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Other stories in "Snowshoeing"

• Ski or snowshoe by candlelight
  On a cold winter's night, follow the twinkling lights.
• North Shore by snowshoe
  In winter, hikers find serenity and stark beauty on trails above Lake Superior.
• Waterfalls by snowshoe
  On an Upper Michigan river, see a kaleidoscope of water and ice.
• Great places to snowshoe
  In winter, the outdoors is wide open to those who walk on snow.
• Choosing snowshoes
  You can make, buy or simply try the different models.
• Snowshoeing in Minnesota
  In the land of lakes, it's easy to get off the beaten path.

Snowshoeing in Wisconsin

National forests, state parks and wildlife preserves roll out the white carpet for winter hikers.

On the week before Christmas, I figured I’d found the prettiest place in the world.

Fresh snow had fallen around Hayward, and the forest was sparkling. We made our way down the intimate lanes of the Makwa Trail on snowshoes, brushing past heavily laden balsam boughs as we scaled gentle ridges and descended into snowy glades.

Each new tableau was more beautiful than the last, and I congratulated myself on the discovery that single-track mountain-biking trails are great for snowshoeing.

Then one of those boughs snapped into my face, and I wrenched my neck whipping it away. We had to cut the hike short so I could get some heavy-duty muscle relaxants from the local clinic, but I’ll always remember it.

On snowshoes, I’ve had the most fun bushwhacking on new snow. The first time, it was in Nicolet National Forest, and a friend and I set off from Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort wearing rounded bear paw snowshoes.

That part of Wisconsin is too remote to have many trails, so we made our own as we wove through old-growth pines to the Wolf River, gurgling under a sheath of ice. It was the only sound and we were the only people; we thought we were in heaven.

Most people want trails, but the best are the ones you make yourselves, and they can be anywhere.

"We don't encourage people to use trails because we want them to strike off on their own,'' says Brenda Rederer, manager of Chippewa Moraine Ice Age State Recreation Area, which supplies snowshoes to visitors. "Why snowshoe on trails then; why not just walk it?''

It's all good when there's snow. Here are some of the best places to go in Wisconsin, with guided hikes in 2010.

Travel Wisconsin lists many other places to snowshoe and events, and Wisconsin state parks lists trails. For lighted hikes, see Ski or snowshoe by candlelight. 

Before going, check the Wisconsin snow-conditions report and  current conditions for Wisconsin state parks, forests and trails. And for good places next door, see Snowshoeing in Minnesota.

Northwest

CAMBA trails between Hayward and Cable. This network of mountain-biking trails includes more than 300 miles of marked and mapped routes in six clusters around the towns of Hayward, Seeley, Cable, Drummond, Delta and Namakagon.

For intimate lanes and rolling hills, seek out the more difficult single track. The Makwa Trail is close to Hayward and very scenic. To reach the trailhead, drive six miles east of Hayward on Wisconsin 77 to Mosquito Brook Road and head north.

Pick up maps and rent snowshoes at New Moon, on U.S. 63 just north of Hayward. Reserve in advance for weekends, 800-754-8685.

There's plenty of room to snowshoe on the broad Birkebeiner ski trail, which the CAMBA trails cut across, but it's not as fun.

North End Snowshoe Trail near Cable. Stop at the fine Cable History Museum, then drive two miles on Randysek Road to these three marked loops in the woods.

Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area near New Auburn. This rolling glacial moraine north of Bloomer, part of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, has 23 miles of marked trails, including three loop trails around kettle lakes outside the Interpretive Center, which provides snowshoes for a donation.

Guided moonlight snowshoe hikes are Jan. 29 and Feb. 27 in 2010. To reserve snowshoes for them, call 715-967-2800.

Brownstone Trail, Bayfield. The Bayfield Regional Conservancy maintains this five-mile trail, which starts across from Maggie's at Manypenny Avenue and Third Street.

Another good place to snowshoe in town is on the Big Ravine Trail, at the end of North Third Street behind the outfield fence of the baseball field, and the Iron Bridge Trail, on the other side of the ravine at Washington Avenue and Broad Street. For more, see Bayfield in winter.

Mount Ashwabay near Bayfield. On the north edge of this friendly, non-profit ski hill, the Jerry Jay Jolly/Pike's Creek Trail is good for snowshoeing. From Wisconsin 13 south of Bayfield, take County Road J 2¼ miles to the trailhead.

Mawikwe Bay ice caves near Cornucopia. If there's fresh snow, you have to use snowshoes to get to these magnificent, ice-draped cliffs on the Lake Superior shoreline. First, call to see if the lake is frozen enough to allow access (usually, not until the last half of February). For more, see Ice caves of the Apostles.

Amnicon State Park south of Superior. The many frozen rapids and falls in this park, 10 miles east of Superior on U.S. 2, are fun to explore on showshoe. For more, see Ice capers.

The Northwest Wisconsin Cross-County Ski & Snowshoe guide lists many other trails.

North-central

Timm's Hill National Trail near Ogema, Wis. This 10-mile trail heads south from Timm's Hill County Park, the highest point in Wisconsin. It connects to 30 kilometers of trails groomed by the Rib Lake Ski & Snowshoe Club.

This sparsely populated but scenic area includes two of Wisconsin's Rustic Roads and is on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. For more, see Trek to Timm's Hill.

