Hayward, WI

[aarond]

I just read a brief mention in another thread of a nifty single track trail by the casino in Hayward, WI. I am in Hayward about every third weekend, and I am always in search of new trails there. My wife's parents live very close to the Lac Courte Oreilles casino, and that is where I stay up there.

Does anyone out there know any more about this?

[The Bull]

In 2000/2001 the guys from Riverbrook Bike developed a trail on private land and held a race there called the High Roller. I do not believe there is a race there anymore. I know the course was not open to the public. I also believe Riverbrook used to hold group rides there.

There is a golf course that is being built near it (the development is currently under bankruptcy and in receivership as I understand it) that may or may not be on some of the land. I would call Riverbrook Bike in Spooner of Seeley for questions.

[noise_is_life]

I'm sure I'm stating the obvious, but according to my handy CAMBA map, there is a trailhead to the Seeley Cluster of CAMBA just north of Hayward. According to the description, the Seeley cluster is short on single track, but from there you can get to the Cable Cluster which isn't.

[martini]

If you want good single track up in that area, the BEST that there is, is the North Country Trail. Beautiful 8" undulating, twisting, fast single track that is rarely used by anyone, biker or hiker or horse. I've ridden it every year since I've found it and it only gets better each time. I can give you directions from a map I have at home. Not many know about it, and this is a good thing.

[aarond]

I am always eager to try new trails. I would like to get directions from you to the North Country trail you mentioned, if possible.

Can you e-mail them to me, or post them?

I spent every third weekend in Hayward for the last 7 years. I have ridden most trails up there, including just about everything at the Seeley cluster, the Cable cluster, the Delta cluster, and many parts of the Birkie. I have raced in the Seeley pre-fat for the last couple years, but I never ran in the Hayward high-roller. Now it is no more.

[martini]

I'll post them later. I've got all my maps as stuff at home, and alas, I am at work now....

[funky-funky-chicken]

I too have ridden the North Country Trail. However, it was before I knew any better but I think that I ignored the information that said bicycles are prohibited. Here is a wealth of information and maps about the North Country Trail:

http://www.northcountrytrail.org/explore/guide/c2.htm

The official rule for the National Forest pertaining to bikes is as follows.

Wilderness Regulations

The possession or use of motorized or mechanized equipment is prohibited. This includes all motor vehicles, bicycles, outboard and electrical motors, and any wheeled devise for transporting canoes, boats, or equipment.

[martini]

Ken, you're right to a degree. Bikes aren't permitted in the wilderness portions of this trail. Of which there are two, the Porcupine Lake Wilderness off of Hwy D and the Rainbow Lake Wilderness near Drummond. All other sections of the trail are open to bikes. I've got the trail mapped out in my DeLorme Atlasfrom just south of Iron Mountain to Mellen. The portion I've ridden most is from Hwy D east to Beaver Lake. Like I've said, absolutely wonderful trail. The kind a single track addict dreams about.

Directions to the Hwy D trail head:

Go to Cable and hook a right onto 'M'. Take that past the Rock Lake trail and Namekagon Near the trail head for the Namekagon Cluster, 'D' starts. Take a left onto it and follow it all the way up past Lake Namekagon. About 2 miles past the junction with Triangle Road(FR660) there is a small parking lot on your left. This is the official entrance to the Wilderness that will be on your left as you face north. The OPEN part of the trail starts on the opposite side of the road. There's a small brown sign that alerts you to its precence, but that's it. It's very low key(deliberatly, I presume).

Be prepared for roller coaster fun. I absolutely garuntee you will come back from this ride with a HUGE smile on your face. It's just that much fun. There's nothing overly technical about this trail, other than the fact that it's not much more than 8" wide. Narrower in spots too. You'll be hard pressed to see another person on this trail as well. It's pretty isolated. I'd post pictures, but I lost them :( .

Maybe after Chequmegon I can get up there to ride it. I'd be delighted to 'guide' a trip up there if anyone is interested. Camping out, riding, drinking beer, and more riding. Can't get much better than that, eh?

[GearDaddy]

Yes martini, you are absolutely right. Only "Wilderness" areas are designated as foot traffic only. I've seen the NCTA website too, and they clearly have a charter to make the NCT a hiking-only trail. Fortunately, other trail users have clued into their deviously selfish plan and are pushing back. The Michigan chapter (MMBA) has been especially involved in putting in a good name for mountain bikers and keeping the NCT as a multi-use trail.

I just rode on the NCT from County D to other side of the Marengo river valley last weekend. I'll note that this section of trail is actually documented in Cindy Storm/Cindy Bijold's book "Mountain Biking in Minnesota and Wisconsin". As usual I saw noone except at the first overlook of the Marengo River valley.

Except for the 1 1/2 mile section from the fire road to the Marengo overlook, which is worn in and wider than I've ever seen it, the trail was the most overgrown that I've ever seen it. It's a bit ironic when you look at all the trash talking about mountain bikers on the NCT at the NCTA website, because the section of trail leading to the Marengo overlook is clearly the most eroded portion of trail and is almost exclusively due to foot traffic.

Also as usual, I ended up clearing away some brush and fallen trees along the way. I also saw much evidence of bears, i.e. tracks and scat.

This trail is a gem, and is especially great to ride in the fall. It's also a very strenuous trail, as you can't believe how much time is spent in the granny gear. If you're going to ride this trail, give extra time because you're only going to average 6 or 7 MPH. I actually took some pictures too, which I'll try to post. And yes, I did have a huge smile on my face after riding. :)