WinMan Trails Hits Its Stride This Winter After Banner Snowfall

If you’ve been itching to strap on your skis or saddle up your fat tire bike, this winter in the Northwoods is delivering exactly what we’ve been waiting for. After two frustratingly slim snow years, WinMan Trails near Winchester is experiencing the kind of season that reminds us why we live up here — deep powder, solid grooming, and miles of trails winding through pine forests that feel like they were designed by winter itself.

The transformation at WinMan this season isn’t just about luck with the weather. It’s about a community-driven trail system that’s been quietly building something special over the past decade, and now mother nature is finally cooperating to show it off.

Two Big Dumps Set the Stage for Winter Excellence

Property manager Brad Kusz knows what good trail conditions look like, and he’s practically grinning about this year’s prospects. Two substantial snowfalls early in the season gave WinMan the kind of base that groomers dream about — deep enough to protect the trails, consistent enough to work with, and perfectly timed before the holiday rush.

But here’s where it gets interesting: the rain that followed those snowstorms, which might have disappointed folks planning a powder day, actually became a blessing in disguise. That precipitation compacted everything down into a solid, level foundation that’s holding up beautifully under traffic. It’s the kind of base that can handle skiers, fat bikers, and snowshoers without deteriorating into the rutted mess we’ve all encountered on lesser-prepared trails.

This is especially welcome news after the previous two winters left trail systems across the Northwoods scrambling to maintain operations. When you’re relying on natural snow rather than expensive snowmaking equipment, you’re at the mercy of weather patterns that have been increasingly unpredictable. This year feels like a return to the winters that shaped our relationship with the north country in the first place.

What Makes WinMan’s Trail System Stand Out

Spread across 1,300 acres within the Northern Highland–American Legion State Forest, WinMan Trails offers something that’s become rare in our region — a genuinely multi-sport trail system designed with intention rather than accident. The nonprofit organization maintains over 40 miles of trails configured as loops, letting you choose your adventure based on how much time and energy you’re bringing to the woods that day.

Eagle River skier John Gustavson, who makes the trek to WinMan frequently, captures what locals already know: the trails are sheltered from wind, mercifully flat for those of us who prefer gliding to climbing, and groomed with a level of care that works for everyone from first-timers to Nordic veterans. It’s that consistent quality that keeps people coming back, week after week, telling their friends about what they’ve discovered.

The heated BaseCamp chalet serves as the hub of activity, offering exactly what you need after a few hours on the trails — warmth, beverages, a place to swap stories with other adventurers, and even a bike wash for summer visitors. There’s something fundamentally Northwoods about the whole setup: serious about the outdoor experience but relaxed about everything else, with free snowshoe rentals and kids’ skis that lower the barrier for families just getting started.

From Private Family Land to Community Treasure

The story of how WinMan came to exist reveals a lot about what makes the Northwoods special. Founded by Susie and Rick Gering on their 160-acre family property, the trails started as a private playground for family and friends before opening to the public in 2013. That grassroots origin — building something beautiful first for love of the sport, then sharing it with the wider community — is exactly the kind of generosity that defines our region.

What began with just 4 miles of mountain bike trails has grown into a 1,300-acre operation through land purchases, partnerships with the Wisconsin DNR, and countless hours of volunteer labor. Trail builders like Travis Bellman, who cut his teeth at Raven Trails in Minocqua, brought professional expertise to designs that take advantage of the glacial soils deposited here during the last ice age. Those ancient geological processes left us with terrain that packs hard and drains beautifully — natural advantages that translate directly into fast, sustainable trails.

The fact that this land was once logged via railroad around 1900 adds another layer to the story. We’re literally recreating on the same ground that powered the region’s timber industry, now transformed into forests that serve a different kind of economy — one built on sustainable recreation rather than resource extraction.

Record Numbers Tell a Story of Growing Momentum

Last year, WinMan logged 55,000 visits, a record that property manager Brad Kusz sees as just the beginning. This season is tracking even higher, suggesting that word is spreading about what the Northwoods has to offer. Those numbers represent real people making real decisions to spend their limited free time on these trails, which speaks volumes in an era when we’re all drowning in entertainment options.

The growth isn’t happening by accident. WinMan is actively expanding to accommodate increased demand, currently working to add a campground that will let visitors stay trailside rather than commuting from lodging elsewhere. It’s exactly the kind of infrastructure investment that can transform a day-trip destination into a multi-day experience, the kind that gets people truly immersed in the rhythms of the north woods.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, WinMan relies on donations and memberships to fund operations and improvements. The organization is currently running a fundraising campaign to upgrade amenities and maintain the grooming standards that have become their calling card. In a region where public resources are stretched thin, this donation-supported model allows the community to collectively maintain something that benefits everyone — visitors and locals alike.

Winter Excellence Within Reach

What’s happening at WinMan Trails this winter is more than just good snow conditions meeting well-maintained trails. It’s a reminder of what the Northwoods can be when natural beauty, thoughtful stewardship, and community investment align. Whether you’re a seasoned Nordic skier looking for that perfect glide, a fat bike enthusiast seeking something beyond frozen lake loops, or a family hoping to introduce kids to winter sports without intimidation, the trails between Winchester and Manitowish Waters are delivering this season.

The transformation from two lean snow years to this winter’s abundance hasn’t changed what WinMan offers — it’s simply revealed it more clearly. Those miles of trails winding through tall pines were always there, waiting for conditions like these to show what they can do. Now that we’ve got the snow, the grooming, and the growing community to support it, there’s no excuse not to get out there and see what you’ve been missing. Ya know, before we start complaining about mud season.