Trail Conditions: Good
Snow Cover: 6-8
Date of Report: January 9, 2026
Area Report:
This week we had some warmer temps and some rain last night. The good news is that most grooming will resume over the weekend now that temperatures will drop again. We had a great start to the season with quality snow, so we have a good base to work with despite the warmer conditions. While the trails got soft this week and did take a bit of a hit, the overall reports from riders are the trails are still good especially to the north. Trails in the woods have been most protected and the groomers deciding to stay off until it freezes was helpful. The county and town roads have had maintenance this week after the holiday so they have scraped them down so if you are on a section of road to get from point A to point B do stay far to the right and try to catch some of that snow on the edge. Trails that run parallel with highways are also mostly still snow covered but dirty with the road clean up and some berms to the side from the plow spray, groomers will clean that up as they go out. Groomers will also pull that side snow in and fill where they can. Lakes are fairly smooth but have some of that crunchy surfaces, so ride carefully not to hit a hard drift. If you are doing a lot of lake riding, especially without scratchers be sure to find loose snow to keep your machine cool.
Trails in the south east of the county are more exposed and took the weather a bit harder so those groomers will hold off until we get more snow.
There is some snow in the forecast for Saturday, it’s always hard to predict with varying reports, some say an inch at best and some say up to 4”, so yet to be seen, keep up those snow dances!
To summarize, riders are reporting the trails held up good, specifically in the woods and to the north. Most groomers in the county will be back out tonight and tomorrow. Lakes are good but expect icy conditions. So if you’re wondering if you should ride the riders we have talked to, report that they are happy with the conditions but of course, it is a decision for each individual rider.
Snowmobiling Information
You can check the weather conditions at http://www.haywardlakes.
Any questions please email info@
Almost every snowmobiler in the Midwest is aware of the fantastic winter playground found near the Hayward area of Sawyer County and the Cable area of Southern Bayfield County. Hundreds of miles of wilderness trails provide tours through this area’s natural beauty, beckoning riders to return year after year.
The Hayward Lakes region with its rolling hills, hardwood forests, tall pine stands and pristine lakes serves as the hub of the Sawyer County trail system. A journey south from Hayward on Trail 31 takes riders across the frozen Lac Court Oreilles and along Sand Lake before joining the Tuscobia State Trail just east of Birchwood.
This well-known Tuscobia State Trail is also listed as Corridor 10 on the maps. It crosses Sawyer County from east to west passing through Draper, Loretta, Winter and Radisson, as it makes its journey across northern Wisconsin stretching from Michigan to Minnesota.
Traveling southeast from Hayward, snowmobilers are treated to a tour of the undeveloped Lake Chippewa Flowage, Wisconsin’s largest wilderness lake. This focal point of Sawyer County was created in 1923 by a power company dam and has more than 17,000 acres of water with 140 islands and more than 200 miles of natural shoreline.
Trails east of Hayward meander their way towards Clam Lake. Along the way a favorite place to take a break is at the Ghost Hill Scenic Overlook located on a short spur trail off Trail 21 north of Ghost Lake. Don’t forget your camera to take those memorable trip photos.
Trails lead in all directions in this scenic Chequamegon National Forest region offering unlimited choices. When staying in this area, snowmobiles are the only transportation you will need since almost everything is accessible via snowmobile. Excellent lodging with roaring fireplaces and great food can be found trailside through out this region.