Crested Butte Nordic operations manager Kevin Krill touts the apps adaptability. Executing the Phase II master plan are three highly skilled, full-time staff members including Isaac Cowart, Brad Kusz and Joel Kleimola, who work every day to make WinMan better. There's also a trailhead and parking lot on Papoose Lake Road that offers access to backcountry (ungroomed) ski and snowshoe trails, and groomed ski trails. This nordic ski only trail can be used one direction and has a easy overall physical rating. He finds Nordic Pulse useful for skiers and groomers alike. The Manitowish Waters Bike Trail starts at the Community Center at Hwy 51 and Airport Road. WinMan Trails is a 1300 acre, year-round silent sport destination. 2023 Mercer Chamber of Commerce. Its something for the community, he added. It's three distinct trail systems that are all at a really high quality, Cowart said. Last Saturday, I took my 3-, 6- and 9-year-old sons all snowshoeing together, and my 3-year-old could walk with us, and we did that after we were on the sledding hill for an hour. If youd like to share your own story of how WinMan has impacted your life, email your stories and photos to WinManTrails@gmail.com. WinMan Trail Foundation Clubs/Organizations/Non-Profits Attractions/Things to Do 6870 Cty Hwy W, Winchester Wi 54557 646-543-8784 646-543-8784 winmantrails@gmail.com http://www.winmantrails.com WinMan Trails is a 1300 acre, year-round silent sport destination. WinMan Trails is located at the intersection of County Hwy. Nearby Recently Sold Homes. Andy suggested Travis Bellman, who was building mountain bike trails by hand at the Raven Trails in Minocqua. Now, mixed groups can park at WinMan, and some can head off-road while others ride the paved trails towards one of the nearby towns. 2023 Copyright Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Stay up to date on the latest Boulder Junction news and events. In fact, in 2019 a donor helped pave the way literally in connecting WinMan to the 52-mile Heart of Vilas bike path. Still a ton of fun to be had but conditions will be slow and a little more difficult than you are used to skiing at WinMan. The trail has a drop with three different heights and some tight berms. All Rights Reserved. Its also worth noting that WinMan didnt develop in a vacuum. Winter Cabin, Resort, and Vacation Home Availability. There's a heated shelter, a good-sized parking lot, and vault . The Story of WinMan begins with a common dream of many Wisconsin families:Purchase some land for the family to enjoy together in the Northwoods. Boulder Junction in Vilas County is a northern Wisconsin vacation spot with biking and hiking trails, fishing lakes, snowmobile trails and more. That was 2011. The trail is groomed in the winter for fat-biking. 2,170 Sq. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Without any recent snowfall, the well-trafficked trail almost looked groomed, though, so we stuck toour loop. Contact Chelsey Lewis atclewis@journalsentinel.com. As the app had indicated, green means go. There is ample parking to leave your vehicle as you begin an enjoyable ride on our scenic trail. Your membership helps sustain WinMans top-notch trails and facilities. He said they were some of the first to use machine excavators to build the trails, vs. just building them by hand, allowing them to create smoother, wider trails with features like berms and rollers that mountain bikers like. WinMan Trails is a non-profit trail system spanning 1,300 acres of private and public land. Experience this 1.9-mile loop trail near Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. Snowshoeing: Over 8 miles of snowshoe trails are offered. The WinMan Trails Foundation is solely responsible for trail development and maintenance, but Gering said the DNR has helped with closing off some of the logging roads that enter the property. Donate via Mail Checks should be made payable to WinMan Trails Foundation and can be sent to: WinMan Trails PO Box 184 Manitowish Waters, WI 54545 Donate Online Quickly and easily donate now Donate via Stock Transfer or via a Donor Advised Fund Proceeds from both the bar and the store go to the trails, which are 100% funded by those sales and donations. Scotts assessment not only validated the teams optimism for the potential of WinMan, but suggested ideas and improvements that laid the groundwork for the Phase II Master Plan. More: Candlelight hike, ski and snowshoe events around Wisconsin in 2022, More: 8 of Wisconsin's best state parks to visit in winter, The trailsstarted as a personal labor of love by the family of Rick Gering, who is now the president of the board for the WinMan Trails Foundation, the nonprofit that runs the trails. View more recently sold homes. You wax your skis and arrive early at your favorite trail, only to learn the grooming report you checked before you left home was decidedly out of date. more, Candlelight hike, ski and snowshoe events around Wisconsin in 2022, 8 of Wisconsin's best state parks to visit in winter, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. This scenario could be a thing of the past thanks to Nordic Pulse, a two-year-old,GPS-enabled app that provides real-time grooming reports at more than 175 Nordic trail networks across Canada and the U.S. Its the brainchild of Julien Locke, a former member of the Canadian National Ski Team. We were struggling to find a ski trail in the Minocqua area where we could take our dog. Joel Kleimola moves through woods at WinMan Trails on yellow excavator. The 7k and 10k trail information is divided into the "North" and "South" sections of those trails. Cowart says they may be open in time for this weekend, but they likely won't be tracked. Site Design by Web Work Life, wait at