Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

Trek. Explore. Glide. Discover.

Enjoy a beautiful frozen landscape

Rusk County has an extensive and growing selection of silent sports trails and endless opportunities for backcountry cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Blue Hills Trail System offers 26 miles of groomed routes. Theย Sisters' Farm Trail System, located southwest of Ladysmith, runs along the Flambeau River. And, the Ladysmith High School Trail lighted loop is a popular skiing opportunity. Snowshoers can trek along the Greenwood Park Trail in Ladysmith or at the Reclaimed Flambeau Mine Nature Trails. Snowshoes are available free of charge for day use at the Rusk County Visitor Center.

Latest Information


Snow and Trail Conditions

March 30, 2023 9:41 am Published by

As of 3/30/2023:

For you sledders that have escaped the nut house, Rusk County trails are going remain open through the weekend. Trails will close Monday April 3 as we hold out for one more snowfall.

Best riding will be in the Blue Hills north of Bruce and Weyerhaeuser and Hawkins trails. Trail 12A between Bruce and Weyerhaeuser is closed. Check with surrounding counties before crossing County lines.

Expect to encounter all the usual hazards of April snowmobiling. Until we get more snow trails are either a block of ice, wet snow or dirt.

Ladysmith Trails:

- Cemetery Rd reroute - 1/4 mile section of tight and hilly terrain is bad.

- Alleys/streets and bridges in City are completely bare.

- Small creek on 99 north of Flambeau Lodge is open but only about 4" deep with gravel bottom.

- Little Thornapple north of Cedar Lodge is probably open.

- Along 27 just before Thornapple Bridge the Pines have melted the snow on the hills.

- Gravel roads and driveway crossings are soggy.

- Trail 116 along the Hwy 8 is bare.

Ride at your own risk.

-Please check theย Ride Rusk pageย for confirmation on your trail routes and for updates on trail maintenance and grooming.

 

Cross Country Ski Trails

Lots of snow on the trails and in the woods, there's good crust skiing after an overnight freeze. If you start early and then catch the magic window as the snow starts to soften, you may have great spring skiing for a couple hours. Enjoy the trails we've been grooming all winter, or be adventurous and explore the trails that have had zero traffic due to December's ice storm. Ski the unopened (tree damaged) trails to appreciate the challenges we face this summer.

Snowshoers:ย the Ridges Snowshoe Trail is cleared of tree damage, we prefer you use that as your first option. If snowshoeing on the groomed ski trail,ย PLEASE SNOWSHOE WELL TO THE SIDE.

 

-Be sure to visit theirย websiteย orย Facebook pageย for more trail conditions.

 

Ladysmith Area Trails report:

(3/13/23): Sisters Farm Trail Update. What do you do when you get 10 inches of snow in March? You groom and groom and groom. Jim groomed the East this morning and I groomed the West side. Very soft so we made a lot of passes but with the cold temps tonight trails should be good tomorrow and for the next few days. I know people are getting tired of snow bur should be a good stretch to get out on the trails

-For more updates, check out theย Ladysmith Area Trail Association Facebook page.

 

Christie Mountain

*Closed for the season*

-Check out theirย websiteย orย Facebook pageย for more updates.

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing Options


Trails

Blue Hills Trails System

View Post

Blue Hills Trails System 45.536475 -91.407087


,WI 

(715) 532-6595 https://ruskcountywi.com/blue-hills-trails-system/

Trails

Copper Park Equestrian Trails

View Post

Copper Park Equestrian Trails 45.436722 -91.113589

N4100 WI-27
Ladysmith,WI 54848

(715) 415-2400 https://ruskcountywi.com/copper-park-equestrian-trails/

Trails

Flambeau River State Forest Trails

View Post

Flambeau River State Forest Trails 45.691724 -90.758888

W1613 County Rd W
Winter,WI 54896

(715) 332-5271 https://ruskcountywi.com/flambeau-river-state-forest-trails/

Parks

Greenwood Park

View Post

Greenwood Park 45.470909 -91.083010


,WI 

https://ruskcountywi.com/greenwood-park/

Trails

Ice Age Trail

View Post

Ice Age Trail 45.574058 -91.512483


,WI 

https://ruskcountywi.com/ice-age-trail/

Trails

Ladysmith High School Trail

View Post

Ladysmith High School Trail 45.471588 -91.075274

1700 Edgewood Ave E
Ladysmith,WI 54848

https://ruskcountywi.com/ladysmith-high-school-trail/

Wildlife Areas

Potato Creek Wildlife Area

View Post

Potato Creek Wildlife Area 45.340025 -91.400090


,WI 

https://ruskcountywi.com/potato-creek-wildlife-area/

Trails

Reclaimed Flambeau Mine Nature Trails

View Post

Reclaimed Flambeau Mine Nature Trails 45.442353 -91.117859

N4100 Highway 27
Ladysmith,WI 54848

https://ruskcountywi.com/reclaimed-flambeau-mine-nature-trails/

Trails

Riverview Trail

View Post

Riverview Trail 45.457946 -91.082157

716 Co Hwy G
Ladysmith,WI 54848

https://ruskcountywi.com/riverview-trail/

Wildlife Areas

Silvernail Wildlife Area

View Post

Silvernail Wildlife Area 45.625941 -90.980550


,WI 

https://ruskcountywi.com/silvernail-wildlife-area/

Trails

Sisters' Farm Trail System

View Post

Sisters' Farm Trail System


https://ruskcountywi.com/sisters-farm-trail-system/

Recreation

Snowshoes

View Post

Snowshoes

205 W 9th St S
Ladysmith ,WI 54848

715-532-2642 https://ruskcountywi.com/snowshoes/

Wildlife Areas

Ten Mile Creek Wildlife Area

View Post

Ten Mile Creek Wildlife Area 45.318301 -91.532371

Ricebed Road
Chetek,WI 54728

https://ruskcountywi.com/ten-mile-creek-wildlife-area/

Recreation

The Blue Hills

View Post

The Blue Hills 45.536475 -91.407087


,WI 

(715) 532-6595 https://ruskcountywi.com/the-blue-hills/

Wildlife Areas

Washington Creek Wildlife Area

View Post

Washington Creek Wildlife Area 45.336835 -91.244196


,WI 

https://ruskcountywi.com/washington-creek-wildlife-area/

What you need to know about the Blue Hills

View Post

What you need to know about the Blue Hills


https://ruskcountywi.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-blue-hills/

Your guide to winter fun in the Blue Hills

View Post

Your guide to winter fun in the Blue Hills


https://ruskcountywi.com/your-guide-to-winter-fun-in-the-blue-hills/