Tornado Alley

Tornado Alley is a short, moderate cross-country ski route in northern Wisconsin, about 8.6 miles from the town of Rantz. The trail is an out-and-back that covers roughly 0.4 miles, with a high point of 1,614 feet and a low of 1,588 feet. The climb is minimal, with a total gain and loss of about 29 feet each way, and the steepest stretch comes early on, at about 5% grade. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from the nearby Minocqua weather station show January highs around 20°F with lows near 1°F and about 10 snow days, while March still brings highs in the upper 30s and snow on six days. Summer is warm and snow-free, with July highs around 77°F. Several other ski routes sit close by, including Survivor, Nutcracker and Sidekick, each about 0.2 miles away. For a change of pace, Flambeau Lake offers lake fishing about 9 miles off.