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Namakagon Cluster
The Namakagon Cluster includes a diverse assortment
of trails, from easy gravel roads to very challenging, hilly singletrack trails in
the Rock Lake area, but the majority of the riding is moderately difficult. The trails
traverse areas of second growth hardwood forest, stands of old growth pine, and young
aspen. The trails are primarily hard packed, but there are areas in which the surface is
very sandy. Most sections of this cluster are generally ridable quite early in the season.
The Namakagon Cluster consists of four principal
trails with numerous opportunities to combine trails, take shorter rides within the larger
trails, or separate side trips. Namakagon Trail = 11 miles, Rock Lake Trail - 9.9 miles,
Glacier Trail - 8.8 miles, and Patsy Lake Trail - 12.5 miles or 8.6 miles starting at the
intersection of FR 203 and FR 203B. All of the trails can be interconnected to add
considerable mileage. The Rock Lake Trail primarily follows the Rock Lake 16K Ski Trail.
It is undulating glacial terrain at its best. This trail is moderate to difficult, with
very little flat riding and many short, steep climbs and descents. The area which this
trail traverses is unsurpassed in tranquility, scenic beauty, and athletic challenge. It
is a section of the north woods not to be missed.
Glacier Trail 8.8 miles
Begin at the
Rock Lake Trail Head. You may
encounter hikers on this trail. Be courteous, yield the right of way, and announce your
presence so as to not alarm hikers. This is a moderately difficult trail with several good
climbs and one very challenging climb in the later part of the trail. Ride east and south
from the parking lot on the Rock Lake Ski Trail which is a
rolling single track with occasional
steeper hills. Bear right (southwest) at the intersection with the 2 Km ski trail at 0.6
mile. Ride for 0.2 mile and continue straight on the grass woods road where the
ski trail forks to the left [N7].
Continue on the leaf and grass covered single track for another 0.3 mile until you
reach a gate. Go around the gate and turn left (east) on to a dirt double track. In 0.2
mile turn right (south) onto the ski trail. Ride for 0.6 miles to the
intersection with the Rock Lake Loop
of the ski trail. Make a very hard left (east) [N8] onto a single track. In 0.6
miles turn right off the old road onto a technical single track and ride 0.15 miles to FR
207 [N1O]. Continue across FR 207 (south) onto the single track [N1O] and
ride 0.3 miles to the intersection with the Rock Lake Trail [N11]. Continue
straight (south) 0.4 miles to the intersection with a
double track [NI2]. Bear left
(southeast) in 0.3 mile there is a very pretty bog area on the right. Continue
through similar open young growth pine and aspen for 0.9 mile to the
intersection with a grass single
track which is the Patsy Lake Trail [N13]. Continue northeast on the
double track 0.1 mile to an intersection with a grass single track [N22]. Turn left
(north) on this two-way trail and ride 1.3 miles north to the intersection with Snowmobile
Trail 8 [N3]. Turn left (northwest) onto the Snowmobile Trail, which is well
defined and climbs gradually for another 0.8 mile. Shortly after the trail begins a slight
descent turn left (west) at [N4] on to a narrow single track. The trail traverses a
ridge overlooking a very steep, deep wooded bowl. The trail rejoins the snowmobile trail
in about 0.4 mile. Turn left (southwest) and continue 0.5 mile to the junction with FR 207
[N5] Turn left (south) on FR 207 and ride 0.2 miles to the Rock Lake Ski Trail
Rock Lake Trail Head
From Cable drive east 7 miles on Highway M. Turn
right (south) at the Rock Lake
Trail sign and park in the parking lot. The trail head has parking and a vault toilet.
The Forest Service charges for parking at the trail head, (~$3). The parking fees are used
to improve the trail system.
Rock Lake Trail 9.9 miles
The Rock Lake Trail follows the 16 Km loop of the
ski trail system. Ride the ski trail
avoiding the cutoff at [N7]
and continue straight (south) at the Glacier Trail and Rock Lake ski
trail intersection [N8]. Just past this is a road out to FR 207. Turn right
(south) past a small clearing to continue on the single track. In 0.5 miles the Rock Lake
ski trail loop forks off to the right. A possible side trip at this point is to ride the
narrow, roller coaster-single track around
Rock Lake. This trail can be wet
in a couple of places. To continue the bike route bear left (south) at the Rock Lake ski
trail loop intersection and continue south past the 11.5 Km ski trail loop which bears to
the left. The ski trail which you are following crosses several woods roads. You pass
Frels Lake on the left and
shortly thereafter Hildebrandt
Lake on the right. Bear left off of the double track along
Hildebrandt Lake onto single track.
Follow the ski trail to FR 207 [N291. Cross the road and continue on the single
track. In 0.3 miles you reach a wooded
double track which brings you to Spring Lake. (It is a dead end trail and makes a nice
side trip). Shortly past Spring Lake you intersect a short connector trail to the
Glacier Trail [N30]. Continue
on the ski trail to the intersection with the 11.5 Km ski trail. Turn right (east) and
continue on the single track. The ski trail signs at intersections from here direct you
back to the trail head.
To learn more about the area
please contact:
Cable Area Chamber of Commerce
1-800-533-7454
Hayward Lakes Resort Association
1-800-724-2992
On-line, contact:
gocable@win.bright.net
http://www.cable4fun.com/camba
* We at Trailmonkey applaud the
incredible efforts of organizations like CAMBA (Chequamegon Area Mountain
Bike Association), who: do solid trail work, organize a cool Fat Tire Fest/Races, and sell
in-depth trailmaps in complete sets, (ALL area trails) for only $5 everywhere in the
Chequamegon area. And if you only ride one trail/cluster, or just show up trailside, they
usually provide free maps at each cluster trailhead/tail. The trails are very well
maintained, and quite ingeniously thought out. We had a great time riding quite a few of
the cluster trails, and met some cool CAMBRA members to boot! Although each cluster is
different, and fun to ride,
we at Trailmonkey, (and some of the CAMBRA lads too),
found the Namakagon Cluster to be the most challenging physically and technically.

Namakagon Trail
- 11 miles
- 60% single track, 40% two track
- Intermediate degree of difficulty
Trails beginning at Rock Lake Trail
Head, Rock Lake Trail
- 9.9 miles
- Single track
- Intermediate - Difficult
GlacierTrail
- 8.8 miles
- 62% single track 35% two track, 3% gravel road
- Intermediate degree of difficulty
Patsy Lake Trail
- 12.5 mfles - 8.6 miles from alternate start
- 28% single track, 68% two track, 4% gravel road
- Good choice when wet
- Intermediate degree of difficulty
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