Oliver Charley Trail
- 0.4 mi
- round trip
- 205 ft
- climb
- 781 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr, Jul–Oct
- best months
The Oliver Charley Trail is a short, moderate cross-country ski route in Afton State Park in Wisconsin, managed by State Park and Recreation. The trail is an out-and-back that covers about 0.8 miles, with a total elevation gain of 205 feet from a low point of 700 feet to a high of 781 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.22 miles in, with a grade of 9 percent. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 24°F and lows near 6°F, while February runs a little warmer at about 29°F. The station sits at a similar elevation to the trail, so these figures are a fair guide to conditions on the route. The trail makes an easy addition to a day of skiing in the park. The Prairie Loop and South River Trail are both about half a mile away, and the North River Trail is about 0.4 miles off. For a change of pace, the Interpretive Trail is about 0.9 miles away.
Best time to go · Apr, Jul–Oct
Best time to visit Oliver Charley Trail
Best months: April and July–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
24° / 6°
9 wet
Feb
29° / 9°
7 wet
Mar
41° / 22°
9 wet
Apr
56° / 36°
12 wet
May
69° / 48°
13 wet
Jun
79° / 59°
13 wet
Jul
83° / 63°
11 wet
Aug
81° / 61°
10 wet
Sep
73° / 53°
10 wet
Oct
59° / 40°
10 wet
Nov
43° / 27°
8 wet
Dec
30° / 14°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Hastings Dam 2, MN, 8.4 mi away at 680 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
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Oliver Charley Trail
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0.38-mile out-and-back trail in Wisconsin with 11 ft of elevation gain.
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South River Trail
Next door
1.21-mile out-and-back trail along the South River in Wisconsin.
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Flats
~16 min drive
Flats is a 1.03-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 45 feet of elevation gain.
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Nelson Farm Trail
~20 min drive
Nelson Farm Trail is a 0.86-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 179 feet of elevation gain.
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Prairie Loop
Next door
1.06-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Wisconsin with 120 ft of elevation gain.
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Interpretive Trail
~1 min drive
0.30-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 17 ft of elevation gain.
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North Trail
~17 min drive
0.4 mi
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Horseshoe Trail
~21 min drive
0.12-mile out-and-back cross-country ski trail in Minnesota.
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Prairie Loop
Next door
0.24-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Wisconsin with 22 ft of elevation gain.
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Nelson Farm Trail
~18 min drive
Nelson Farm Trail is a cross-country ski trail in Wisconsin.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
