Northern Highland-American Legion
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Unique Features
Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest - Winter Recreation Activities
Groomed Cross-Country Ski Trails
All persons age 16 years or older must obtain a Wisconsin State Trail Pass in order to cross-country ski on the groomed trails of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. The trail passes are good for the calendar year and can be used on state trails throughout Wisconsin. Fees are as follows:
Annual Wisconsin State Trail Pass: $20.00
Daily State Trail Pass: $4.00
Trail passes can be purchased at most Department of Natural Resources offices, or by self-registering at the trailheads. Patron License or Senior Recreation card holders can use their license or card as a trail pass.
Please remember that hiking, snowshoeing and pets are not allowed on groomed ski trails.
Groomed Cross-Country Ski Trail Maps
Cross-Country Ski Trail Report
Candlelight Ski
Enchanting wooded trails - great people - warm, cozy fires. Each winter, the NH-AL holds a Candlelight Ski-Hike-Snowshoe Event. Beginning at the Clear Lake Campground contact station area off Woodruff Road, trails are lit by hundreds of candles. There is a 1.5- and a 3-mile loop for skiing and a 1-mile loop for hiking and snowshoeing. Admission is free. Refreshments, such as hot chocolate, apple cider, cookies, marshmallows, hot dogs and water, are served. A grill is provided for those who wish to cook out. The contact station is open and heated, and there are two warming fires: one at the start/finish and one at the halfway point warming hut on the 3-mile loop.
Winter Camping
A loop at the Clear Lake Campground is kept plowed throughout the winter. Campers self-register at the entrance to the campground. Vault toilets and a hand pump for water are available.
Snowshoeing and Skijoring
The forest offers many opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing and skijoring. The parking lots of the Fallison, Star Lake, Lumberjack and North Trout Lake nature trails are kept plowed all winter so that the trails can be used for these activities. In addition, you can park at the Trout Lake Headquarters on County Highway M and walk one mile to Cathedral Point, or park outside one of the closed campgrounds (like Crystal Lake Campground) and snowshoe, hike or skijor on the snow-covered campground roads. (You need a vehicle admission sticker on your car to do this.) Other people simply put on their snowshoes and head off into the woods.
The only places you cannot hike, snowshoe or skijor are the groomed cross-country ski trails (Raven, McNaughton, Madeline and Escanaba). For safety reasons, these activities are not recommended on snowmobile trails.
Snowmobiling
The NH-AL State Forest has nearly 400 miles of marked snowmobile trails that connect with an extensive network of county and local snowmobile club trails. These trails are all maintained and groomed by local snowmobile clubs. For information and maps, visit the following Web sites:
www.ironcountywi.com/winter.htm Exit DNR
www.vilas.org Exit DNR
www.oneidacountywi.com Exit DNR
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