Winter Recreation
Cross Country Skiing, Snow Shoeing & Fat Tire Biking
Come discover a new trail to explore pristine and beautiful Manitowish Waters – your destination for fun in the great outdoors! The Manitowish Waters area offers a wide array of trails to hike, cross-country ski, and snowshoe for all abilities and in all seasons.
WinMan Trail System
Check out WinMan Trails for current trail conditions.
With trails winding through over 1,300-acres, WinMan Trails is a silent sports mecca featuring year-round activities. Trail conditions are regularly updated on Facebook at WinMan Trails. Donations are appreciated and friendly dogs are welcome. WinMan Trails is located at the intersection of County Hwy. W & County Hwy. K – 3 ½ miles from downtown Manitowish Waters.
- Snowshoeing: Over 8 miles of snowshoe trails are offered. Doublewide groomed trails are excellent for groups and side-by-side snowshoeing. Single tracked, backcountry trails are set for a more traditional snowshoe through the woods.
- Cross-Country Skiing:Over 22 kilometers of wonderfully maintained and groomed trails for classic and skate skiing, with varying loop distances.
- Fat Tire Biking: Almost 10 miles of well maintained and groomed trails for winter fat tire biking.
Discovery Center Trails
Visit North Lakeland Discovery Center for current trail conditions.
North Lakeland Discovery Center provides 12 miles of well-marked trails for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The gentle terrain winds through woods, around the lake and bog, and along the Manitowish River. Snowshoe rentals are available at the Discovery Center for a nominal fee. Located 1.2 miles east of Hwy. 51 on County Hwy. W.
MECCA X-Country Ski Club
Current trail condition are listed on MECCA Ski Club.
The MECCA trails have 21 km groomed for skiing for both classical (diagonal stride) & freestyle (skate) skiing. The trails wind through the stately pines, black spruce & tamarack wetlands, and hardwood forest in Mercer. These trails are suitable for beginning through advanced skiers. There are beautiful vistas around the Little Turtle River and Flowage. The trails are on properties owned by the Wisconsin DNR, Iron County Forest, Town of Mercer and private land. There are snowshoe trails that can be accessed from both trailheads. The club maintains a heated chalet and vault toilet at the trailhead at 4686N Fierick Road (take US 51 to Beachway Drive and follow the skier signs). The second trailhead parking lot, which is generally the better starting point in the spring, summer and fall, is on Joe’s Shack Road (take US 51 to FF to Popko Circle East to Joe’s Shack Rd).
MECCA (Mercer Cross Country Association) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are appreciated; labor comes from volunteer members.
North Lakeland Trail
Trail conditions are located on North Lakeland School website.
North Lakeland School Trails offer 10 miles of trails looping through towering evergreens suitable for trail running and cross-country skiing. Trailheads may be accessed from the north side of the North Lakeland School’s football field or from the North Lakeland hut, located 0.5 mile North of Hwy. K on Papoose Lake Road. North Lakeland hut offers water, a restroom, and complimentary cocoa and coffee.
**Saturday & Sunday open skate at the North Lakeland Ice Rink have been cancelled for the remainder of the winter**
Powell Marsh Trails
Powell Marsh Trails offer trail loops of varying lengths from 1.5 miles to 7 miles for hiking, snowshoeing, and ungroomed cross-country skiing. Trails have varied terrain and welcome all ability levels in all seasons. Powell Marsh is home to waterfowl, deer, ruffed grouse, furbearers, raptors, shorebirds, songbirds, and many other types of wildlife. Powell Marsh Trails are located 6.5 miles from Hwy. 51 on Powell Road.
Van Vliet Hemlocks
A Northwoods gem, Van Vliet Hemlocks, has more than 400 acres and 5 miles of marked trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Explore hemlock forests and 1.5 miles of shoreline on Averill and Van Vliet lakes. Walk along undisturbed cedar swamps and undeveloped bog lakes, climb scenic eskers, and take in the richness of the natural world that abounds. Located just 2.2 miles south of County Hwy. P in Presque Isle.