Sidekick
- 0.1 mi
- round trip
- 48 ft
- climb
- 1,609 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Sidekick is a short, flat out-and-back cross-country ski route in northern Wisconsin, about 8.7 miles from the community of Rantz. The trip covers 0.26 miles and stays within a few feet of the same elevation, rising to 1609 feet from a low of 1596, with a total climb and descent of 48 feet each way. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 20°F with lows near 2°F, and snow on about seven days that month. Snow days taper through spring, with only two in April. Summer brings highs in the low 70s and no snow. The trail makes an easy add-on to other ski routes in the area. Nutcracker is just 0.1 mile away and Yukon Trail and Survivor are each about 0.2 mile off. For a change of pace, Flambeau Lake, roughly 9.6 miles away, offers lake fishing.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Sidekick
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° / 2°
8 wet · 7 snow
Feb
25° / 3°
7 wet · 6 snow
Mar
36° / 14°
8 wet · 5 snow
Apr
49° / 28°
10 wet · 2 snow
May
63° / 41°
11 wet
Jun
72° / 52°
11 wet
Jul
76° / 57°
10 wet
Aug
74° / 54°
9 wet
Sep
67° / 46°
10 wet
Oct
53° / 35°
10 wet · 1 snow
Nov
37° / 23°
9 wet · 4 snow
Dec
25° / 10°
9 wet · 7 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Willow Rsvr, WI, 8.6 mi away at 1,532 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
SKI
Nutcracker
Next door
0.30-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 45 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Survivor
Next door
0.51-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 81 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Island Hop
~2 min drive
0.81-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 101 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Nutcracker
Next door
0.12-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 19 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Yukon Trail
Next door
Yukon Trail is a 0.57-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 35 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Mellow Meadow
~2 min drive
0.57-mile loop in Wisconsin with 57 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Nutcracker
Next door
0.10-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 11 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Survivor
Next door
0.11-mile out-and-back ski route in Wisconsin with 32 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Nutcracker
Next door
0.28-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 57 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Survivor
Next door
0.25-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 40 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