least 1 hour after grooming has been completed, 2023 WinMan Trails. The WinMan Trails Foundation is solely responsible for trail development and maintenance, but Gering said the DNR has helped with closing off some of the logging roads that enter the property to keep the land safe for silent sports. The skate deck is quite soft and will be so through the weekend with the warmer temperatures and sunshine. "We think of ourselves as just a phenomenal family friendly trail system year round. And while the trail system has already grown in its short decade of existence, its on track to grow even more over the next decade. All Rights Reserved. Gering said seeing people out enjoying the trails is one reason he opened his family project to the public. With soft conditions, snowshoe is a great way to spend your afternoon getting outside and enjoying these nice temperatures. A peaceful getaway offering solitude and relaxation. Pets are allowed. Follow her on Twitter at @chelseylew and@TravelMJS and Facebook at Journal Sentinel Travel. Check out our Phase II capital improvement projects and help us raise $500,000 to make WinMan even more awesome. The 7k and 10k trail information is divided into the "North" and "South" sections of those trails. This nordic ski only trail can be used one direction and has a. The main trailhead is on County Highway W about 4 miles north of Manitowish Waters. Its so pristine, my mom said as we walked, the crunch, crunch, crunch of our snowshoes breaking the silence that permeated once we were out of range of the traffic from County Highway W. There is something about winter in the woods that is pristine, when white, untouched snow covers the mess of brown scrub and mud on the forest floor, and a sky that seems even bluer than in the summer frames stately green-topped pine trees. February 4, 2020. Join our volunteer list and well notify you with opportunities to get out on the trails and work! WinMan Trail System Located just 3.5 miles north of Manitowish Waters, WinMan Trails offers over 18 miles of flow and cross-country mountain biking. WinMan uses two groomersone for the skate deck and another to set tracks. This will be a year-round facility with a large gathering space, a bathroom/changing area and a groomer garage. Snowshoe: OPEN - Snowshoe trails I believe have all been tracked in since our last snow. A peaceful getaway offering solitude and relaxation. WinMan Trails is a non-profit trail system spanning 1,300 acres of private and public land. But theyll see expanded parking in the lower parking lot to make up for those lost spots and we actually gained some more parking there, said Cowart. Following in the rich tradition of giving back to the community, they knew they wanted to do something to enhance the area and provide opportunities for people to enjoy the Northwoods. Near Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. Something else? 580' Down In 2010, the Gerings purchased 160 acres of wooded land on Papoose Lake Road in Winchester, about four miles from their cottage. Through research, the team decided the best way forward was to build with a mini-excavator, a revolutionary idea at the time. Spanning 1,300 acres of private and public land, the trails offer mountain biking, hiking, classic and skate. The skate deck is quite soft and will be so through the weekend with the warmer temperatures and sunshine. Theres also an open house May 28 at 10:00 a.m. at the trail system. Rick Gering fell in love with Manitowish Waters the very first time he visited in 1970. By the time we reached it almost an hour later (snowshoe malfunctions slowed our progress at times), the parking lot had begun to fill with skiers and fat bikers. However, it's time for the WinMan Trails Foundation to move out from under the umbrella of the Gering Family Foundation and become its own public nonprofit. Yellow trails mean grooming was completed in the past one to three days. Later that year, biking enthusiasts Robert Polic and Gene Oestreich joined the team. Currently, skiers can access grooming reports at the Nordic Pulse website or on the websites of trail systems that have embedded a Nordic Pulse map. Were decentralized; we groom at seven sites and move equipment around. 574' Up 5150N Hwy 51, Mercer, WI 54547 During wintertime, WinMan Trails switches gears to offer groomed trails for cross-country skiing, fat tire biking, and snowshoeing. Boulder Junctions Winter park offers fun for all ages. Contact Us. All Rights Reserved. Thats a rarer find, and its what makes the WinMan Trails one of the best winter trail systems in Wisconsin. W & County Hwy. The data points then sync automatically through cell service, or via WiFi at the end of the shift, with the online maps. Twelve years into this endeavor, the WinMan team is staying true to their culture of trying something new, building the best trails possible, and listening to users. It's launching a $500,000 fundraiser. With Robert, Gene and Travis on board, along with two summer interns, they established the WinMan culture: Their inquisitive, try-anything mindset led to a great deal of experimenting, learning and reaching out to other experts. Contacts Land Manager: WinMan Trails Foundation Shared By: Robert Polic with improvements by Alec alfotsch@gmail.com Full Details Trail Ratings 5.0 from 2 votes Trail Rankings #6 in WinMan Trails #53 in Wisconsin #2,188 Overall 3 Views Last Month 52 Since Jun 2, 2021 Easy/Intermediate Visit WinManTrails.com/give to learn more. With your support, we will continue to fulfill our mission of inspiring adventure and strengthening community by sharing an exceptional outdoor trail-related experience. This nordic ski only trail can be used one direction and has a easy overall physical rating.