Please see above for directions.

With the exception of a shared use agreement on Excelsior Road, the entire trail system is non-motorized and intended for silent sports activities. Please report violators to the Rusk County Sheriff's office at 715-532-2200.

Beginning the winter of 2019-20, we have permission to groom and ski the entire length of Excelsior Road (refer to the West Side map).

• Grooming for skiing begins some time around the middle of December.
• During the winter ski season, once grooming begins, cars and trucks are not allowed on Excelsior Road.
• The middle of the road is groomed for skate skiers; classic track is set on the north side of the road.
• The south side of the road is for ATVs, snowmobiles, snowshoers, and hikers.
• Limited parking is available at the junction of Excelsior Road with the Fire Lane Road. More parking is available nearby at the warming house.
• Be aware of logging traffic on Fire Lane Road.

At minimum, we request a $5 per person, per day donation at the trailhead. Please contribute $10 or more. At the donation pole near the warming house, you can pay with cash, check, or using the VENMO App on your phone. The Blue Hills Trail Association, Inc. is a non-profit corporation with an annual budget of $20,000+. Please support us either through daily donations, memberships, or separate donations. We are run entirely by volunteers so all your monies go toward maintaining and improving the Blue Hills Trail.

Please click here to take out a membership. Thank you - your support helps us remain financially stable.

Please click here to donate. Thank you - your support helps us keep these trails available to all. Click here for a list of donors for our current fiscal year. Please consider leaving your legacy of support by including the Blue Hills Trail Association, Inc in your will.

Please see the Maps section above for trail maps.

You are welcome to stride (classic ski) on any of the trails. Groomers place classic track on most of the trail sections, often totaling 25 km. We do not place track on steeper downhills, some downhill curves, narrow/rough sections, or technically challenging trails. After some heavier snowfalls it may take a couple grooming sessions before the snow is ready for fresh classic track. Setting track often requires a magical combination of adequate fresh snow, the right humidity, and cooperative temperatures.

Snowshoers are welcome. Dedicated snowshoe trails start behind the warming house. Please see the Maps section above to view our snowshoe trails: Nordic Pines Trail, Rolling Oaks Trail, and Ridges Trail. If snowshoeing on the ski trail, please stay toward the side of the groomed surface to lessen your impact on the skating lane - and it goes without saying that you should avoid the classic track.

We don't offer rentals - visit the Shops & Lodging section above for suggestions of ski shops that may offer rentals. Snowshoes may be available for loaner use at the Visitor's Center in Ladysmith.

No!!! Walking on any portion of the groomed ski trail ruins the grooming. Similar to the surface of an ice skating rink, we try to maintain a smooth surface for skate skiers, and of course the classic tracks need to be crisp and clean.

Winter ski season:

-Dogs are not allowed on the ski trails on the East Side of the trail system.

-Dogs are welcome on the dedicated snowshoe trails (East Side).

-Dogs are welcome on the West Side of the trail system.

Non-winter:

-Dogs are welcome throughout the trail system.

Please be responsible, clean up after your dog and remove other droppings as well.

Horses are not allowed on the East Side of the trail system. During dry conditions in summer and fall, horses are allowed on the West Side - the best access is at Letter A.

No.

We maintain separate pit toilets for men and women. Find them north of the warming house at the East Side trail head.

No running water is available. Please supply your own hydration.

No.

Yes. During the ski season, the warming house is heated to 62 degrees F during the daylight hours and 45 degrees F overnight.

As of December 2010, many of those comments will be posted on our blog. Click here for archived comments from the warming house logbook.

No. But you may be able to receive cell phone service about 3 miles south of the warming house on County Highway O.

Please visit the Shops & Lodging section above. More lodging is available at Christie Mountain, Bruce, Weyerhaeuser, Ladysmith, & Rice Lake. Lodging information is also available at these websites: Rice Lake Tourism and Rusk County Tourism.

Yes! To receive grooming updates, special events, news, announcements, volunteer days, and more, please sign up for our email newsletter in the subscribe section below. Your privacy is important to us, and your information is never shared.

Please visit the contact page to reach us.