Prairie Loop
- 0.2 mi
- round trip
- 24 ft
- climb
- 964 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Prairie Loop is a cross-country ski route in Afton State Park in Wisconsin, managed by State Park and Recreation. The trail is short, about half a mile round trip, and the climb is minimal, with a total gain of about 24 feet. It's an out-and-back, and the route is mostly flat, with the steepest stretch at about 0.13 miles in. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from the nearby River Falls weather station show January highs around 22°F and lows near 4°F, while February runs about 27°F by day and 8°F at night. Spring warms quickly, with March highs around 40°F and April near 55°F. The Oliver Charley Trail and Bobolink Loop are both about 0.3 miles away, and the North River Trail is about 0.8 miles off. The South River Trail, another ski route, is about a mile away.
Best time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Prairie Loop
Best months: April–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
22° / 4°
Feb
27° / 8°
Mar
40° / 20°
Apr
55° / 32°
May
68° / 43°
Jun
77° / 54°
Jul
81° / 58°
Aug
79° / 56°
Sep
71° / 49°
Oct
57° / 36°
Nov
41° / 24°
Dec
27° / 12°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at River Falls, WI, 8.6 mi away at 940 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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Prairie Loop
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0.77-mile out-and-back out-and-back with 111 ft gain in Wisconsin state park.
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South River Trail
~2 min drive
1.21-mile out-and-back trail along the South River in Wisconsin.
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Flats
~15 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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Oliver Charley Trail
Next door
0.38-mile out-and-back trail in Wisconsin with 11 ft of elevation gain.
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Interpretive Trail
~2 min drive
0.30-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 17 ft of elevation gain.
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North Trail
~16 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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Bobolink Loop
Next door
0.45-mile out-and-back out-and-back in Wisconsin with 34 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
