Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-Country Skiing in Hayward and Wisconsin Northwoods

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Birkie Trail Information/Map

For winter fun the Hayward Area has over 200 kilometers of some of the best cross-country ski trails in the Midwest. Here you can challenge yourself on the world class American Birkebeiner Trail, the premiere ski trail in North America, or ski at a relaxed pace on narrow paths close to nature. Our cross-country skiing trails make skiing a memorable experience.

This is a very special place anytime of the year, but especially during the winter. The Hayward Area typically receives plenty of snow and offers numerous trails. Whether you are a casual, occasional skier, an active enthusiast or an avid racer, Northwest Wisconsin has something for you. From easy going and intimate classically groomed trails suitable for the whole family to the most significant Nordic superhighway in the nation, the American Birkebeiner Trail, the choices are wonderful.

View list of trails below for your cross country skiing escapades.

Trail Options:

  1. Point to point Birkie trail from the American Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable to the Fish Hatchery Trailhead in Hayward, 41.1km.
  2. Point to point Birkie Classic Trail from the American Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable to the OO Trailhead in Seeley, 25.4 km.
  3. The North End Ski Trails, FIsh Hatchery Loops and OO Loops (see specific information below) can all be accessed from the Birkie Trail.
  4. There is a snowmaking loop at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead that is groomed and tracked before there is enough natural snow to groom the Birkie Trail.  *Special pass required (see below).

Fees: http://www.birkie.com/trail/pass

Facilities and Trailheads:

◾Fish Hatchery Park – parking, pit toilet, warming building, food/lodging and ski shop nearby; Mosquito Brook – parking, warming building

◾OO-Samuel C. Johnson Family Outdoor Center-indoor bathrooms and gathering area, parking, water, restaurant nearby

◾OO South 4 km of lighted loops

◾OO North-2 km Easy Strider Classic Loop

◾Gravel Pit-warming building, limited parking (after Mosquito Brook)

◾Boedecker-warming building, parking (after OO)

◾Firetower-warming building, limited parking (after Boedecker)

◾Timber Trail- warming building, limited parking (after Firetower)

◾American Birkebeiner Trailhead-warming building, indoor bathroom, water, parking, restaurant and shopping nearby.

Directions: Fish Hatchery Park: USH 63 one mile north of Hayward to USH 77, east on 77 for 3 miles to Fish Hatchery Rd., turn left and go 1 mile to trailhead; Mosquito Brook: From Hayward, take USH 63 north 2.9 miles to Phipps Rd., turn right/east, go 1.7 miles to Phipps Firelane at Phipps Tavern. Turn right/east, go 0.4 miles to Mosquito Brook Rd. Turn right/south, go 0.8 miles to the trailhead; OO: USH 63 10 miles north to Cty. OO, turn right/east and drive 3.5 miles to trailhead; North End Cabin: From Hayward take USH 63 north for 17 miles to Cable.
From Cable take Cty. Hwy. M east 0.2 miles to Randysek Rd., turn right/south and follow Randysek Rd. 2 miles to trailhead.

American Birkebeiner Trailhead: From Hayward take USH 63 north for 17 miles to Cable.  From Cable take Cty Hwy M east 0.2 miles to Randysek Road.  Turn right/south and follow Randysek Road for 3/4 mile to McNaught Rd.  Turn left and follow for 2 miles.  McNaught Road dead-ends at the Trailhead.

Trail options:  10 trails groomed for skating and classical. Dogs are not allowed on the trail.  Do not walk or snowshoe on the ski trails.

Fees:  State Trail passes are required. Flambeau River State Forest, W 1613 County Road W, Winter, WI  54806 (715)332-5271

Facilities: Parking, pit-toilet, three-sided shelter and picnic spot.

Directions: State Hwy 70 to Snuss Blvd (4.3 mile trail) or County Road W from Winter 16 miles. (Rim Creek Loop 3.9 miles).

For more information call The Flambeau River State Forest office at 715-332-5271.

Trail options: .4km, 1.15km, 1.9km loops groomed for skating and classical. Trails connect to American Birkebeiner Ski Trail.

Fees: $10.00 daily/$50.00 annual per vehicle. $50.00 daily per bus.

Facilities: Parking, warming building, water, restroom. Food, lodging, ski shop nearby in Hayward. All trails are lighted from dusk to 10pm.

Directions: USH 63 north from Hayward to Hwy. 77. Turn right/east on Hwy. 77 for 4 miles then turn left/north on Hatchery Road. Parking is in the lot at the top of the hill or at another lot near the pavilion.

For more information call New Moon Ski and Bike at 715-634-8685.

Trail Options: 2km loop, 3km loop – Easy, Lake Loop

Fees: Donations accepted.

Facilities: Parking. Food, lodging, ski shop nearby in Hayward.

Directions: From Hayward, at the corner of Hwy. 63 and 77 (by L & M Fleet Supply), take Hwy. 77 west.  In half a mile, turn right on Hospital Rd.  In 0.4 mile, the parking area for the ski trails will be on your left.

For more information call New Moon Ski and Bike at 715-634-8685.

Trail Options: Loops of 2.3, 4.4, 7.5 and 13.6km. Groomed for skating and classical.

Fees: $3.00 daily/ $10.00 annual parking fee.

Facilities: Parking, pit toilet.

Directions: From Hayward drive 18.5 miles east on Hwy. 77. From Cable take Hwy. 63 south to Co. Hwy. OO in Seeley and follow OO to Hwy.77. Turn left/east on 77 for another 7 miles.

For more information call Sawyer County Forestry at 715-634-4821.

Trail Options: One 10km loop with two shorter cutoffs. Skating and classical. New classic only trail. Degree of difficulty: intermediate.

Fees: $10.00 daily/$50.00 annual per vehicle. $50.00 daily per bus. In addition, passes are good for the Birkie and Birkie Classic Trails at all Birkie Trail Heads – Fish Hatchery Park, Mosquito Brook, and Cty. OO trail heads.

Facilities: Parking, toilet, warming cabin. Food, lodging nearby. Trails connect to American Birkebeiner Trail and Telemark Resort. Three snowshoe trails begin at same trail head.

Directions: Take County Hwy. M east from Cable. Go 2 blocks and turn right on Randysek Rd. Go 2 miles south to North End Trail Head.

For more information call the North End Ski Club at 715-381-8744.

Trail-Directions: Follow US HWY 63 to Seeley (10 miles N of Hayward). Turn east on County Hwy OO. Go ½ mile to Old OO. Turn right and continue 1.5 miles to parking lot on the right.

Facilities: warming building, water, restroom, and parking. No fees but donations are accepted. All trails are lighted from dusk until 10 p.m.

For more information contact New Moon Ski and Bike at 715-634-8685

Trail-Directions: Follow Hwy 63S 1 mile from downtown Hayward to Greenwood Lane, turning right.  Follow Greenwood Lane about 3/4 miles to stop sign.  Turn left onto W County Hill Road.  Follow County Hill Road about 1.5 miles.  As you pass a gravel pit area, you’ll see a sign on your left.  Town of Hayward Recreational Forest parking area.

Facilities: warming building, restroom, and parking. No fees but donations are accepted.

For more information contact the Town of Hayward at 715-634-4123.