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 crosscountry 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: February 3, 2010
Cross Country Report:
Base 20", 2" new, all trails groomed and tracked. 100% Open.
Downhill Report:
Base 30", 2" new, groomed and tilled. 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: February 4, 2010
New Snow in inches: Dusting
Most Recent Grooming: 2/01/10
New Snow: 1"
Conditions: Very Good
Base/Trails in inches: 11"
Base/Woods in inches: 26"
Open Trails: 10
Percent of Trails Open: 100 %
Km groomed for Classic: 40
Km groomed for Skating: 25

Comments: On Sunday or Monday, almost all the trails at Ashwabay and Jerry Jolly were regroomed. I skied a lot of it Tue. pm, there was an inch of fresh snow (came down on Tue.) on the trail, but otherwise the trails skied really well.
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: January 27, 2010
trails on the Washburn Ranger district are now open and being groomed for winter fun. Lake effect snows today are expected to total between four and eight inches, with wind chills well below zero.
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 $18.00 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 Snowmobile Alliance report the trails throughout Ashland County are in Excellent shape, providing the best riding conditions of the winter so far. Detour off of Forest Rd 183 (Cayoga & Clam Lake) and off of the Tri-County Corridor in Ashland on 13 south take Whipperfurth to Summit, *note* signs will be posted in these areas. Keep checking back for updates. We will change this report as conditions change.
Bayfield County:
The rain/snow mix over last weekend took it's toll on the trails but we still ended up with 3-7 inches of new snow, and more to come today! The groomers say the trails will be in great shape by the weekend. Logging continues on a 1-mile portion of Trail 31 south of Barnes for the entire snowmobile season. Please slow down and use caution when traveling in this area.
Cross-Country Ski Report:
Drummond Ski Trails: All loops of the Drummond ski trails were groomed and tracked on January 26th. Conditions continue to be very good.
Mount Valhalla trails: Removal of downed trees and debris stalled grooming efforts earlier in the week but all loops of both the Teuton and Valkyrie trail systems were groomed and tracked Wednesday. The Teuton trails are ready for both skating and classic, and the Valkyrie trails tracked for classic only. Lake effect snows now falling will be worked into the trail during grooming again on Friday so conditions for the weekend should be excellent.
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: February 4, 2010
Ice Road is NOT open to traffic. The windsled is in operation.

Schedule subject to change without notice.

Monday - thru - Friday

Leave Madeline Island

Leave Bayfield

7:10am

7:20am

9:00am

9:30am

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/iceroad information call (715) 747-5400 - 24 hours a day.


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Ice Cave Access - Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Report by Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: February 4, 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 February 2, 2010
Trail Conditions: Excellent: 30-36 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.
Our area has terrific trail condtions as the groomers are out there working the trails. Most have a very deep and solid base.
Forest road riding will vary as some are getting hard packed but some lesser Forest Roads still have 8-12" of loose snow on the edges. Be careful as snow depth is 2ft-3ft in the ditches/edges. There are also a lot of hanging braches due to the heavey ice and snow the past weekend
National Weather Service is calling for temps in 20's least the next 7 days and no major snowfall. Riding will be fantastic.
The Annual Apostle Island Sled Dog Race is this Saturday and Sunday. The only groomed trail affected is a 1/2 mile section of TR51 just north of TR31. The route will be signed. Allow the mushers right away as they are in competition.
TR 1 between Happy Hollow Road and Henhen Road has firmed up to allow the groomer through. Logging/plow halfway between Valhalla and Star Route on TR 31 has ended. Logging/plow continues on TR 31 about a mile long north and south of TR1 east of Bayfield which should end soon.
TR 3 just south of TR3 and BattleAxe Road has been re-routed as has TR 31 in the Bladder Lake area north east of Iron River. So has the sharp corner on TR 31 north of Iron River along the highline to provide better visibility and greater safety.
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 1, 2010
Trail Conditions:
18-24” base on the trails now and the surface is perfect where it has been run. Some warm temps have made them hard packed down to the ground. The snowfall total on most of the trail system has been from 85 to 100”! Many of the trails have been littered with blowdowns after an ice storm followed by a foot of snow last week. There is lots of logging in the area. Running the south portions of the Apostle Islands Sled Dog race from the Star Route Crossing, Star Route at Butterfield Road, where there is a parking lot, is good. Fridays and Saturdays expect some snowmobile traffic in this area and from the parking lot. Stay off the snowmobile trails, with the exception of town roads, like Jodi Road. Wear some blaze orange to be visible. Apostle Islands Sled Dog Race site is open for an 8 mile loop. Follow the map from 2009 for the Family/Rec Loop. It goes up to the left shortly after the start and loops back to the left eventually. It is packed. Echo Valley Road is partially plowed on the north end and they are still hauling this week. Echo Valley Gravel Pit Road, Hinkens Road and the south half of Echo Valley Road are plowed with dangerous logging traffic, so do not run on them. The Race will run on about a half mile of the plowed roads, but the trail will avoid most of it and the roads will be closed during the race. There is still a good ice base on the roads. However, runs longer than 8 miles will not be possible from the Race Site this season due to plowing. Please stay off plowed roads as they are very dangerous.
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 4, 2010
Lake Trout, here we come!! Well, I should not talk to soon. But, we do have a sheet of ice over some great Lake Trout water. Just need it to firm up good and we will be plucking some monsters from the deep!! But, even so, we are still in Lake Trout country here in the Apostles, between Basswood and Madeline and back over towards Bayfield.
Ice condition wise, we are looking really good, now able to spread out more from Ashland all the way to Red Cliff. Ashland ice is 15 to over 20 inches, but still be wary about driving vehicles as there are still thin areas around, especially near areas that stick out from shore and up from the lake (ie Breakwall). This ice is good over to Washburn and then starts working up to Houghton Point, then thins to about a foot or a little more, this reaches over to Long Island point. Approximately 8 inches from the Sioux to the Onion. But, thinner in the deeper water near here and as you get to Van Tassell Point and then to Bayfield, 3 to 6 inches only. North of here to Red Cliff to both ends of the western side of Basswood and then half way up Madeline, 8 to 10 inches. Then all new ice from there into the islands. Check it for yourself though.
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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