Nutcracker
- 0.3 mi
- round trip
- 69 ft
- climb
- 1,631 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Nutcracker is a short, out-and-back cross-country ski route in northern Wisconsin, about 8.5 miles from the community of Rantz. The trip covers 0.62 miles and rises about 69 feet from its start at 1,608 feet to a high point of 1,631 feet. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.23 miles in, and the route is rated hard. Winter is the natural season for this ski outing. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Minocqua, at a similar elevation, show January highs around 20°F with lows near 1°F and about 10 snow days. Snow days drop to zero by June, when highs reach the mid-70s. Several other cross-country ski routes sit close by. Tornado Alley and Windy Ridge are each about 0.1 mile away, and Base Loop is about 0.4 mile off. For a change of pace, Flambeau Lake, about 9 miles away, offers lake fishing.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Nutcracker
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, 9 mi away at 1,601 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
SKI
Windy Ridge
Next door
0.19-mile out-and-back route on Windy Ridge in Wisconsin with 17 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Tornado Alley
Next door
0.18-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 20 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Mellow Meadow
~3 min drive
0.57-mile loop in Wisconsin with 57 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Squirrel's Tail
Next door
Squirrel's Tail is a 0.11-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin.
SKI
Tornado Alley
Next door
0.44-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 42 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Island Hop
~3 min drive
0.81-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 101 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Nutcracker
Next door
0.21-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 54 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Base Loop
Next door
0.14-mile out-and-back out-and-back at Base Loop in Wisconsin with 30 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Nutcracker
Next door
0.14-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 6 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Tornado Alley
Next door
0.21-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 60 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
