North End Ski Trail

North End Ski Trail is a short, easy cross-country ski route in Bayfield County Forest, on county land in northern Wisconsin. The trail is an out-and-back of about 0.44 miles, with a total climb of about 41 feet, and it sits at a low point of roughly 1,489 feet, rising to about 1,531 feet at the high point. The route is rated easy, and the climb is steady, with the steepest stretch at about 6% grade near the 0.14-mile mark. 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, with highs around 25°F. The station sits about 190 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the trail run slightly cooler. The trail sits among a cluster of cross-country ski routes. The Birkebeiner Trail and the North End Classic Trail are each about 0.1 mile away, and the Birkie Classic is about 0.2 mile off. For a change from skiing, the Namekagon River offers river fishing about 1.4 miles away.