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: Closed as of March 20, 2010

 

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.

 

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: March 12, 2010
A week of unusually warm and sunny days followed by three days of rain is rapidly ending the snow season across the Washburn Ranger District. Trail conditions are generally poor and deteriorating rapidly as the rain continues. The snowmobile season will officially end, and the Spring Closure Order which prohibits all ATV, horse and mountain bike use on the trails will go into effect on Monday March 15th . Trails will remain closed until May 1st in order to protect the soils and other natural resources along the trail during the spring thaw.
Snowmobile Report:
Ashland County:
The Ashland County Snowmobile trails are closed at this time. Trails may open again IF we receive lots of snow and colder temps.
Bayfield County:
All snowmobile trails in Bayfield County will officially be closed for the season on Monday, March 15.
Cross-Country Ski Report:
Drummond Ski Trails: Drummond Ski trails were last groomed on February 24th. Grooming operations have ceased for the season. Trail conditions are poor.
Mount Valhalla trails: All loops of both the Teuton and Valkyrie trails were groomed for the last time this season on Monday, March 8th , with the Teuton side readied for both classic and skating and the Valkyrie side tracked for classic only. Deteriorating spring conditions prevail.
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 19, 2010
The ice road is closed. The ferry is in operation.

Madeline Island Ferry Schedule.


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Ice Cave Access - Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Report by Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: March 19, 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 19, 2010
Trail Conditions: Closed

 

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: March 20, 2010
Alright folks, its over here on the big lake. Just too may warm days combined first with the rain and then extended periods of beating down sun. No need to take any risks out there. Time to get ready for early season trolling, as some landings are usable!! This is some of the most exciting fishing of the season, call to book your trip today as my limited spots are filling, QUICKLY.
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