On March 6 in 2010, the annual Timm's Hill Trudge snowshoe race/walk will use 3½- and 7-mile routes around Timm's Hill.

Perkinstown Winter Sports Area near Medford. This area, in the middle of Chequamegon National Forest 16 miles west of Medford, has snowshoeing as well as 33 kilometers of ski trails, a tubing hill with rope tow and a chalet.

It's also right on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Snowshoes rent for $6 for a half day.

The Perkinstown Snowshoe Race, hosted by Perky the Porcupine, is Jan. 16 in 2010. And don't miss the goofy Outhouse Race Feb. 27.

Rib Mountain State Park in Wausau. This spectacular park, which shares the mountain with Granite Peak ski area, has eight miles of marked snowshoe trails. In 2010, it holds candlelight snowshoe hikes Jan. 16 and Feb. 13.

Sandhill Wildlife Area near Wisconsin Rapids. This 9,000-acre marshy area west of Wisconsin Rapids includes Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center, which in 2010 offers a Porcupine Ecology on Snowshoes workshop Feb. 6, $15, and a Snowshoe Weaving workshop March 6-7, $180 including kit, overnight lodgings and two meals.

Northeast

Navarino Wildlife Area and Nature Center near Shawano. This 15,000-acre area south of Shawano has 100 miles of trails, including a 1.4 mile snowshoe trail and 12 miles of ski trails. Snowshoe rental is $2.50, $1.50 for youths under 15.

In 2010, the nature center offers a candlelight snowshoe Jan. 22-23 and Feb. 13 and 19.

Mosquito Hill Nature Center near New London. This 430-acre preserve along the Wolf River has five miles of snowshoe trails and rents snowshoes on weekends, $3, $2 for youths as young as 4. On Jan. 23 in 2010, it holds a candlelight snowshoe.

Ledge View Nature Center in Chilton. Near the eastern edge of Lake Winnebago, this center has 105 acres of forest that includes a quarry and three caves. It rents a variety of wood-framed snowshoes, $5.

Door County. This peninsula has many places to snowshoe in four state parks — Potawatomi in Sturgeon Bay, Whitefish Dunes near Jacksonport, Peninsula near Fish Creek and Newport near Ellison Bay and — and 28 state natural areas and many county parks.

Near Baileys Harbor, Ridges Sanctuary has trails and offers guided snowshoe hikes at 1 p.m. Fridays in January and February, $5 with snowshoes provided.

Bay Shore Outdoor Store rents snowshoes in Sturgeon Bay and Sister Bay, $12 a day. In Fish Creek, Nor Dor Sport rents snowshoes for $4 per hour, $2 each additional hour.

For more, see Outdoors in Door County.

Afterglow Resort near Phelps. This friendly, family-run lake resort in the snow belt near the Michigan border has 7 miles of marked snowshoeing trails as well as superbly groomed ski trails. It rents snowshoes for $10, and the trails are open to the public as well as guests. For more, see Snow asylum.

Nicolet National Forest near Eagle River. The forest east of this town is laced with beautiful ski and snowshoe trails. For more, see Full throttle in Eagle River. 

Vilas County, which also includes the Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, Sayner and Land O' Lakes areas, has many other good places to snowshoe.

North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters. This center between Hurley and Minocqua has 20 kilometers of skiing and snowshoeing trails, on which it allows pets. Naturalists lead snowshoe hikes, and snowshoes rent for $5.

Bearpaw Outdoor Adventure Resort near Langlade. From this small resort on the Wolf River, guests can strike off into serene and always-snowy Nicolet National Forest.

Southwest

Seven Bridges Road near Trempealeau. This two-mile trail was built on a raised bed through floodplain forest. It leads to the Black River and the site of a defunct settlement, McGilvray's Ferry. It includes five rare bowstring-arch bridges, all on the National Register of Historic Places.

In winter, hikers are likely to see bald eagles. To get there from Trempealeau, drive seven miles east on Wisconsin 35 and turn left on Amsterdam Prairie Road. The parking lot is a mile up on the left. For more, see Hitting the trails in Trempealeau.

All of the sloughs along the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which are buggy and impassable in summer, are great places to snowshoe. For more, see Open sesame on the sloughs.

Tiffany Bottoms Wildlife Area near Nelson. These sloughs along the Chippewa River, just above its mouth on the Mississippi, is another good place to spot bald eagles in winter.

Myrick Hixon EcoPark in La Crosse. A new Eco-Center rents snowshoes for use on more than 13 miles of trails in Hixon Forest on the north edge of town off Wisconsin 16. Connecting trails lead to the La Crosse River Marsh. In 2010, a Marsh Snowshoe Meander will be held Jan. 23.

Southeast

Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit near Eagle. This large area includes the John Muir Trail, with five marked loops of .4 to 10 miles, and the Emma Carlin Trail, with three marked trails of two to four miles.

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail cuts through the forest and provides excellent snowshoeing. Backyard Bikes and Ski in nearby La Grange rents snowshoes for $15 a day.

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee. This 185-acre preserve along Lake Michigan, in the northern suburb of Fox Point, has six miles of trails.

In 2010, there's a full-moon hike Jan. 29, $15 with snowshoes, and full-moon family hikes Jan. 30 and Feb. 28, $12, $8 for kids. On Jan. 30, there's a snowshoe day hike.

Last updated on January 31, 2010