Putting the ