Trail Detail

28K
Skating/Classic
No
No
608-254-2333
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Features sandstone bluffs surrounding half the lake.
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Trail Reports

2022-2023 season
Reports 11 to 19 of 19    Month: Mar | Feb | Jan | Dec
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails Open: Most, B skis ]
Snow is thin, with many sticks and pine needles. A few trails are closed. The main trails are rolled, but no classic tracks set. It is skiable and fun, but not ready for your best skis.
(David Clemens)
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Afternoon
Firsthand: Freestyle 
[ Trails Open: Most, Rock skis ]
I skied trails on the NE side of the park - Pioneer and Ishnala - as well as trails on the S side - Fern Dell and Turtleville. To the south was better, but it was similar throughout: mostly fair with debris and ice and crustiness. There were stretches that were rather good and free of debris (alternating between a bit icy and a bit soft), and there were those ugly spots. But it was very doable if you know what you're getting into. I thought the groomers did excellent with the limited snow they've received.
Photos:
(Andrew Westley)
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Morning
Firsthand: Freestyle 
[ Trails Open: Most, Rock skis ]
Trails were freshly groomed. solid base with very thin groomed top. Skied turtleville ferndell hastings pioneer ishnala conditions varied between excellent to poor great cover to ice to bare to tree limbs under the groomed trail. Still beats the alternative. Definitely rock skis. Too thin for tracks.
(Dan Dudley)
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Afternoon
Firsthand: Freestyle 
[ Trails Open: Most, Rock skis ]
I found the Fern Dell and Hastings Loop to be fairly descent with snow coverage. To be sure there was perhaps 40 to 50 yards of open area; pine needles, roots and icy dirt. However there were long stretches of very skiable base. Keep in mind my expectations were very low and I skied early afternoon when the crusty, hard snow had softened up. All in all pleasantly surprised at conditions.
Photos:
(Nicholas Schneider)
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Afternoon
Firsthand: Freestyle 
[ Trails Open: Most, Rock skis ]
Well it's been a pretty sad season to date in the Madison area with temps too warm even to make much snow at CXC in Middleton. With that said I was surprised to find some passable rock skiing here on the 5k Fern Dale Trail. Plenty of pine needles, roots, dirt patches but I made it around without taking a digger. The base is intact for the most part and some below 32F would help immensely — as would an inch or two on top. Hardcores might find it worth the hour drive from Madison if it freezes up a bit. No tracks obviously but you could slide around on fish scales if classic was your thing. Either way southern Wisco is snow starved and desperate times call for desperate measures.
Photos:
(Mike Ivey)
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Morning
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails Open: Most, B skis ]
I skied the Newport/Kilbourn, Ishnala, Pioneer, and the Hastings - up to the Pinecone Pass cutover (the rest was of Hastings was not groomed). There was a decent amount of snow, and the trails were rolled, but not tracked. There was a lot of debris from the recent wind storm, but it was ski-able and worth the 45 minute trip.
(Christopher Alberts)
Monday, December 26, 2022
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails Open: All, B skis ]
Skied Newport, Fern Dell, and Turtleville trails. Lots of debris on the trails from high winds. Newport had had some foot traffic. Classic tracks looked like they were obliterated by skiers on all trails.
(Collin Roland)
Saturday, December 24, 2022
Morning
Firsthand: Freestyle 
[ Trails Open: Most, B skis ]
Trail was rolled a few days ago. There was a good amount of debris from the wind. Overall very skiable and a nice day on the trails.
(Paul Nigon)
Saturday, December 17, 2022
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails: Closed, Rock skis ]
Beautiful snow on the trees, but storm took down some trees. Ungroomed but some brave souls set some classic tracks. Will be amazing once fallen trees are cleared.
Photos:
(Greg Geiselman)

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