Wisconsin · Cross-country skiing

The Ridgeline

0.6 mi
round trip
115 ft
climb
1,627 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

The Ridgeline is a short, easy cross-country ski loop in Rusk County Forest, Wisconsin, on county land. The route is 0.63 miles long, with a high point of 1,627 feet and a low of 1,595 feet. The climb is gentle, with a total gain of 22 feet and a steepest grade of about 3% at the start. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 23°F with lows near 5°F, while February is slightly milder at about 28°F. That station sits roughly 430 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the ridgeline run a little cooler. The Ridgeline sits among a cluster of other cross-country ski routes. Rabbit and Hairpin are each about 0.1 mile away, and Roundabout and Fox are about 0.2 mile off. For a change of pace, The Penokean Wall climbing area lies about 7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit The Ridgeline

    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.

    1. Jan

      23° / 5°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      28° / 8°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 20°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      56° / 32°

      10 wet

    5. May

      68° / 44°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 53°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 58°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 56°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 48°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 36°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      40° / 24°

      7 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / 12°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Weyerhaeuser 1n, WI, 7.1 mi away at 1,195 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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