HAYWARD, WISCONSIN

Snow cloaks Hayward, Wisconsin, where the Northwoods region entices Nordic skiers. Enjoy 200km of expertly groomed trails and the world-famous 50km American Birkebeiner crosscountry ski race.

The legendary Birkie, the largest cross-country ski race in North America, draws over 10,000 XC skiers each winter, who race from the American Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable to the spectacular finish on snow-covered Main Street in Hayward.

The area boasts a vibrant Nordic ski culture and offers numerous other great trail networks along with more intimate experiences on narrow, classic-only trails as well.

Illuminated trails offer excellent night skiing, and warming shelters are common on the trail systems, including eight warming huts on the world-class American Birkebeiner ski trail alone.

For an added winter bonus, 70 miles of Hayward’s singletrack trails are groomed for fat biking adventures.

You’ll find plenty of lodging options in Hayward, along with dining, eateries, boutiques, shopping, events and attractions, along with great local ski shops at the ready with sales and service.

Other winter activities include ice fishing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. During the summer, cycling features 125+ miles of mountain-bike singletrack, 200 miles of mapped gravel biking routes, and incredible road biking.

Fishing and recreational boating are also quite popular with hundreds of lakes dotting the area’s landscape. Other attractions include Hayward’s Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, the world’s largest mounted musky at the Moccasin Bar, along with wineries, museums and a petting zoo.

While spring, summer and fall are all beautiful, winters in the Hayward area are absolutely magical. -JA