Base Loop
- 0.4 mi
- round trip
- 73 ft
- climb
- 1,608 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Base Loop is a short, moderate cross-country ski route in northern Wisconsin, about 8 miles from the town of Rantz. The trail is an out-and-back that covers roughly 0.76 miles, with a total elevation gain of 73 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.31 miles in, where the grade reaches 6 percent. The high point is 1,608 feet, and the low point is 1,563 feet. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from the nearby Minocqua weather station show January highs around 20°F with lows near 1°F and about 10 snow days. By April, highs reach about 49°F, and snow days drop to four. Summer is warm, with July highs near 77°F, but snow is gone by June. The loop sits among several other cross-country ski routes. Beaver Pond is about 0.1 mile away, Squirrel's Tail about 0.2 mile, and Tornado Alley about 0.3 mile. For a change of pace, Flambeau Lake, about 9 miles away, offers lake fishing.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Base Loop
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
20° / 1°
11 wet · 10 snow
Feb
25° / 3°
8 wet · 7 snow
Mar
37° / 13°
9 wet · 6 snow
Apr
49° / 26°
11 wet · 4 snow
May
64° / 39°
12 wet · 1 snow
Jun
73° / 51°
12 wet
Jul
77° / 54°
12 wet
Aug
75° / 52°
11 wet
Sep
67° / 45°
12 wet
Oct
52° / 34°
13 wet · 2 snow
Nov
37° / 22°
12 wet · 6 snow
Dec
25° / 9°
11 wet · 9 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Minocqua, WI, 8.8 mi away at 1,601 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
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Beaver Pond
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0.11-mile out-and-back ski trail at Beaver Pond in Wisconsin.
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Base Loop
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0.14-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Wisconsin with 21 ft of elevation gain.
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Mellow Meadow
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0.57-mile loop in Wisconsin with 57 ft of elevation gain.
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Squirrel's Tail
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0.37-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 183 ft of elevation gain.
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Base Loop
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0.18-mile out-and-back out-and-back at Base Loop in Wisconsin.
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Island Hop
~2 min drive
0.81-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 101 ft of elevation gain.
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Squirrel's Tail
Next door
Squirrel's Tail is a 0.11-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin.
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Base Loop
Next door
0.14-mile out-and-back out-and-back at Base Loop in Wisconsin with 30 ft of elevation gain.
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Nekoosa
~2 min drive
0.80-mile out-and-back ski trail in Nekoosa, Wisconsin with 40 feet of elevation gain.
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Beaver Pond
Next door
0.28-mile out-and-back ski trail at Beaver Pond in Wisconsin with 71 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
