Your Virtual Guide to Adventure Outdoors!
Virtual Chequamegon National Forest
Just click the camera
and we'll take you
there!
Your Virtual Guide to Adventure Outdoors!
Virtual Chequamegon
National Forest
Just click the
camera and we'll take you
there!
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:
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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