Hardscrabble Ski Area is located about 5 miles east of Rice Lake on Barron County Hiway C. Although the map above shows the route that the racers for the Northwest Series Bump & Grind will take on July 9, there are many other trails that we will be mapping and marking this summer.

The Blue Hills Trails are located on the east side of the Blue Hills, on Fire Lane Road. The west side tends to be a lot drier, and better for off road bicycling. These trails are maintained by the Rusk County Trail Association, and are groomed for cross country skiing in the winter. You can find out more about the trails, along with driving directions at their website, http://www.wi.centuryinter.net/bluehills/

A couple of us just road part of the Harmon Lake Trail. This is a snowmobile trail in Washburn County, and hasn't been biked much, so the grass is long in a lot of places. The grade is pretty gentle, with rolling hills, and this would be a great trail for beginning mountain bikers to get their feet wet. Actually, the trail is well drained, even with all the rain we have received this year. We will be returning to map out the other loop, which goes around the west side of Harmon Lake. The trail is marked with snowmobile trail signs. You can access Harmon Lake Trails either by taking Harmon Lake Road south off highway 70 east of Spooner to the north trail access, or by taking Washburn County B east from Highway 53, between Spooner and Rice Lake. You will see the trail head on the left a couple miles past Butternut Hills Golf Course.