Eastern WI Trails worth while?

[THKSNOW]

We are headed to the western U.P. the first week of Feb. to ride from motel to motel for 4 days. My son has this idea about traveling over the border into Wisconsin and riding. We would be coming from Gogebic riding 150-200 miles, stay the night and ride back. Can someone answer the following:

How does the eastern part of WI compare to the western U.P. as far as trails, senery, hills, etc?

What's a trail permit going to cost us?

Is it worth the ride over and if so which part is the best? (I know... the part with snow). What direction should we go?

Any maps of the recommended area available?

Thanks for any help!

 

[whitedust1]

Don't think I would ride in that direction senseless to drive into big snowcountry then ride southeast out of it. MI Trail 2 E can be darn scabby after Iron River MI. Laona, Wabeno, Townsend all typical northern WI Twistys. Indian Springs nice place to stay in Wabeno. Are you bored with WUPMI trails much deeper snow there & wider trails?

 

[dylanjen9]

Trail pemit is $25 or $30. The trails can be really good if there is good snow. Mix of winding trails and wide open old railroad grade. Always plenty of places to stop along trail too.

 

[sheetwright]

Unless you are talking somewhere east like crivitz if they have snow? Lots of twists and turns. Stay at pops resort

 

[snoway]

We ride north to the UP out of the Laona/Wabeno area in Forest co. WI. I would recommend getting a Forest and Florence Co. map. The NST or Nicolet State Trail is a RR grade that makes for a quick shot north or south through the area with plenty of places to loop off to the east or west depending on how far you want to go and stay or loop back to the UP in the same day. Once off the NST the trails are mostly wooded sweeping and tight twisties combined. There is a casino/hotel in Carter which is right on the NST as well as other smaller places to stay in Laona, Wabeno, Crandon etc.
These are less traveled trails as far as WI riding goes ,If you want more popular destinations, Eagle River , Minoqua, Boulder Jct etc are more north central WI trails and trail maps from Vilas and Oneida Co. would be good to have.
Heading north from here we have riden as far out as Copper Harbor spent the night and back the next day for aprox 500 mles of great riding.

 

[THKSNOW]

Thanks for the replies-- It gives us more to think about. Merry Christmas.

 

[OVR4D]

Something else to think about ... JohnDee.com shows the season outlook as being better for the eastern half of the UP (and possibly NE WI) this season. Weather forecasting being what it is, you gotta take the info with a grain of salt. But if the predictions are even close to accurate, this might be the rare time when conditions in the in the eastern regions will be better than elsewhere.

My advice is call ahead before you go and check the 2-3 day forecast to get an idea of sort of conditions to expect.

 

[snoway]

Forest Co. WI trails open 12/26.

 

[FJR1300]

Eau Claire county, Clark County open 12/22/2012
Go to Wisconsin Tourism and click on Snow Report and you can get details for all counties.