Day Out: Skiing in a Wausau forest.
Cross-country trails shine at Nine Mile
Wausau has long been a destination for skiers in Wisconsin.
With one of the highest points in the state and a fairly reliable snow base, Granite Peak on Rib Mountain has become one of the best spots for downhill skiing in the Badger State.
But in the shadow of the mountain lies another great ski destination, for those of the Nordic persuasion.
The 4,900-acre Nine Mile County Forest Recreation Area just south of Wausau features more than 30 kilometers of wellgroomed cross-country ski trails through a mix of terrain. Throw in a cozy chalet that rents out snowshoes and skis and provides two wood-burning fireplaces to warm up next to and you’ve got a prime spot for a winter outing.
“Obviously I’m biased, but I think Nine Mile is one of the top cross-country ski venues in the state of Wisconsin,” said John Burke, the president of the Wausau Nordic Ski Club. “It has a solid trail system, a good chalet, nice parking and it’s well marked and well maintained. I do consider it a premier location.”
Burke has been involved with the club, which got its start in 1971, for more than 20 years. It now has about 300 members, he said, and helps with everything from off-season trail maintenance to running free adult ski lessons and programs for kids from grade school through high school.
If those skiers are beginners, they’ll find friendly terrain at Nine Mile.
“One of the things I do like about the trail system is the design and layout is such that there’s really no dangerous parts that a novice skier might feel overwhelmed by,” Burke said. “From a beginner standpoint, a lot of the trails that are close in are pretty skiable by just about anyone.”
This beginner skier can confirm that. On a seasonably cold Monday in late January, I was thankful for the easy terrain as I bumbled my way along loops near the chalet trailhead. Small hills provided a bit of a challenge and a
thrill, but nothing beyond my meager abilities.
Fluffy, falling snow made for a picturesque backdrop and helped soften the slightly iced classic tracks. I only saw a few other skiers in nearly two hours on the trails — another draw to Nine Mile.
“You can ski out there on a busy day and hardly see anybody,” Burke said.
Most of the trails are one-way — which helps create a flow that allows for that alone-in-the-woods experience — and all of the trails are groomed for skate and classic skiing, some with two tracks for striding.
Advanced skiers can find terrain for their abilities too, Burke said, noting that some head to a section known as the Alps to train for the Birkebeiner and its killer hills.
“I think that’s one of the advantages — the nice mix of trails,” he said.
And for 9-to-5ers, 6 kilometers of trail are lighted until 9 p.m. on most nights.
“From a worker’s perspective, a person who works a day job, it’s really nice, because you can go out there and get quite a bit of skiing in in the evening, which is actually a pretty nice time to ski,” Burke said.
For non-skiers, the forest has more than 10 kilometers of snowshoe trails.
In the summer, the forest fills up with mountain bikers who follow the 12 miles of single-track trails that the local mountain biking club, the Central Wisconsin Offroad Cycling Coalition, has worked to build. Foragers also descend on the forest to pick blackberries, blueberries and choke cherries, and horseback riders can find trails for their steeds as well.
More information: Daily ski passes for Nine Mile are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students and kids. Season passes, discounted passes for night skiing and group rates are also available.
Daily snowshoe passes are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for students and kids.
The chalet at Nine Mile rents skis ($12/ adults, $10/kids under 12) and snowshoes ($7/ adults, $5/kids) and is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday (closing at 6 p.m. after the first weekend in February), 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Dogs are not allowed on any of the groomed trails.
The Wausau Nordic Ski Club offers free adult ski lessons — including waiving trail and rental gear fees — on Tuesday nights every January. For more on the club, see wausaunordic.com.
For trail conditions at Nine Mile, call the trail hotline at (888) 948-4748 or see skinnyski.com. For more on the recreation area, see co.marathon.wi.us.
Getting there: Find the Nine Mile County Forest chalet at 8704 Red Bud Road, Wausau, about 190 miles northwest of Milwaukee via I-41, Highways 45 and 10, I-39 and S. Rib Mountain Road.