This will be the first year that we are taking the kids with us on a trip so we are staying at Waters of Minoqua, obviously its not the most idea place for trail access if the lake isnt froze, (late December) so here's my question, when the lake isnt froze, is it best to just trailer to a lot on the north side of town (Woodruff) and go from there? Obviously if snow condition isnt good we could trailer to Mercer, but Im just trying to prepare for this as the wives and kids first trip with us, we hope to make it a good one. We've never stayed in Minoqua but we have rode through it, just looking for a little help with this area. Last year we were up there in Feb in -25 and that lake still had open water.
Minoqua
- Thread starter hudson056
- Start date
indy_500
Well-known member
We stayed there last year with terrible lake conditions and rode the road. I will tell you, unless it’s cold and they've had recent snow, it isn’t that carbide/slide friendly of a ride to the bearskin. If you’re bringing the wife with and she’s not a super experienced rider I may suggest trailering out of there.
harski
Member
I know Waters has a better water park to use but if you're flexible St Germain has 3 hotels with pools that are right on the trail. All three have places to eat within walking distance and fuel is easy to get to. Been taking my family there in the later years and it's worked out well for us.
Good luck!
Good luck!
One even has a saltwater pool!
WorkHardPlayHrd
Active member
One thing to consider about stay in Minoqua is that if it's the weekend the trails will likely be trashed by early evening. This means an unpleasant ride back with the wife and kids. I've stayed many times at the Waters and one reason we do is because when we find a place with a really good bed that works for my husbands back we stick to it. I understand the allure of the water park for the kids. We've never used it. If your going with the family and are set on staying there I'd be trailering out a little ways to avoid the unpleasant return trip. It's not that the clubs aren't doing their job, you get out of town a ways and their normally really nice. It's just that so many sledders stay in Minoqua and Woodruff. A groomer can't compete with that kind of traffic.
You might consider trailering to the skidoo dealer. I’ve heard he has let people park there. Then you can ride north around Big Arborvitea lake. Once you get around the lake there’s lots of woods riding. Or you can go toward Lake Tomahawk. Lots of woods trails off to the left of the grade.
harvest1121
Well-known member
Wait and see what happens with the snow rode all around the Minocqua area last year without an issue. My house is a half mile from the trail and roads were rideable when the trails were open.
I have stayed at the waters many times during all seasons! It’s a wonderful place for the kids!
You do need to be on your game when crossing the road whether the kids ride with you, or on their own machine. On the way out of the waters, you will be on bare pavement crossing multiple lanes of traffic which can be busy. You have to be patient, yet aggressive when you decide to cross. Carbides dig in and tracks spin, leaving you half in and half out of the intersection.
We do it by having a strong, confident rider act as a helpful coach, ready to pull a ski up, or transfer weight to the skid to get the less confident riders across. It can be SAFELY done, but you really need to be ready!
On the way back, you will be coming off the lake and up a steep hill climb. If your track isn’t studded (kids sleds), it can also be tricky getting up to the top. Again, very doable, but you have to know what your getting into and be prepared to step in and calmly coach!
If all of this doesn’t sound like fun, trailer out of there. Would stay though.... It’s great for the kids and adults. Nice bar. Great pizza. Pool and hot tub is great.
You do need to be on your game when crossing the road whether the kids ride with you, or on their own machine. On the way out of the waters, you will be on bare pavement crossing multiple lanes of traffic which can be busy. You have to be patient, yet aggressive when you decide to cross. Carbides dig in and tracks spin, leaving you half in and half out of the intersection.
We do it by having a strong, confident rider act as a helpful coach, ready to pull a ski up, or transfer weight to the skid to get the less confident riders across. It can be SAFELY done, but you really need to be ready!
On the way back, you will be coming off the lake and up a steep hill climb. If your track isn’t studded (kids sleds), it can also be tricky getting up to the top. Again, very doable, but you have to know what your getting into and be prepared to step in and calmly coach!
If all of this doesn’t sound like fun, trailer out of there. Would stay though.... It’s great for the kids and adults. Nice bar. Great pizza. Pool and hot tub is great.
WorkHardPlayHrd
Active member
I have stayed at the waters many times during all seasons! It’s a wonderful place for the kids!
You do need to be on your game when crossing the road whether the kids ride with you, or on their own machine. On the way out of the waters, you will be on bare pavement crossing multiple lanes of traffic which can be busy. You have to be patient, yet aggressive when you decide to cross. Carbides dig in and tracks spin, leaving you half in and half out of the intersection.
We do it by having a strong, confident rider act as a helpful coach, ready to pull a ski up, or transfer weight to the skid to get the less confident riders across. It can be SAFELY done, but you really need to be ready!
On the way back, you will be coming off the lake and up a steep hill climb. If your track isn’t studded (kids sleds), it can also be tricky getting up to the top. Again, very doable, but you have to know what your getting into and be prepared to step in and calmly coach!
If all of this doesn’t sound like fun, trailer out of there. Would stay though.... It’s great for the kids and adults. Nice bar. Great pizza. Pool and hot tub is great.
Twice the bartender closed bar before 12 30 with 12 plus clients.
catspaz8
Member
Riding this area between Christmas and New years you usually have about a 45% chance of having enough snow. Last year we rode out of a place about a mile north of Krups and had great snow, south was still iffy.. We have historically cancelled about half of our Christmas/new years trip due to lack of snow. From Mid January on you are much more likely to have good snow, but I would still stay as close to the U.P. as possible so if the snow isn't good south you still have the option of going north. been doing it this way for 31 years now, good luck,