Cut Across
- 0.9 mi
- round trip
- 183 ft
- climb
- 1,351 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Cut Across is a short, easy cross-country ski route in Wisconsin's Washburn County Forest, on county-managed land. The trip is about 1.8 miles long and works as an out-and-back, with a total elevation gain of about 20 feet from the start to the high point at 1,351 feet. Winter is the natural season for this trail. A nearby weather station records typical January highs around 22°F with lows near 2°F, while February averages about 27°F for highs. Spring warms up quickly, with typical May highs near 67°F. The trail is at its steepest just 0.2 miles from the start, with a grade of about 5 percent. The rest of the route is nearly flat, making it an easy addition to a longer day in the forest. Outer Loop, another cross-country ski route, lies about 1.2 miles away and makes a convenient pairing for an extended outing.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Cut Across
Best months: May–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.
Jan
22° / 2°
9 wet
Feb
27° / 4°
8 wet
Mar
39° / 17°
9 wet
Apr
53° / 29°
11 wet
May
67° / 40°
12 wet
Jun
75° / 51°
12 wet
Jul
79° / 55°
11 wet
Aug
77° / 53°
10 wet
Sep
69° / 45°
10 wet
Oct
55° / 34°
10 wet
Nov
39° / 22°
9 wet
Dec
27° / 10°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Couderay 7 W, WI, 8.3 mi away at 1,300 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
SKI
Cut Across
Next door
0.31-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 44 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Middle School Loop
~23 min drive
0.44-mile loop with 72 ft elevation gain in Wisconsin.
SKI
High School Loop
~23 min drive
0.85-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 159 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Outer Loop
~2 min drive
5.63-mile loop in Wisconsin with 726 ft gain.
SKI
The Pit
~23 min drive
0.27-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 50 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Rollercoaster
~35 min drive
0.22-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin.
SKI
Roller Loop
~23 min drive
1.43-mile loop in Wisconsin with 245 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Birkebeiner Trail
~31 min drive
1.58-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 158 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Washout
~36 min drive
0.34-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 29 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Field Loop
~23 min drive
0.31-mile loop in Wisconsin with 31 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors