Parks, Recreation, and Forestry
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Topic:  Trails In County Forests and Parks

Subject:  Nine Mile Forest and Other Outlying Cross Country Ski Trails

                           Nine Mile Cross Country Ski Trails, 8704 Red Bud Rd, Wausau, WI 54401

The Nine Mile Trail System is located in Central Wisconsin just minutes from Wausau.  The 18.3 mile (29.6km) trail system is double tracked with an 8' wide skating lane; Trails are generally one-way.  The ski chalet offers a changing area, ski and snowshoe equipment rentals, daily and annual trail passes, restrooms, and a spacious warming area with a wood stove.  There are 3.9 miles (6.3km) of ski trails lighted and programed to go on at dusk until 9 pm daily during the ski season.  Trail difficulty ranges from beginner to difficult making this trail system attractive to all skiing abilities.  There are also 4.1 miles (7.5km) of groomed snowshoe trails throughout the forest.

                             
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Trail Condition Report as of Friday, February 5, 2010:

All Nine Mile cross country ski trails will be CLOSED to the public from 8 a.m., Friday, February 5 until noon on Sunday, February 7, 2010 due to the Badger State Games competition.

At noon Sunday, February 7, the entire 30k of cross-country ski trails at Nine Mile Recreational Area will open back up to the public.  Trails have been in GOOD to VERY GOOD condition with a 4 inch hard-packed base. There is 5 to 7 inches of snow in the woods. Marathon County received .5 inches of new snowfall in the last 24 hours.

For an up to date report on ski conditions call the Nine Mile Chalet at 715.693.3001.

The lights are set to go on the lighted loop at dark throughout the season.

If you have any questions, please contact the Park Office at 715-261-1550. 

Almost four miles (6.3 km) of trails are lighted until 9 p.m. The chalet is open until 7 p.m. on Mondays, and until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights. A new 7.5k snowshoe trail is available to the public.

The ski chalet is open for ski rentals, daily and season ski passes and a warming area. There is not a food service concession at the Chalet, only a few vending machines.

For continued updates and trail conditions, please monitor the 24-hour ski hotline and visitor information at 1-888-948-4748, or locally at 355-8788.

General Information:

The trails are groomed several times a week throughout the season and after each snow event.

Almost four miles (6.3 km) of trails are lighted until 9 p.m. and the Chalet is open until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights.  4.7 miles (7.5km) of snowshoe trail is available to the public.

The ski chalet is open for ski rentals, daily and season ski passes and a warming area. There is not a food service concession at the Chalet, only a few vending machines.

For continued updates and trail conditions, please monitor the 24-hour ski hotline and visitor information at 1-888-948-4748, or locally at 355-8788. Or you can check on our Web site at www.co.marathon.wi.us under the Park Department information site. 
  

The lights on the lighted ski trails are programmed to go on at dusk until 9 p.m., daily during the ski season.

A daily or annual trail pass is required at this trail system.

Big Eau Pleine Park trails: This trail system is open.  There are 15k of trails at the Big Eau Pleine which the public is welcome to ski on.  These trails are no longer groomed.  No trail pass is required.

Sylvan Hill/American Legion trails: This trail system is open for the season.  During the season, this 5.66k trail system is groomed 1 to 2 times per week with double tracks and a center skating lane set.  No trail pass is required.  A minimum $3 adult/$1.50 child donation encouraged at the trailhead.

Ringle trails: This trail system is open.  The public is welcome to ski on the trails.  These trails are not groomed.  No trail pass is required. 

Check back at this website for ongoing trail condition updates throughout the 2009-2010 season. Also, for a 24-Hour Ski Condition Report and visitor information call 355-8788 or 1-888-WI-VISIT. The ski condition report is updated frequently as weather conditions change. Enjoy the trails!

Map of the Cross Country Ski Trails at Nine Mile County Forest Recreation Area (124kb PDF)

Visit your local cross country ski club website at Wausau Nordic Ski Club and find out how to join this active volunteer based organization today!

