Wisconsin · Cross-country skiing

Sugar Bush

0.7 mi
round trip
142 ft
climb
1,113 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Sugar Bush is a cross-country ski route in Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area in northern Wisconsin, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The route is about 0.7 miles from the town of Bayfield. The trail is an out-and-back that covers roughly 1.4 miles, with a total climb of about 140 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.6 miles, where the grade reaches 10 percent. The route starts at about 1,100 feet and reaches a high point of about 1,110 feet. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Bayfield Fish Hatchery show January highs around 23°F and lows near 4°F. That station sits about 500 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run a little cooler. Several other ski routes lie close by. Seagull Classic is about 0.2 miles away, Northern Lights about 0.3 miles, and Hessian's Cutoff and Birch Hill Trail each about half a mile.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Sugar Bush

    Best months: May–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.

    1. Jan

      23° / 4°

    2. Feb

      26° / 6°

    3. Mar

      37° / 17°

    4. Apr

      49° / 29°

    5. May

      60° / 40°

    6. Jun

      71° / 50°

    7. Jul

      77° / 56°

    8. Aug

      76° / 55°

    9. Sep

      68° / 47°

    10. Oct

      55° / 36°

    11. Nov

      40° / 25°

    12. Dec

      28° / 12°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bayfield Fish Hatchery, WI, 2.9 mi away at 615 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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