CAMBA Single-Track Trails
The Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) hasn't been content with the popular 300-mile, signed and mapped mountain bike trail system they've created in Bayfield and Sawyer Counties. Recently, they've begun cutting some very technical single-track trails to give riders even more challenging options. If you like tight trails that demand real bike handling skill, the single-track is for you.
The deep forest and glacial moraine of southern Bayfield County is ideal for mountain biking. You'll use all of your gears on this seldom-level terrain. There's some wonderful Northwood's riding along the way. You can ride the Ojibwe Trail out and back; or take roads, cross-country ski trails, or one of the three other CAMBA trails back to the trailheads. Excellent signage, a detailed CAMBA map, and periodic "you are here" signs are the ticket to finding your way around.
For very challenging riding, try the Telemark Terrain Park. This single-track snakes through the woods on the slopes of the Mount Telemark ski hill. The trail doesn't just go uphill; it's up and down and up and down with very tight turns. Narrow passages between trees, plus plenty of rocks, roots and loose surface, demand perfection. Only the best riders make it around without putting a foot down or getting off the bike here and there.On the Ojibwe Trail you'll need good bike handling too, but the terrain is more forgiving. Riding west from Telemark, you can warm-up on an easy-riding ski trail. The single-track starts out easy too, but after passing a log cabin shelter, things get tougher. You'll switch back up a steep ridge known as "The Wall" to cross-country skiers. Elevation changes rarely exceed 40 or 50 feet, but the hits just keep coming. The trail rises and falls constantly. Along the way you'll cross the wide Kortelopet and Birkebeiner ski racing trails. Occasionally the trail widens as it follows an old logging road. You end up at the cozy North End Cabin, a nice spot to take a break. You can throw a log in the wood stove on a chilly day.
If you choose to take the north-south Ojibwe Trail section, you'll find similar terrain plus a nice section on a glacial esker ridge. The ride gets noticeably easier the further south you go. (In the future, the Ojibwe Trail will be extended to make a complete loop.)
Address
Bayfield County, WI
Contact Information
Voice: 715-798-3833
Toll Free: 800-533-7454