Wisconsin State Parks, Forests, Recreation Areas and Trails
Cross-country Ski Trails

• Trails in State Parks and Forests
• Linear State Trails
• More Information

Wisconsin's state parks and forests take on a special beauty when covered by winter's white blanket of snow. Enjoy the winter scenery, get healthy exercise and have some fun by cross-country skiing on nearly 700 miles of groomed trails. Many clubs, ski teams and youth programs use Wisconsin's parks and forests to practice for races such as the American Birkebeiner, and several properties schedule occasional candlelight ski nights throughout the winter.

Cross-country skiing is a great way to stay in shape and have fun.
Photo © Department of Tourism

Cross-country Ski Trails in State Parks and Forests

Wisconsin's state parks, trails and forests have nearly 700 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. Some are tracked for traditional skiing, some groomed for skate-style skiing, and many are wide enough to accommodate both styles. There are also numerous miles of ungroomed trail for skiers to explore.

A trail groomed for both skaters and traditional skiers.
Photo by John Lupo

Most properties require a Park Admission Sticker to park a vehicle at the property. Some properties require a State Trail Pass for cross-country ski trails. Trail passes are needed for skiers age 16 and older and are good for the calendar year.

Ski trails may be closed if snow conditions are poor. Click on the current conditions link for the park or forest where you are interested in skiing for information about ski conditions.

$ - means the property requires a State Trail Pass.

1 mile = 1.6 kilometers

Aztalan State Park — 1.5 miles of ungroomed trail in this park near Lake Mills.

Big Bay State Park—5.2 miles of classic groomed trails in this park on Madeline Island in Lake Superior. Ferry Service from Bayfield is available until the ferry is unable to break the ice on the lake. When ferry service is no longer available, an ice road or windsleds and passenger vans may be available to Madeline Island. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 175KB].

Big Foot Beach State Park — 6 miles of classic groomed trails in this park near Lake Geneva. Current Conditions.

Black River State Forest — 24 miles of classic groomed and 14 miles of skate groomed trails. The trailhead is near County Highway O in Jackson County and features a heated log warming shelter. Current Conditions. Trail Brochure [PDF 505KB]. $

Blue Mound State Park — 10 miles of classic groomed trails, including a warming shelter and a half mile of ungroomed trail in this park near the village of Blue Mounds. Current Conditions. Trail Map. $

Browntown-Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area — 10 miles of ungroomed trails. Browntown-Cadiz is west of Monroe, near State Highway 11.

Brule River State Forest — 18 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails on the Afterhours Ski Trail System. The forest also offers 11 miles of ungroomed trails. The trailhead and warming shelter are west of Brule on Afterhours Road, just south of Highway 2. Current Conditions. Afterhours Trail Brochure [PDF 72KB]. $

A freshly groomed trail is ready for use in the Brule River State Forest.
Photo by Kurt Janco

Brunet Island State Park — 5 miles of classic groomed trails in this park near Cornell. Current Conditions. Trail Map.

Buckhorn State Park — 4 miles of classic groomed trail, when staffing is available, including 1.5 miles of ungroomed trail in this park near Necedah. Current Conditions.

Capital Springs State Park — 5 Miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails in this park near Madison. A warming shelter is available. $ - Either a State Park Trail Pass or Dane County Cross County Ski Permit is required. Current Conditions.

Copper Falls State Park — 8 miles of classic groomed trails in this park near Mellen. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 75KB].

Council Grounds State Park — 5 miles of classic groomed trails in this park near Merrill. Current Conditions.

Devil's Lake State Park — 5 miles of classic groomed trails at this park near Baraboo. Trails begin at the Steinke Basin trailhead off of County Highway DL. Current Conditions.

Flambeau River State Forest — 16 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails, including 6.2 miles of ungroomed trails. Trailheads are near State Highway 70 and County Highway W. Forest Map [PDF 346KB]. $

Governor Dodge State Park — 12.5 miles of classic groomed trails. This park near Dodgeville, also offers 4.5 miles of ungroomed trails. Current Conditions.

Governor Knowles State Forest — 10 miles of classic groomed trails, including a shelter and 20 miles of undesignated and ungroomed trails. The groomed trail loops are off Gile Road, about 6 miles north of State Highway 70. Forest Map [PDF 372KB]. $

Governor Nelson State Park — 5.5 miles of classic groomed and 4 miles of skate groomed trails in this park near Waunakee. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 275KB].

Governor Thompson State Park — 5 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails in this park near Crivitz and Twin Bridge. The park also offers 2.5 miles of groomed snowshoe trail and 8 miles of ungroomed trails. A warming shelter is available with a wood stove. Trailhead is at the Woods Lake Picnic Area on Paust Lane off of Ranch Road. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 83KB].

Green Circle State Trail — 24 miles of classic groomed trail within and around Stevens Point.

Harrington Beach State Park — 3 miles of classic groomed trails in this park on Lake Michigan near Belgium. Current Conditions.

A family is ready to head out on the trails at Brule River State Forest.
DNR Photo by Steve Petersen

Hartman Creek State Park — 6.8 miles of classic groomed and 2.2 miles of skate groomed trails and a shelter in this park near Waupaca. Current Conditions.

Havenwoods State Forest — 2.5 miles of ungroomed trail and a shelter at this forest in Milwaukee. Current Conditions.

High Cliff State Park — 4.2 miles of classic groomed trails, including 1.3 miles of ungroomed trail in this park near Sherwood. Current Conditions.

Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area — 8 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails, including 2 miles of ungroomed trails. Hoffman Hills is west of Menomonie just north of Interstate 94. Current Conditions. $

Interstate State Park — 11 miles of classic groomed trails and shelter in this park near St. Croix Falls. Current Conditions.

