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  • A skier stops to look at one of the lakes in the Minocqua Winter Sports Park. Courtesy of the Minocqua Chamber

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  • The Winter Sports Park in Minocqua, Wis. Courtesy of the Minocqua Chamber

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February 19, 2012

Minocqua one of Midwest's gems

By Mike Terrell Special to the Record-Eagle

MINOCQUA, Wis. — When talk among cross-country skiers turns to their favorite areas to ski around the Great Lakes, one among others, including our own VASA Pathway, that's always mentioned, is Minocqua Winter Park.

Located in northern Wisconsin about 40-some miles below the UP, the ski area is located in an area of heavy winter outdoor activity with numerous lakes for ice fishing, nearby Eagle River home to the World Championship Snowmobile Derby, and a classic north wood's ambiance. Located on 6,500 acres of pristine terrain it offers nearly 45 miles of mostly easy to intermediate Piston Bully groomed trails for both classic and skate skiing. About 20 percent fall into the "difficult" category.

The trails cover about all available terrain and forest options. There are open fields, ridge lines, pine plantations, aspen thickets, hardwood forests, abundant glacial formations, overlooks, and numerous wetlands.

The chalet, compete with a ski shop, full service snack bar, wood stove and modern bathrooms sits below Squirrel Hill, which used to be a small downhill ski area now closed. It makes a much better cross-country center.

It's easy to take off and lose yourself on trails like River Run, Lake Mead or the classic skiing only Wolf Tracks. All are over 10 kilometers each and offer great opportunities to meander and while away the day. There are also some closer-in exhilarating advanced trails like VO2 Max, Nutcracker and Squirrel Trail that offer a good test of your mantle. A friendly labyrinth of wide, easy flowing interconnected loops are within easy reach for beginner and intermediate skiers and especially families. There are also snowshoe trails and even a nice wide, 10 kilometer trail that allows man's best friend, Fido, to accompany. My favorite was the Cookie Trail Loop, which encourages children to ski five kilometers, stop at five mailboxes to punch a card and redeem a cookie in the chalet for a fully punched card. What a great idea.

For the adults there is the Tea House out on the back part of the Cookie Trail. It's open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and offers tea, hot cocoa and snacks to skiers and snowshoers. Just leave a donation since it's all free.

The ski area is run by the city as a non-profit and does charge a trail fee for all that they offer. An adult (18-64) daily trail fee is $13, and a half-day, after 2 p.m. is $9. You can also buy a three-day pass for $36. Seniors (65+) are $11 and $7 and youth (6-17) are $9 and $6.

The town of Minocqua offers numerous places to stay and eat. Winter conditions were good when I visited the last of January; numerous snowmobilers and skiers were out enjoying this little enclave of winter in the upper Midwest.

For more information on the skiing click on www.minocquawinterpark.org and for the town you can go to www.minocqua.org.

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