2009-2010 SNOWSHOE TRAIL GENERAL INFORMATION

A 4.7 mile (7.5km) groomed showshoe trail is available to the public with the purchase of a daily or annual snowshoe trail pass, or annual cross country ski pass if you are also a skier. Showshoeing is also allowed throughout the woods, off the marked snowshoe route.  Snowshoe trails Map (124kb PDF)

OUTLYING CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAIL GENERAL INFORMATION

There are three outlying Cross Country Ski Trails that range in course difficulty from Beginner to Expert:

• American Legion/Sylvan Hill

  Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate

  The trails throughout the golf course have 2 sets of double tracks and an 8-foot wide skating lane.

  The trails throughout Sylvan Hill have 2 sets of double tracks only.

   

• Big Eau Pleine Park: (Trails are no longer groomed)

Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate

 

• Ringle: (Trail system no longer groomed; public can ski on the trails)

  Difficulty: Beginner

   

The ski trails never close because of cold weather. Nine Mile County Forest Recreation Area trails are open even if the chalet is closed.

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DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO SKI TRAILS:

American Legion/Sylvan Hill:
In Wausau take I-39/US 51 north to Bridge Street, right on Bridge Street to 6th Street (not 6th Avenue), north on 6th Street to Horseshoe Spring Rd, right on Horseshoe Spring Rd to golf course

Big Eau Pleine Park:
From Wausau take I-39/US 51 south 12 miles to STH 153, west on STH 153 8 miles to Eau Pleine Park Road, south on Eau Pleine Park Road 3 ½ miles to park entrance

Nine Mile County Forest Recreation Area:
From Wausau take I-39/US 51 south to CTH N, west on CTH N 3 ½ miles to Red Bud Road, south on Red Bud Road 1 ½ miles to the chalet parking lot.

Ringle:
From Wausau take STH 29 east to CTH Q, CTH Q north 1 ½ miles to Poplar Ln, Poplar Ln east 1 mile to parking lot on south side of road

Annually, during the Badger State Winter Games the cross country ski trails at Nine Mile are not open to the public.

*Holiday Season: December 21 - January 1
December 24 Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 25 Closed
December 31 Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
January 1 Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All other days in Holiday Season open per regular posted chalet hours above

*Holiday Season: December 21 - January 1

December 24 Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 25 Closed
December 31 Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
January 1 Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All other days in Holiday Season open per regular posted chalet hours above 

The maintenance and operation of the Cross Country Ski Trails is not supported by tax dollars. Funding is provided by donations and trail fees.

All the trails are groomed by the Wausau and Marathon County Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department.

Season passes are good on all trails. A Daily Trail Fee is required only at Nine Mile County Forest Recreation Area trails; the other trails are voluntary donation only.

The 2009-2010 Season Passes are available at the Park Office, 212 River Drive, Suite #2, Wausau.  Season passes will also be sold at the Nordic Ski Club, Ski Swap, East Gate Hall, Marathon Park, November 7, 2009; Drop off 8 am - Noon; Swap 1-4 pm.  Pickup 5-6 pm.  During the regular season passes are available for purchase at the Nine Mile Ski Chalet - Rib Mountain.

Let It Snow! (103 kb pdf)

To order by U.S. Mail, print the Order Form (PDF 18KB) and send in with your payment.  Upon receipt, seasonal passes will be mailed to you. 

*Holiday Season: December 21 - January 1
December 24 Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 25 Closed
December 31 Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
January 1 Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All other Holiday Season days open per regular posted chalet hours above

**Must have college I.D. card to be eligible for college student rate.
--Children 11 years of age and younger ski free everyday!
--Seniors (60+) ski for only $7 on Wednesdays.

Group Discounts: Groups of 10 or more adults will receive $1.00 off each paid full day admission. School Groups admission for a pass only is $2.00 per student.  School groups admission for a pass and equipment rental is $7.00 per student.

There are almost 4 miles (6.3km) of LIGHTED SKI TRAILS at Nine Mile. The lights are located along trail segments B, E, M, N, O, R, X and E.

For more information on cross country skiing contact the Wausau and Marathon County Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department at 212 River Drive, Suite 2 Wausau, WI. 54403-5476; Ph:715/261-1550