CAMBA Mountain Bike Trails Remain Closed

CAMBA off-road bike trails do not typically open until about May 1. In some areas, this has been a self-imposed date subject to the condition of the trails and how well they have dried out. For the past couple of years the U.S. Forest Service has imposed a formal trail closure from March 15 to May 1. CAMBA Trails on the National Forest affected by this closure include all trails starting the Namakagon Town Hall, Rock Lake, Drummond Ski Trails and Wanoka Lake Trail Heads and the West Fork Trail in Delta. Dirt and gravel road trails in Delta and Drummond are a good option for off-road bikers to stretch their early season legs during this closure period.

In the Sawyer County Forest, the recently adopted Comprehensive Land Use Plan uses closing dates that coincide approximately with town road load limit bans. This is the policy that will be in place for all off-road CAMBA trails in the Sawyer County Forest this spring. Specifically, these trails include those starting at Hatchery Creek, Mosquito Brook and County Hightway OO Trail Heads. Trails beginning at Silverthorn Park Trail Head are all on paved or gravel town roads and are not affected by this closure.

In Bayfield County, the Cable Cluster Trails in the Bayfield County Forest and on Telemark Resort property are also closed until May 1. Several dirt and gravel roads adjacent to these trails may be suitable to ride when sufficiently dry. Conditions permitting, other Cable area trails may be opened prior to May 1. Consult the CAMBA website, www.cambatrails.org, for further information.

CAMBA recommends that all trails, regardless of the date, not be ridden if conditions do not permit. It can often be unclear for those who do not live in the area whether trails are ready to ride. With a late start to the winter and a lot of spring snow, it may very well take until May 1 for the trails to be sufficiently dry to ride.

CAMBA requests that cyclists respect the trails by not riding them when wet. If there is standing water on the trail or bike tires leave a noticeable impression in the ground, cyclists should consider riding the roads and not the trails.