Wisconsin · Cross-country skiing

Out & Back X-Y-X

0.2 mi
round trip
26 ft
climb
1,751 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Out & Back X-Y-X is a cross-country ski route in Northern Highland State Forest in northern Wisconsin, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The route is short, about 0.4 miles round trip, and sits at roughly 1,730 feet, with a high point of about 1,750 feet. The climb is flat, with a total gain and loss of about 26 feet each, and the steepest stretch is a 2% grade at about 0.05 miles in. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from the nearby Rest Lake weather station show January highs around 20°F with lows near 0°F and about 8 snow days, while March still averages about 5 snow days. Snow days drop to zero from May through September. Several other cross-country ski routes lie close by, including ST X-M about 0.1 mile away and ST M-N and NT K-X each about 0.2 mile away. For a change of pace, the Harris Creek Hunter hike is about 7.4 miles away across the state line in Michigan.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Out & Back X-Y-X

    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.

    1. Jan

      20° / 0°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    2. Feb

      25° / 3°

      8 wet · 6 snow

    3. Mar

      37° / 13°

      8 wet · 5 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 27°

      9 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      65° / 41°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      74° / 51°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 54°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 53°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 45°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 33°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      37° / 21°

      10 wet · 5 snow

    12. Dec

      25° / 9°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rest Lake, WI, 4.6 mi away at 1,612 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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