Nature Trail Loop
- 0.6 mi
- round trip
- 182 ft
- climb
- 1,648 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
The Nature Trail Loop is a cross-country ski route in American Legion State Forest in northern Wisconsin, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The loop is about 0.55 miles long, and the round trip adds up to roughly 1.1 miles with a total elevation gain of about 37 feet. It is an out-and-back route, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.49 miles in, with a grade of about 10 percent. 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, while March still averages six snow days. Snow days drop to about one in May, when highs reach about 64°F. Dogs are not allowed on this route. The Clear Lake Paved Bike Path lies just 0.2 miles away, and the Red Loop and Blue Loop are both within about 2.3 miles. Cunard Lake Campground is about 3.5 miles off.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Nature Trail 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, 4.1 mi away at 1,601 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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0.43-mile out-and-back ski route in Wisconsin with 48 feet of elevation gain.
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Clear Lake Paved Bike Path
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Red Loop
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0.13-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Wisconsin with 21 ft of elevation gain.
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0.27-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 45 ft of elevation gain.
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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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Nature Trail Loop
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0.69-mile out-and-back out-and-back with 156 ft elevation gain in Wisconsin.
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Red Loop
~4 min drive
0.42-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Wisconsin with 21 ft of elevation gain.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
