Prairie Loop

Prairie Loop is a 1.5-mile out-and-back cross-country ski route in Afton State Park in Wisconsin, managed by State Park and Recreation. The trail is short and gentle, with a total elevation gain of 11 feet, and it is rated moderate. The high point is 961 feet, and the low point is 945 feet, so the climb is barely worth mentioning. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in River Falls show January highs around 22°F and lows near 4°F, while March warms to highs around 40°F. The station sits at nearly the same elevation as the trail, so those figures are a fair guide to conditions on the snow. Bobolink Loop is 0.3 miles away and Oliver Charley Trail is 0.5 miles away, both cross-country ski routes. North River Trail is a hike about a mile off, and South River Trail is a ski route at about 1.1 miles.