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I have been cross-country skiing in the Midwest for over 30 years, and I have been doing it pretty hardcore for the last five. I am pretty knowledgeable about the cross-country skiing trails in the Midwest and especially Wisconsin. I just came across a new one for me this winter near Cumberland and Rice Lake called the Timberland Hills Ski Trails.

Timberland Hills Ski Trails at the corner of County H and Boyd Lane

An El Niño weather pattern had really delayed the coming of snow to the Midwest and even the reliable Upper Peninsula had gotten off to a slow start. Thanks to a winter snowstorm the night before Christmas, the northwest section of Wisconsin was one of the few places around with snow. I decided to spend my Christmas weekend in Hayward, Wisconsin and ski the Birkie Trail.

Timberland Hills Ski Trails

I stayed the night in Eau Claire, and I checked out the Skinny Ski reports to find that Timberland Hills Ski Trails had snow and they were working to groom them for the holiday weekend. Only trouble was the snow was heavy and wet and caused a lot of downfalls, so it took awhile to get the skiing in shape. I decided to make a stop here and check it out since it was not too far out of the way to Hayward.

Checking out Timberland Hills Ski Trails for the first time

When I stopped by and arrived at the parking lot, there was only a short section groomed. I followed it and inadvertently got off the trail system on to a trail over private property. The groomer came past me on its way back from the lighted trails and asked if I was Bob Skinner. I said that I wasn’t, and he informed me I was off the trail system. The groomed section I was skiing on was done because the groomer cut over to the lighted ski trails. He said the lighted ski trails were tracked and groomed.

The Timberland Hills Ski Trails parking lot for the Lighted Loop

I turned around and went back to my car and drove over to the lighted trails. This is a 2.5 kilometer trail that has two small loops at each end, so you can ski back and forth all day. I did six runs on the lighted trails before heading onward to Hayward. I met some people from Cumberland who informed me how nice the other section of the Timberland Hills Ski Trails were when they were tracked and groomed.

Maddshus skis sticking out at the bottom of the photo at Timberland Hills Ski Trails

I planned to visit on my way home, but I skied the Beaver Brook Ski Trails near Spooner instead. The next weekend I drove up again to northern Wisconsin, but this time used Chetek as my base. I skied three separate times at the Timberland Hills Ski Trails. Twice I did the complete Outer Loop and once I came back and did the lighted trails at night. I am glad I came back so soon as the skiing was spectacular and the conditions were almost perfect.

Timberland Hills Ski Trails taken with a GoPro

What makes the Timberland Hills Ski Trails a ten

I used to run a column for Examiner.com where I rated ski trails out of a 1-10. I would definitely rate the Timberland Hills Ski Trails a ten. The difference between a seven and an eight and a ten is the length of the trails. I can do a two mile loop over and over again, but I prefer to do longer loops from six to ten miles. The Outer Loop at Timberland Ski Trails is 15 kilometers, so it is around nine miles, which is the perfect distance to do once, twice, or three times depending on your fitness level.

Scenery so pretty I needed two photos

The other big qualification for a ten is the quality of the terrain – mainly the size and difficulty level of the hills. The terrain here at the Timberland Hills Ski Trails is pretty sweet. While I did not crash here, I came close a couple of times, and there are some great long downhill straightaways and some great technical hills with turns at the bottom. I did the Outer Loop in both directions and either way you will find some fantastic hills.

One thing I really like about longer trails is solitude. Most other skiers will do the shorter loops, and if they do take the longer loops you will only run into them if you are going the opposite direction or if you pass them or they pass you. The first time I was on the Outer Loop I started with a bus load of local high school skiers. For the first half mile I was mixed in with them, but they turned on a shorter trail, and I think I only saw four or five other skiers along the loop.

A heavy frosting of snow on the trees in the Timberland Hills Ski Trails

I then returned to the Outer Loop on New Year’s Day in the morning, and I was the only skier on the trails that day. I guess people were a little groggy still after the New Year celebration. Later that night I skied the Lighted Loop and when I first got there, there was a family skiing, but they soon left, and I had the trail to myself the rest of the time.

Enjoying the ski trails even after dark thanks to the Timberland Hills Ski Trails Lighted Loop

It was so beautiful skiing through the night under the stars with not a sound except for my skis gliding through the snow, my occasional laborious breath, and my ski poles crunching in the snow to pull myself along. The sky was immaculate and the stars were out in force. I skied eight laps around the course before heading back to Chetek.

I saw some interesting wildlife during my time on the trails. I saw two white-tailed deer on Boyd Lane as I approached the parking lot on New Year’s Day.  I also saw a bald eagle picking at a dead animal along Highway H. Since many rivers remain unfrozen, bald eagles have not migrated to warmer temperatures since they have access to fish. I also saw what I believe to be a river otter on one of the frozen lakes along the Outer Loop.

Great to see a bald eagle anytime, but especially cool in the winter as their white head and tail and black body look really cool in a snowy pine tree

It was great to discover another quality cross-country ski trail system in Wisconsin. It is about a six hour drive from Chicago, so it is feasible to get up here for a long weekend or even a short weekend if one drives up starting Friday night.

Climbing a hill at Timberland Hills Ski Trails

I definitely will return and recommend checking it out if you are in the area. Many people will ski the Birkie Trail in Hayward instead, and for good reason, but definitely do not overlook this wonderful ski trail system.

Check out their website here

Follow them on Facebook here

They have a phone hot line. For ski conditions call 715-822-3727

Timberland Hills Ski Trails rely heavily on donations, so please put in a five or more when you ski or consider a year $30.00 donation.

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The goal of Traveling Ted is to inspire people to outdoor adventure travel and then provide tips on where and how to go. If you liked this post then sign up for the email newsletter. Notifications are sent out once or twice a month with what is new with Traveling Ted’s adventures. There is no spam and email information will not be shared. Other e-follow options include Facebook (click on the like box to the right) or twitter (click on the pretty bird on the rainbow above).