North End Classic Trail

North End Classic Trail is a 2-mile out-and-back cross-country ski route in Bayfield County Forest, on county land in northern Wisconsin. The trail rises steadily from a low point of 1,479 feet to a high of 1,571 feet, with a total elevation gain of 263 feet over the round trip. The climb is moderate, with the steepest stretch at about 0.95 miles in, where the grade reaches 5%. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Drummond, WI, show January highs around 19°F and lows near 3°F, while February runs a little warmer, with highs around 25°F. The station sits about 230 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 cross-country ski routes, with the Birkie Classic, North End Ski Trail and Birkebeiner Trail all about 0.1 mile away. For a change from the snow, the Namekagon River offers river fishing about 1.7 miles off.