Base Loop
- 0.1 mi
- round trip
- 5 ft
- climb
- 1,590 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Base Loop is a cross-country ski route in northern Wisconsin, about 8 miles from the town of Rantz. It is a short, out-and-back loop of about 0.28 miles, with almost no elevation change. The route is rated moderate, and the climb profile is flat, with the high point at about 1,590 feet and the low at about 1,574 feet. Winter is the natural season for this trail. 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 about four. Several other cross-country ski routes sit close by. Squirrel's Tail and Beaver Pond are each about 0.1 mile away, and Survivor and Tornado Alley are about 0.3 mile away. For a change of pace, Flambeau Lake, about 9.5 miles off, 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, 9 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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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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Mellow Meadow
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Beaver Pond
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Base Loop
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0.38-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Wisconsin with 88 ft of elevation gain.
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Island Hop
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0.81-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 101 ft of elevation gain.
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Squirrel's Tail
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Squirrel's Tail is a 0.11-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin.
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Base Loop
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0.26-mile out-and-back ski route in Wisconsin with 48 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
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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
