Birkebeiner Trail

The Birkebeiner Trail is a 1.8-mile out-and-back cross-country ski route in Bayfield County Forest, on county land in northern Wisconsin. The trail rises from about 1,514 feet to a high point of 1,605 feet, with a total climb of 271 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.55 miles, with a 7% grade, and the route is rated moderate. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Drummond, WI, show January highs around 19°F with lows near 3°F, while February runs a little warmer at about 25°F. The station sits roughly 265 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the higher ground run a bit cooler. The trail sits among a cluster of other cross-country ski routes. North End Ski Trial and North End Classic Trail are each about 0.2 miles away, and the Birkie Classic is about 0.4 miles off. For a change from the snow, the Namekagon River offers river fishing about 2.2 miles away.