the Family/Rec Loop packed, and Echo Valley Road good for about 4 miles. Where it becomes plowed, there is logging traffic, so don't run on it! Hinkens Road is also plowed, as is the connecting Echo Valley Gravel Pit Road. Star Route Crossing, corner of Butterfield Road and Star Route, is a better place for longer runs this year. There is a plowed lot there which is shared with snowmobile rigs. The southern loop of the 8-dog class would work for a 20 mile loop. There are no trail markers, so be careful not to get lost and stay off the snowmobile trails, with the exception of Jodi Road, but be careful there. Wear bright clothing, like a blaze orange vest or road workers yellow, for visibility. Our local snowmobile riders say it helps drastically. It snows here almost daily and we can be hard to see.
Wear bright clothing, like a blaze orange vest or road workers yellow, for visibility. Our local snowmobile riders say it helps drastically. It snows here almost daily and we can be hard to see.
Download a 2010 Apostle Islands Dog Sled Race Map (pdf)
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Ice Fishing Report

Report by Jim Hudson: February 28, 2010
Not much new to report, other then some new ice formed again between Hermit and Stockton, but stay off, its thin!!
Lake Trout wise, things are slow but steady. It seems one decent days and then a few slow days, overall though, the reports have been fairly poor. Hopefully with March closing in we will have some good fishing in store.
Fishing for near shore species, like browns and splake has also been so so as well. Just like all year long. Lots of bait to contend with and for the majority of the fishing, get out to the breakline, 25 to 30 FOW to catch fish.
Whitefish are also biting well. 50 to 80 FOW seems to be the best. Steep drops from shore and on the base of these drops, or the sticky bottom areas. Spoons and jigging lures are best, either tipped with minnow parts or wax worms. Do use a dropper at times or a drop shot technique when the current is rolling.
In the bay itself, if you want to catch smelt, now is the time. Lots of smelt to be had with hook and line. Also, some coho.. browns.. splake.. and walleyes around with all these tasty treats too.
Inland wise, things have firmed up great. Travel is good and the fishing is quite good too, for all species. Starting to see mid-winter patterns, so deep water is the area to key in on.
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