Wisconsin · Cross-country skiing

Birkebeiner Trail

0.2 mi
round trip
52 ft
climb
1,248 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Sep–Oct
best months

The Birkebeiner Trail is a short, easy cross-country ski route in Sawyer County Forest, on county land in northern Wisconsin. The trail is about 0.46 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 52 feet for the round trip, and it sits at roughly 1,200 feet of elevation. The climb is back-loaded, with the steepest grade of about 2% at 0.12 miles from the start. The most comfortable skiing weather comes in the dead of winter. Typical averages from the nearby Hayward airport weather station put January highs around 22°F and lows near 2°F, while March runs warmer with highs around 40°F. That station sits about 44 feet lower than the trail. Hatchery Creek Trail is just 0.1 miles away and Hatchery Ski Trail about 0.3 miles, with Pine Loop roughly 2.2 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Birkebeiner Trail

    Best months: September–October. 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.

    1. Jan

      22° / 2°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      27° / 5°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      40° / 17°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      53° / 29°

      11 wet

    5. May

      67° / 41°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 51°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 55°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 53°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 45°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 34°

      12 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 23°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / 10°

      8 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Hayward Muni Ap, WI, 0.9 mi away at 1,204 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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