Maybe you’ve heard of the Chequamegon Mountain Bike Competition? It’s a 40-mile “drag race” from Hayward to Cable, ripping via the Birkebeiner ski path within the sprawling 1.5 million acre Chequamegon-Nicolet Nationwide Forest in northern Wisconsin.
Whereas that annual occasion might have put the world on the map, it’s the large path community that’s acquired a latest increase in mileage (and enjoyable!) because of the brand new Trek Trails at Mt. Telemark Village that makes it price a go to.
Centered across the Hub, it’s the world’s first purpose-built stream trails and bike park, nevertheless it’s merely the icing on the cake right here.
In case you’re searching for a quaint however epic MTB trip spot, you’d be arduous pressed to search out one thing as distant but developed as Cable, Wisconsin. Right here’s what it is advisable know, and why it is best to go…
The Bike Park & The Hub
Our go to, which, full disclosure, was coated by Journey Wisconsin’s tourism/advertising and marketing fund, began at Mt. Telemark, then expanded into surrounding trails developed and maintained by CAMBA. In complete, there are 100s of miles of singletrack unfold all through the higher space, however there’s lots between Cable and Hayward to maintain any rider entertained for days.
We began at Mt. Telemark Village, a newly constructed heart that serves because the hub for year-round actions.
Impressively, or just because the winter climate and distant location make it much less prone to abuse, the Hub’s bogs and showers are saved open and accessible 24/7/365. Wanna night time journey, then clear up, then camp? Bikepacking via and simply must clean up? They make it simple and comfy to do exactly that.
Mt. Telemark was as soon as the native ski hill, however the ghosts of the lifts and decaying elevator shafts from the long-gone resort are the one reminders. As an alternative is a groomed bike park with delicate climbs resulting in a spiderweb of downhill choices. From tough and rocky to bermed stream path, there’s one thing for all tastes and talents right here.
And e-bikes are welcome, making quick work of the roughly 300 toes of elevation acquire. What the mountain lacks in peak it makes up for in well-built, session-worthy trails that may simply fill a day.
Begin your day at The Hub with espresso and breakfast at Backroads.
And once you’re finished, hit New Moon North bike store for a beer. The Hub additionally has a seasonally-open Trek retailer, and each bike outlets supply leases and all of the gear you want (or forgot).
Talking of Trek, they’re an enormous supporter of One Monitor Thoughts, the group behind the park’s 17+ miles of “Trek Trails powered by OTM”.
And people trails are actually, actually enjoyable. There are bounce traces, stream traces, and technical, pure traces. And there are “inexperienced” XC loops all through that serve each as simple trails and return loops to convey you again to the climbs.
The descents are lengthy sufficient to be difficult, however quick sufficient to session, making it simple to observe sections or simply hit all the pieces in half a day.
As a bonus, there are enjoyable connectors that faucet into the CAMBA trails, too, with two nice loops – Evenflow and Ojibwe – letting you add 9 miles of XC driving to a park day. And people hook up with longer trails that head east or south, making Mt. Telemark Village an ideal beginning and stopping level for larger rides, too.
For anybody not into driving, there are 5km of paved rollerski paths and many mountaineering trails, plus out of doors seating if they simply wanna chill and skim.
CAMBA Trails
If lengthy, point-to-point singletrack rides are extra your pace, there’s no scarcity of these. CAMBA boasts 130+ miles of singletrack all through northwestern Wisconsin, and far of it’s linked. Cable, WI, is a central level on the path map, however should you’re searching for a bit larger metropolis, Hayward is about 25 miles south by street (or 40-ish miles by path).
Each cities allow you to bounce straight onto the path and journey for so long as you need. Select from lengthy out-and-backs, or journey native “clusters” for loops. Or mix them for actually huge days.
My ultimate day of driving was the longest. Kristi dropped me off at Camp 38 trailhead, simply south of Mt. Telemark’s bike park and the encompassing trails I’d ridden the 2 prior days.
I mixed Movement Mama –> Seely Cross –> Makwa –> Hatchery Creek for somewhat over 30 miles of driving. Beginning with an almost-full battery and even handed use of Eco and Path modes, I completely timed an entire draining of the Ari Nebo Peak’s battery rolling into the Hatchery Creek Trailhead.
