Blue Hills Trail

03/01/2026

Announcing…
Big news! The Blue Hills Trail Association recently received a very generous donation from the Jean Sanford Replinger Foundation. Jean passed away in November 2024 at the age of 96. Her decades-long connection to the Blue Hills Trail was just one of her many outdoor passions – her memory serves as a tremendous inspiration to her numerous friends and family, and anyone who knew of her.

Read the following message [in brackets] from the Jean Sanford Replinger Trust:
[Jean was a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and educator. Born in Ladysmith, WI, and a graduate of UW Madison, Jean was committed to using the outdoor experience to spark curiosity, discovery, learning and stewardship of the natural world, of human relationships, and the care of our communities through the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

It was while teaching at Antioch College in Ohio (1950-67) that Jean began the tradition of an annual weeklong ski trip to the Blue Hills in northwest Wisconsin. Students, coworkers and friends were invited, experienced skiers and novices alike. This tradition continued after Jean and her husband, Randy, and son, Eric, moved to Marshall MN, where Jean was a professor of outdoor education (1969-96).

We are pleased to be able to make this contribution to the Blue Hills Trail Association knowing that it will go toward helping to keep trails accessible and in good condition so that all who are interested are able to experience the delight and rejuvenation that a good ski experience provides.]

To learn more of Jean’s background, her love of silent sports, and to appreciate one person’s ability to favorably impact their world, visit this link to her beautiful obituary:
https://www.hamiltonfh.com/obituaries/jean-replinger

01/27/2026

Trail Report:
Very good skiing at the Blue Hills!
Many side trails on the East side were groomed yesterday, January 26th. Planning to groom the East side core loop today January 27th, including setting fresh classic track. The west side skate deck was groomed January 21st, the classic track is in good shape.

01/22/2026

Trail Report:
East Side Core Loop and West Side groomed Wednesday evening, should be good skiing. All other trails were groomed earlier this week and have 1”-2” of powder topping the base.

See website for complete daily trail reports:

The Blue Hills Trail of northern Wisconsin's Rusk County offers 22 miles of trails for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, biking, hiking, and fall hunting.

01/01/2026

Trail Report:

December 31 (evening): groomed the East Side Core Loop and the East Side Roundabout trails; groomed most of the West Side. Good skiing is available. Ungroomed trails will provide plenty of 'backcountry' skiing until grooming can be expanded while removing ice damaged trees/branches.

The December 28th big snowfall transitioned from rain to ice to wet snow to dry snow, and was accompanied by stiff winds -- and plenty of downed branches. Please help remove trail debris as you ski.

12/12/2025

Trail Report:

East Side: Good skating and striding on the 11 km East Side Core Loop. More skating available on the side trails that branch off the Core Loop.

West Side: 4" of standing snow on top of the trails that were rolled (packed) December 8.

Grooming Plans: December 12 (Friday) - planning on rolling the West Side trails, then perhaps returning to the East Side to work on the side trails branching off the Core Loop.

For more details, visit our website:

The Blue Hills Trail of northern Wisconsin's Rusk County offers 22 miles of trails for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, biking, hiking, and fall hunting.

12/03/2025

December 3, 2025
1/2" fresh snow topping the East Side groomed trails which have a 1"-2" fairly solid base (a mostly uniform cover with a corduroy surface) where the first grooming of the season was performed Sunday/Monday/Tuesday (Nov. 30th - December 2nd). The groomed trails are a bit soft if you plan on skating; but firm enough to provide decent striding. The Core Loop has the firmest surface. Typical of early season skiing, anticipate an uneven surface with occasional dirt spots and grasses.

Ungroomed trails (West Side trails) have 6+ inches of snow covering an icy crust on warm ground.

Use your rock skis - or 'B' skis - until the base is thicker.

12/02/2025

LAST UPDATE: December 1, 2025
Groomed trails have a 1.5"-2" fairly solid base (a mostly uniform cover with a corduroy surface) where the first grooming of the season was performed on November 30th. Groomed trails include the Core Loop, Whitetail, Rollercoaster, and Roundabout. The groomed trails are a bit soft if you plan on skating; but firm enough to provide decent striding.

Ungroomed trails have 6+ inches of snow covering an icy crust on warm ground.

Use your rock skis - or 'B' skis - until the base is thicker.

12/01/2025

From our groomers:

Performed first grooming of the season on November 30th by rolling the East Side Core Loop - creating a corduroy surface.

No firsthand trail reports from skiers. Estimating ungroomed trails have 4+ to 6+ inches of snow on an icy crust.

10/14/2025

The Blue Hills Trail Association’s 37th Annual Fundraiser is a banquet the evening of Saturday, November 1st at Lehman's Supper Club in Rice Lake. Enjoy our Northwoods silent sports non-motorized camaraderie. The banquet registration deadline is Wednesday, October 29th. Here's the link: https://www.bluehillstrail.com/membership-and-donations

Banquet info:
• Here's the banquet flow on November 1st – 5:00 social hour, 6:30 buffet dinner, 7:30 guest speaker Polly Scotland, 8:30 distribution of silent auction items.
• We’ll have 30+ silent auction items available for banquet attendees: various gift certificates from local businesses, and material items from businesses such as Patagonia and Toko Nordic.
• New this year is a 50/50 raffle – only for banquet attendees. 50% of the proceeds to the winning ticket, 50% of the proceeds to our organization.
• Our guest speaker Polly Scotland is a former flight attendant and travel cruise es**rt, and has found her most remarkable travel methods involve trekking and paddling. Polly will describe kayaking two areas of Lake Superior: paddling Isle Royale and Pukaskwa National Park.
• Advance payment is required for the banquet, no refunds for no-shows.

Membership info:
• We've spent loads of time mowing and removing tree-falls as we prepare for winter -- not to mention the funds needed to maintain and upgrade our equipment. Please consider supporting us by purchasing a membership. https://www.bluehillstrail.com/membership-and-donations
• If you have YELLOW raffle tickets that assist our fundraising, remember to submit those tickets prior to the banquet.

Thanks! Hope to see you at the banquet.

09/25/2025

Annual Fall Work Day is this Saturday, September 27th. Meet at the warming house at the trailhead at 8:30 a.m. Join us for a morning of fresh air, teamwork, and trail care! Anyone and everyone is welcome.
Wear blaze orange, come on out and enjoy a beautiful hike, help maintain clear and smooth passages for the upcoming ski season.
We’ll divide up into small groups, then head out to brush the trail margins.
Bring gloves, branch clippers, hand saws, loppers, shovels, and chainsaws if available.
Hope to see you Saturday morning!

07/23/2025

The Blue Hills Trail Association needs one or more volunteers to coordinate our annual banquet that is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, November 1st at Lehman’s Supper Club in Rice Lake. It's an important job, and not overwhelming. New blood = new fun ideas. Most of the work occurs in the week leading up to the banquet.

We’d like to confirm your willingness to help within a few weeks. If you (or someone you know) are at all interested, please contact Tom: [email protected] -- he can further explain the involved tasks.