Washburn County Snowmobile Trails: Current Conditions and More

The team at Washburn County Tourism Association provides up-to-date trail conditions for Washburn County, including ATV, Snowmobiling, skiing, biking & more. The team updates trail conditions from local reports multiple times a week to provide you the best possible information.

Washburn County Forest is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering excellent hunting, fishing, and wildlife experiences. Hunters can find deer, bear, grouse, and more, with accessible areas for both motorized and backcountry exploration. Anglers enjoy diverse fishing opportunities, from bass and panfish in small lakes to walleye, musky, and trout in larger lakes and rivers.

Snowmobile Trails

Washburn County operates 240 miles of State funded snowmobile trails. Trails are maintained and groomed by local snowmobile clubs. These clubs also groom numerous, unfunded club trails. Trails cross County Forest and private lands. Please respect these lands as you ride in order to ensure the future of the snowmobile trail system.

The Spooner (Washburn County) Wisconsin area has over 250 miles of scenic, groomed trails. These miles of trails link up to the largest network of snowmobile trails in the Midwest. Visitors have remarked that “these trails are the best I’ve seen. The scenic beauty, wilderness sledding and abundant amenities, makes the area unmatched as a destination point for snowmobilers throughout the Midwest. The local snowmobile clubs have worked hard to develop and maintain routes that include a wide assortment of riding pleasures.

Area Report: As of Thursday, December 25 at 8:00AM the Washburn County snowmobile trails officially opened for the season except for a portion of Trail 8 East, from Trail 39/8 or Intersection 35 to the Sawyer County line. This section is still being cleared and packed after the damage from the late November snowstorm. All other trails will be open. Should you encounter any trail damage such as down trees, limbs, debris, etc. please report to Washburn County Forestry Department.

Read also: Summit County Ski Report

Please check surrounding county trail conditions as they vary from county to county. A full report can be found on Travel Wisconsin Snow Report.

All open trail conditions are considered early season snow with a base that varies across the County. Current Trail conditions are Poor to Fair at this point. Clubs and County will closely monitor trails as the weather conditions vary.

ATTENTION All trails have been cleared of debris caused by the late November snow event.

As of today (12/25) Snowmobile trails are officially open with the exception of a portion Trail 8 East, from Trail 39/8 intersection (35) to the Sawyer County Line. This section is still being cleared and packed from the Late November snow storm. All other trails will be open, should you encounter any trail damage such down trees, limbs, debris, ect. please report to Washburn County Forestry Department.

Please check surrounding counties as to their trail conditions and trail status.

Read also: Trail Update: Bayfield County

All open trail conditions are considered early season snow with a base that varies across the County. Current Trail conditions are Poor to Fair at this point. Clubs and County will closely monitor trails as the weather conditions vary.

Within the Spooner (Washburn County) Wisconsin area there are over 100 lodging establishments, from small motels to lavish resorts. There are even winter camping facilities available. Many unique dining experiences are available; one you may be familiar with is the Friday Night Fish Fry, a northern tradition. Dining establishments range from bar & grilles to supper clubs, family dining to unique dining train rides. With over 70 restaurants in Washburn County, you may need to plan more than one trip to choose your favorite.

ATV Trails

Washburn County manages 116 miles of ATV trails, primarily on our county forest lands. The Wild River Trail, an abandoned railroad corridor running north and south through the county, is the backbone if the trail system. The County maintains numerous addition trail segments connecting various communities in the area. These trails are open for ATV and UTV use with minor segments shared with other vehicles. Please note that motorcycles and dirt bikes are not permitted on our trails.

All official Washburn County ATV trails are considered open to year round use, with the exception of the spring closure from April 1 through the first Friday before Memorial Weekend. Please note that with the exception of the Wild River Trail, ATV use is not permitted anywhere on the County Forest between April 1 through the first Friday before Memorial Weekend.

Most snowmobile trails, on Washburn County Forest lands, are open for motor vehicle use under 900 pounds from December 1 through April 1. This means that ATV's are permitted on snowmobile trails that are not on private lands, during the winter months. UTV's are allowed on these same trails ONLY during non-groomed conditions.

Read also: Snowmobile Trail Updates

The Washburn County portion of the Wild Rivers Trail and the rail grade to Shell Lake are open for UTV use during snow groomed conditions; These are the only trails open to UTV use once trail grooming is commenced. Please note that the April 1 closure is flexible; Trails may close earlier depending on conditions.

