Base Loop
- 0.3 mi
- round trip
- 55 ft
- climb
- 1,604 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 half a mile, with a high point of 1,604 feet and a low of 1,580 feet. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.16 miles in, and the total gain and loss are each about 55 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, while March still brings highs in the upper 30s and snow on six days. Summer is warm and snow-free, with July highs around 77°F. Several other ski routes sit right next to Base Loop, including Survivor, Squirrel's Tail and Beaver Pond, each about 0.1 mile away. For a change of pace, Flambeau Lake offers lake fishing about 9 miles off.
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, 9.1 mi away at 1,601 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
SKI
Survivor
Next door
0.11-mile out-and-back ski route in Wisconsin with 32 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Squirrel's Tail
Next door
Squirrel's Tail is a 0.11-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin.
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Mellow Meadow
~2 min drive
0.57-mile loop in Wisconsin with 57 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Survivor
Next door
0.25-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 40 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Beaver Pond
Next door
0.28-mile out-and-back ski trail at Beaver Pond in Wisconsin with 71 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Island Hop
~2 min drive
0.81-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 101 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Base Loop
Next door
0.14-mile out-and-back out-and-back at Base Loop in Wisconsin with 30 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Squirrel's Tail
Next door
0.37-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 183 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Tornado Alley
Next door
0.44-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 42 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Beaver Pond
Next door
0.11-mile out-and-back ski trail at Beaver Pond in Wisconsin.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