It’s arduous to say which I appreciated higher, the bike park or the CAMBA trails. Every of the 4 trails I rode had their very own persona, providing completely different terrain, completely different construct kinds, and completely different surroundings each 5-8 miles.
The sheer quantity of trails and distances between trailheads imply it’s unlikely you’ll run into crowds. I additional mitigated this by driving late within the season. In case your dream driving journey is one in every of solitude, Wisconsin’s a great place for that exterior of race weekends…the Chequamegon 40 and its MTB fest are a part of the Lifetime sequence, so it attracts an enormous crowd.
Tucked in the midst of woods are treats like bermed sequences with fast return routes so you are able to do them once more…
…and the occasional function to spice issues up.
All trails are properly marked, too, each contained in the park and alongside the CAMBA trails, making it simple to navigate. A lot of them criss cross the Birkie path, too, supplying you with somewhat style of the place people cross nation ski in the course of the winter (and the place the Chequamegon 40 takes place…it’s not on the singletrack!).
After three days of driving, I felt I had a very good sense of the world, but additionally like I’ve solely scratched the floor. Regardless of visiting weeks after many of the leaves had fallen, the paths remained principally clear and quick…little or no leaf browsing available, which was good. Extra on that beneath.
One other refreshing shock have been the buildings alongside the path. These public services have bogs, seating and tables, and typically even quick, free WiFi, they usually’re simply plopped alongside the path at varied trailheads. It doesn’t matter what time you’re rolling by, chances are high they’re open and clear, which is an unbelievable useful resource. Some even have impediment course-style playgrounds for off-the-bike abilities coaching (or simply entertaining non-riding household and pals).
Earlier than this journey, Wisconsin wasn’t actually on my radar. Now, I wish to come again and discover extra. I’ve bought not less than 80 extra miles of path to journey, and I can’t wait to do it. Extremely suggest placing this in your checklist of locations to journey.
The place to Keep, What to Eat
We stayed in two completely different spots throughout our go to. The primary was House Base, a small constructing with adventure-minded design completely positioned within the woods at Mt. Telemark Village.
Exterior is a communal fireplace pit, bike wash, and restore station with lights and Park Device stands. There’s additionally a screened in picnic space giant sufficient for a number of teams to share.
Cabins are easy, however thoughtfully designed. Concrete flooring are excellent for all-season use, and there’s a drain and heater proper contained in the entrance door. Slushy fats bike? No drawback, simply roll it in and the snow will soften off and drain away by the point you get up. A kitchenette enables you to warmth meals and water, and bunk beds maintain everybody cozy. Simply remember to order the sheets-and-towels bundle, or convey your individual…they’re not included within the base worth.
The following spot was ROAM Base Camp, positioned in the midst of the woods midway between Hayward and Cable. If you wish to hop on the CAMBA trails and journey all day in a single course then attempt the opposite method the subsequent, that is the spot for you.
Tiny off-grid cabins face into the forest and pack in a number of sleeping…as much as six or seven folks can slot in every. However once I say “off grid”, I imply it’s solely off the grid. They’ve their very own energy generator and wood-burning water heater. So, there are lights, however there aren’t any retailers within the cabins to cost issues up (they’ve choices for these with CPAP or different medical gadgets that want energy, however you’ll wanna cost your telephones in your automobile). Sadly, meaning there’s no e-bike charging on web site.
That mentioned, should you actually wish to disconnect, that is the spot. The coin operated showers (convey a couple of bucks for the quarter machine) have nice water stress, and there’s a wood-fired sauna you may gentle up, too. In addition they have tent campsites accessible, and their very own non-public entry trails to the Birkie, so it’s simple sufficient to journey (or ski) immediately from camp.
In fact, should you’re right here, you’re in the midst of Nationwide Forest and might be able to discover a spot to boondock, too. There aren’t a ton of spots (not less than not proven on onX), however there are a number of forest service roads to discover should you’re into overlanding. For the much less adventurous, Hayward has loads of commonplace chain lodges (and a hospital…with it’s personal public, beginner-friendly singletrack loop!).