ATTENTION Due to the excessive amount of rain received, a washout has occurred on the Wild Rivers Trails.

Please tread lightly and stay on trails. Our trails are maintained primarily by volunteers. Want to get involved?

Skiing and Biking Trails

Besides snowmobiling and ATV riding, Washburn County also offers a variety of trails for skiing and biking enthusiasts.

• Spooner City Park: After the heavy snowfall volunteers have finally gotten the trails cleared off & ready for use. Trails have been groomed for both skate & classic skiing. Trails have been groomed for winter fat bike use. Trails are available for snowshoeing, please don't use snowshoes on the groomed ski trails.
• Wildcat Mountain Bike Trails: All of the trails have been cleared of debris from the most recent snowfall event. Volunteers have worked to get trails packed and groomed for the winter fat biking season. The Wildcat Mountain Bike Trail is 20 miles of loop trails in the township of Beaverbrook. A parking area lies 4 miles east of Spooner just off of Highway 70. A combination of single track, old logging trails, and portions of the Beaverbrook ATV trail provide for a wide variety of riding skills and experiences.
• Beaver Brook Wildlife Area: Trails at Beaverbrook have opened for the season. Currently, the West Trail is groomed and tracked.
• Nordic Woods & Totogatic Trails: Both trail systems are still being cleared to begin grooming efforts. County staff will beginning grooming as soon as they're able. Check back for more updates later in the week. The first is the Nordic Woods ski trail, which is on Highway 70 between Spooner and Stone Lake. This trail is approximately 15 kilometers in length with a number of loop trails. The terrain is rolling and winds through hardwood ridges and around numerous lakes. The Totogatic ski trail is located north of Minong on Hwy 53. The trail is approximately 8 kilometers in length with a number of loops.
• Hunt Hill Nature Center: All trails have about six inches of snow on them. Bear Trail, Vole Trail, and Barred Owl Trail have been packed down with snowshoes. Most other trails have not been packed down yet. Snowshoes or cleats and walking sticks are highly recommended to provide traction on icy sections of trails. Snowshoes are available to borrow free of charge while hiking the trails at Hunt Hill. Snowshoes are located on a rack behind the kiosk to the right of the office. A variety of sizes from youth to adult sizes are available. Please return the snowshoes to the back of the kiosk when you are finished. The Discovery Trail (Barred Owl Trail) is a family-friendly trail where you can play a game to try to spot all of the hidden items on the trail. Each month, we have a new theme and hide 10-20 items along the trail. Can you spot them all?
• Trego Nature Trail: Trails are maintained by the National Park Service and open for visitor use during daylight hours. A simple down and back trail along the Namekagon River.
• Dugan Run Horse Trails: The Dugan Run Horse Trails are located 15 miles east of Spooner. The north trail head is located 2 miles north of Highway 70 on Dugan Lake Road. Amenities include parking, bathroom, well, pavilion, fire ring, and grills. The south trailhead is located 2 miles south of Highway 70 on Harmon Lake Road.

Washburn County offers many opportunities for canoeists. The Namekagon River is part of the National Scenic Waterway system managed by the National Parks Service. Washburn County has two primitive canoe routes within the Birchwood canoe unit, six miles north of Birchwood. Both routes are in a primitive area with little to no development and provide a unique opportunity for a quiet, back country experience. The canoe route areas lie within heavily forested, rolling topography with a high density of small glacial lakes. These lakes are land locked deep soft water lakes with steep banks and wooded shores. Bass and Panfish are abundant. This canoe route begins at the Sawmill Lake campground. The portage trail accesses 9 separate lakes, with most portages less than 100 yards. The lakes along this route are relatively deep, with maximum depths of up to 40 feet. Bass and Panfish are abundant, however many of these lakes are prone to winterkill. This canoe route is located 7 miles north of Birchwood. The route begins at Loyhead Lake at the boat landing on the Birchwood Fire Lane.

Washburn County Parks reservations can be made online. You can access the reservation webpage by using the link below.

Washburn County’s Timber Sales program plays a vital role in the sustainable management of our county forests. Explore Washburn County’s abundant recreational opportunities and natural resources through our comprehensive program.

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