Trail Report 1/14/26 – from Club President Jerry Wakefield
It’s been warm here and we even got some rain in the past couple of days.
Yesterday, I rode all of our main corridors in our northern territory, and to my delight the trails were in really good condition overall. There are some areas that are showing wear, due to traffic and lack of snow. I also groomed this past weekend down south, and have received reports of our southern section of trails being in really good condition also, with some of the same signs of wear in high traffic areas.
With the forecast of some snow and really cold temps, we hope to be able to maintain a fairly good base. A lot of this depends if we get the forecasted snow, since last week we didn’t get any snow, only rain.
With this upcoming weekend being a long holiday weekend, please be aware of the increased number of riders you will be encountering when out riding on any trails. This weekend is also the snowmobile derby weekend, and traffic will be increasing especially the closer you get to Eagle River.
Also, we are staring to hear and see signs of people riding off trail! This must STOP! If you see someone riding off trail, Please Report it! It’s trespassing and illegal!
Finally, our groomers will be out every day this weekend. Please remember to wait for the groomer to stop before you pass it, and also remember a groomer will not pass you even if you’re stopped; you must go around the groomer.
Jerry
Grooming team reports from last night and this morning’s grooming routes all report trails in Good to Very Good conditions.
Minocqua Forest Riders resumed grooming our trails on Saturday 1/10 when temperatures returned to below freezing. Groomers are reporting trails are in very good condition.
The club now plans to resume grooming on Saturday morning instead of Friday. The warm temperatures have remained in the area longer than earlier forecasted. Temperatures below freezing today and throughout the weekend will allow us to resume our grooming without damaging the trail base.
We have just finished clearing and grooming every trail in our system, and most parts of our trail system are in pretty good condition. We are starting to see worn areas (especially corners) near town, and other high traffic areas.
With the rain and warm weather were are having right now we are suspending grooming until Friday 1/9/26. A group of us were out yesterday trimming some areas (see photo), and many of our sleds were starting to overheat. The snow is getting very soft and grooming will most likely make things worse.
There is still logging being done on Trail 5 between Lamer Springs Rd and Muskellunge Rd in the Willow Region. We have also been told logging will begin on Trail 12 just north of our new Trail 12 route in the Willow region. This will affect that Trail all the way north to where Trail 12 gets off the road and back into the woods. Please be careful as logging trucks will be present hauling up to Manhardt Rd.
With snow again in the forecast this weekend, hopefully we will get enough snow to get the trails back into the conditions we have had recently.
Trail Report 1/14/26 – from Club President Jerry Wakefield
It’s been warm here and we even got some rain in the past couple of days.
Yesterday, I rode all of our main corridors in our northern territory, and to my delight the trails were in really good condition overall. There are some areas that are showing wear, due to traffic and lack of snow. I also groomed this past weekend down south, and have received reports of our southern section of trails being in really good condition also, with some of the same signs of wear in high traffic areas.
With the forecast of some snow and really cold temps, we hope to be able to maintain a fairly good base. A lot of this depends if we get the forecasted snow, since last week we didn’t get any snow, only rain.
With this upcoming weekend being a long holiday weekend, please be aware of the increased number of riders you will be encountering when out riding on any trails. This weekend is also the snowmobile derby weekend, and traffic will be increasing especially the closer you get to Eagle River.
Also, we are staring to hear and see signs of people riding off trail! This must STOP! If you see someone riding off trail, Please Report it! It’s trespassing and illegal!
Finally, our groomers will be out every day this weekend. Please remember to wait for the groomer to stop before you pass it, and also remember a groomer will not pass you even if you’re stopped; you must go around the groomer.
Jerry
Grooming team reports from last night and this morning’s grooming routes all report trails in Good to Very Good conditions.
Minocqua Forest Riders resumed grooming our trails on Saturday 1/10 when temperatures returned to below freezing. Groomers are reporting trails are in very good condition.
The club now plans to resume grooming on Saturday morning instead of Friday. The warm temperatures have remained in the area longer than earlier forecasted. Temperatures below freezing today and throughout the weekend will allow us to resume our grooming without damaging the trail base.
We have just finished clearing and grooming every trail in our system, and most parts of our trail system are in pretty good condition. We are starting to see worn areas (especially corners) near town, and other high traffic areas.
With the rain and warm weather were are having right now we are suspending grooming until Friday 1/9/26. A group of us were out yesterday trimming some areas (see photo), and many of our sleds were starting to overheat. The snow is getting very soft and grooming will most likely make things worse.
There is still logging being done on Trail 5 between Lamer Springs Rd and Muskellunge Rd in the Willow Region. We have also been told logging will begin on Trail 12 just north of our new Trail 12 route in the Willow region. This will affect that Trail all the way north to where Trail 12 gets off the road and back into the woods. Please be careful as logging trucks will be present hauling up to Manhardt Rd.
With snow again in the forecast this weekend, hopefully we will get enough snow to get the trails back into the conditions we have had recently.
Other Trail Updates
Groomer Tracker App (download links)
AWSC Membership $18.00 per year July 1 - June 30
You must be an AWSC member AND a member of a club to purchase a discounted trail pass.
Trail pass cost with AWSC & club membership is $10 per sled
Trail pass cost without AWSC & club membership is $30 per sled
1.) Renew your club membership first.
- We send in AWSC membership renewals on the 1st and the 15th of each month.
- After AWSC receives your renewal, it takes ~1-2 days for them to process the paperwork and activate memberships. New members will take ~3 days.
2.) Log onto AWSC.org, to purchase your discounted trail pass (after you receive your AWSC confirmation).
You need your AWSC membership number AND current snowmobile registration.
Your AWSC membership number does not change from year to year and can be found on your Wisconsin Snowmobile News Magazine or you can look it up on the AWSC website: AWSC Member # lookup
- Credit card payments are the quickest method.
- If you pay by check and mail in your form: Be sure your name and address is EXACTLY what the WI DNR has on file, or the form will be returned by AWSC. Both snowmobile club & AWSC memberships must be current.
- AWSC no longer mails the yellow AWSC membership cards
- Trail passes cannot be picked up in person
- You can legally ride with your trail pass receipt
- US Mail delivery can take up to 21 days
- Call the AWSC office within 30 days of order date if your trail pass has not arrived by mail
- No refunds
The age of your snowmobile matters:
If your snowmobile is 35 years old or Older, a trail pass is NOT REQUIRED
AWSC NOTICE REGARDING TRAIL PASSES / View Notice
"AWSC discontinues Group Accidental Death & Dismemberment Policy" click here to learn more