Red Loop
- 0.2 mi
- round trip
- 4 ft
- climb
- 1,648 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Red Loop is a cross-country ski route in Wisconsin's Northern Highland State Forest, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The route is short and flat, an out-and-back under half a mile with a high point of 1,648 feet and almost no elevation change, making it a straightforward addition to a day on the trails. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from the nearby Minocqua weather station show January highs around 20°F with about 10 snow days, while March eases to highs near 37°F with fewer snow days. Snow is the norm from December through April, with snow days declining from 10 in January to 4 in April. The Red Loop sits among several similar routes, with Green Loop about 0.2 miles away and Blue Loop about 0.3 miles away. For a change from skiing, the Nature Trail Loop is about 2.7 miles off. Cunard Lake Campground, about 4.7 miles away, offers a place to stay.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Red Loop
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, 4.9 mi away at 1,601 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
