In recent years, Minocqua Winter Park has expanded and evolved to offer 4-season recreation opportunities. The addition of bike specific trails in 2021 was where that expansion all began! Today, there are a variety of ways to find that childhood joy and explore the park on wheels. So, hop on your bike of choice, and pedal through the park with us as we explore all the bike opportunities!
Family Friendly Fun
There’s no better way to relive the childhood magic of bike riding than by bringing the whole family along on your trip. Minocqua Winter Park has some fantastic easy (green-labeled) routes on our maintained ski trails that are perfect for the whole family. There’s plenty of room to bike side-by-side for a more social and casual experience.
As we say to all our beginner skiers, the best loops to start with are the Cookie Loop or the Bunny Loop. From the outer parking lot, pedal down to the Chalet and main lot. Find the trailhead with the red gate that marks the start of Silver Strider trail and simply follow the bunny and cookie signs at each intersection for easy navigation. Thanks to a wonderful partnership with the Minocqua Public Library, you can also check out our summer storybook trail on the Bunny Trail! Perfect for kids who need some motivation and pit stops.
Another easy route can be found using XC Express which offers some of the best vistas in the park. Traveling out and back on this wide trail gives riders the opportunity to see waterfowl, turtles, and chattering kingfishers on the Yukon Creek. Pause for a moment at the sheltered bench and take in the expansive view of the Yukon Bog before heading back the way you came.
Kicking It Up A Notch
Bikers can level up their adventure by adding some of the hills and distance provided by the intermediate (blue-labeled) and most difficult (black-labeled) level ski trails. The trail with the most reward for your effort is aptly called Fire Tower. Get your bike in granny gear and head up the paved road from the parking lot to experience the breathtaking views at the Squirrel Hill Overlook right at the base of the historic fire lookout tower. What goes up must come down, so be prepared for a steep descent!
Explore the outer loops of the summer maintained trails by taking either Nose Dive Alley, Tornado Alley, or Survivor out to XC Express. These quiet trails feature rolling hills sure to keep your gear shifter busy! Add the short but exciting Steeplechase trail to your loop to up the ante even more.
Single Track Trails
In 2021, we worked with local trail builders and IMBA to develop a short single-track mountain biking trail system which brings bikers to the top of Squirrel Hill and underneath the shadow of the fire tower. Climb up from the parking lot on the Smoke Chaser uphill trail and choose your own adventure on the two downhill routes: Bucket Drop (intermediate) Smoke Chaser (more difficult). These routes feature bermed switchbacks and optional lines for jumps. Perfect for both adrenaline junkies or those who just love the challenge of downhill riding.
But Wait, There’s More!
But the fun doesn’t stop there! The sport of biking itself has evolved over time to include e-bikes and even one wheels. Minocqua Winter Park is proud to welcome both of these activities on our trails.
Did you know that the park is also located right in the middle of some great gravel routes? Utilize our parking lot to start your adventure, or you can even cut through the park on the grassy/dirt ski trails to mix and match your surface types.
The bike routes at Minocqua Winter Park offer so many ways to create your own unique adventure. Mix and match single track, ski trail, and gravel roads to your heart’s desire!
There’s a reason why learning to ride a bike is such a big milestone in a person’s life. It provides new avenues of exploration and adventure. And whether you crave adrenaline on the single track bike trails or simply enjoy a casual tour on the flats, you should never forget that childlike joy.
Click here to visit our bike page for maps and more!