Kettle Moraine State Forest, Northern Unit — 19 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails, including 49 miles of ungroomed trails in this forest in eastern Wisconsin. Current Conditions.

• Greenbush trail system loops and warming shelter. Trail map [PDF 200KB].
• Zillmer trail system loops. Trail map [PDF 226KB].
• New Fane system, ungroomed trails. Trail map [PDF 211KB].

Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit — 52 miles of classic groomed trails and 40.5 miles of skate groomed trails in this forest in southeast Wisconsin. Current Conditions. $

• Nordic trail system loops and warming shelter. Trail map [PDF 366KB]
• McMiller trail system loops and warming shelter. Trail map [PDF 304KB]
• Scuppernong trail system loops. Trail map [PDF 132KB]

Kinnickinnic State Park — 6.5 miles of ungroomed trails in this park near River Falls.

Kohler-Andrae State Park — 2 miles of classic groomed trails in this park on Lake Michigan near Sheboygan. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 209KB].

Lake Kegonsa State Park — 5 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails in this park near Stoughton. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 120KB].

Lake Wissota State Park — 7 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails in this park near Chippewa Falls. A shelter is available.

Skiers look over a trail map at Lapham Peak.
Photo © Department of Tourism

Lapham Peak Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest — 17.2 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails in this unit of the Kettle Moraine Forest near Delafield. A warming shelter is available. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 160KB]. $

• 2.5 miles of lighted trails for night skiing and snowmaking equipment available

Merrick State Park — 2 miles of ungroomed trails in this park along the Mississippi River near Fountain City. Current Conditions.

Mirror Lake State Park — 15 miles of classic groomed and 9 miles of skate groomed trails in this park near Lake Delton. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 292KB].

Newport State Park — 8 miles of classic groomed and 1.5 miles of skate groomed trails. The park, near Ellison Bay in Door County, also offers a shelter and 12 miles of ungroomed trails.

Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest — 52.0 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails in Wisconsin's largest state forest, in Vilas, Oneida and Iron counties. The NH-AL State Forest also offers 74.6 miles of ungroomed trails. Current Conditions. $

• McNaughton trail system loops and shelter. Trail map [PDF 741KB].
• Raven trail system loops and shelter. Trail map [PDF 921KB].
• Escanaba trail system loops and shelter. Trail map [PDF 258KB].
• Madeline trail system loops and shelter. Trail map [PDF 780KB].

Pattison State Park — 4.4 miles of classic groomed trails and shelter in this park near Superior. Current Conditions.

Peninsula State Park — 16.0 miles of classic groomed and 6.0 miles of skate groomed trails in this park near Fish Creek in Door County. A warming shelter is available. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 220KB]. $

Several parks and forests have warming shelters available for skiers.
Photo by John Lupo

Perrot State Park — 9.0 miles of classic groomed and 1.2 miles of skated groomed trails in this park along the Missisippi River near Trempealeau. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 183KB]. $

Peshtigo River State Forest — 6.0 miles of combined classic and skate trails in this forest in northeast Wisconsin near Crivitz. A 1 mile snowshoe trail is also available. The Spring Rapids Trailhead is about 5 miles west of Crivitz. Trail Map [PDF].

Pike Lake Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest — 7.0 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails in this unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest near Hartford. A warming shelter is available in the south picnic area. Current Conditions. $

Point Beach State Forest — 11.0 miles of classic groomed and 3.5 miles of skate groomed trails in this forest along Lake Michigan near Two Rivers. Point Beach also offers a shelter and 1.0 miles of ungroomed trail. Current Conditions. Trail Map.

Potawatomi State Park — 9.0 miles of classic groomed and 8.0 miles of skate groomed trail in this park near Sturgeon Bay in Door County. A shelter is available. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 179KB].

Red Cedar State Trail — 13.0 miles of this linear rail trail are groomed for both classic and skate style sking. The Red Cedar State Trail begins near Menomonie. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 261KB]. $

The Red Cedar State Trail takes skiers past a natural ice wall.
Photo © Department of Tourism

Richard Bong State Recreation Area — 16.0 miles of ungroomed trail are available at this recreation area near Kansasville. Current Conditions.

Roche-A-Cri State Park — 6.0 miles of classic groomed trails including 1.0 mile of ungroomed trail in this park near Friendship. Current Conditions.

Whitefish Dunes State Park — 7.0 miles of classic groomed trails including a shelter and 1.3 miles of ungroomed trail in this park near Sturgeon Bay in Door County. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 464KB].

Wildcat Mountain State Park — 7.0 miles of classic groomed and 5.0 miles of skate groomed trails in this park near Ontario. A shelter is available. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 74KB].

Willow River State Park — 10.5 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails, including a warming shelter and 2.0 miles of ungroomed trail in this park near Hudson. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 153KB].

Wyalusing State Park — 7.0 miles of combined classic and skate groomed trails, including 1.0 miles of ungroomed trail in this park on the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien. Current Conditions. Trail Map [PDF 159KB].

Yellowstone Lake State Park — 4.2 miles of classic groomed trails and a shelter in this park near Blanchardville. Trail Map [PDF 541KB].

Cross-country Skiing on Linear State Trails

Many state rail trails allow cross-country skiing on the trail corridor. Linear state trails are mainly straight trails with a generally level grade. Except for the Red Cedar State Trail, these trails are not groomed for cross-country skiing and skiers must share the trails with snowmobiles and other winter trail users.

More Information

Cross-Country Skiing Safety and Etiquette
Other Ski Trails [exit DNR]
Snow Conditions [exit DNR]

For more information, ask Wisconsin State Parks, (608) 266-2181.