When it’s time to eat, we discovered a number of native gems. Seize stone-oven pizza from The Rivers Eatery, whose entrance is tucked away behind a ebook retailer.
It’s a preferred spot, so anticipate a wait throughout excessive season, however no worries…there’s a terrific collection of beer on faucet and the partitions and ceiling are coated in bike stuff to entertain you. An enormous out of doors patio offers you area to roam and hang around when you wait, and the pizzas are definitely worth the wait.
Save room for a unique sort of pie, as a result of immediately behind Rivers Eatery is Tilly’s Pies.
Based by Trudi Rebsamen, spouse of late professional bicycle owner Steve Tilford, to honor the mountain bike nationwide champion’s reminiscence (he cherished pie).
Tilly’s sells unbelievable home made pies, however solely on sure days. Test her web site upfront and get there early for one of the best choice…we walked over whereas ready on our pizzas and grabbed the final couple of items earlier than she closed for the night time!
Gas up for the subsequent day’s journey at Cable Cafe, and remember to ask what the every day particular is. We lucked out with pumpkin spice pancakes, accompanied by an enormous veggie omelet simply to be secure. Strike up a dialog with the locals and chances are high they’re concerned within the native path constructing efforts or Chequamegon MTB Fest.
Down in Hayward, end a journey at Essential Avenue Tacos. It’s not fancy, however one of the best Mexican meals often isn’t, and this was fairly good. Head over to Indignant Minnow Brewing for the one brewery within the space, which reportedly has stable meals choices, too. There’s additionally a Backroads Espresso right here for the subsequent morning’s reboot.
In case you’re staying at ROAM Base Camp, the Sawmill Saloon is a neighborhood watering gap with first rate meals and a cool ambiance. Locals additionally advisable Velo Cafe and The Portage in Cable, and Angler’s Bar & Grill for brewpub fare (and a bowling alley) in Hayward.
Gravel, Seasons, & Different Issues You Have to Know
Wish to make every week of it? Deliver your gravel bike, too. These a whole lot of miles of Nationwide Forest service roads make for nice gravel driving, with nearly no vehicular visitors on them. You might journey for days and barely contact pavement.
We visited from October 18-21, which is just about the top of mountain bike season right here. Nights have been chilly, and we might have lucked out on the climate in the course of the day. It was a little bit of a big gamble that we happily gained.
Summer season is nice if faculty schedules dictate your journey plans. That mentioned, locals say September is good. Climate is cooler, the black flies and mosquitoes are principally gone, ticks are going dormant. If the point out of bugs scares you off, sorry, it’s only a actuality of many states all through the northern midwest and central areas. Deliver repellent with DEET or Picaridin and also you’ll be nice. That, and keep on the path and out of the comb.
The opposite gamble with coming late in October is restaurant availability. Just a few in Cable, which already has a really restricted provide, had already closed or had restricted hours and days. Hayward is larger and has extra choices, although.
The profit to coming in early fall is you’ll possible get one of the best of the leaves altering shade. We had a stunning palette of yellow from the poplars, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly peak leaf peepin’ season in late September to early October.
What’s the Finest Bike for the Space?
I rode the Ari Nebo Peak, a light-weight e-mountian bike with 150mm fork and 140mm rear journey. It turned out to be the proper possibility for combining bike park rips with all-day pedals. I subbed in a carbon PNW handlebar and F&B carbon wheels to save lots of a little bit of weight, ending up at ~42lbs for an XL. Not dangerous, and with the mid-powered help, it made the climbing simple and helped me discover extra miles of path.
In case you’re sticking to the CAMBA trails, their analog Sign Peak (120/120) is a light-weight XC ripper. And should you’re solely there for the bike park, the La Sal Peak (analog, 170/170) or Timp Peak (eMTB, 170/170) could be a bit extra playful on the descents. However should you’re there for all of the issues, the Nebo Peak is a goldilocks bike for giant days with plenty of selection.
Able to go?
Hit the hyperlinks all through this story for extra assets, and comply with @birkiebike @mttelemarkvillage @OTM_foundation and @cambatrails for the newest from the world. Large because of Journey Wisconsin for bringing us to the world, we’ll be again!
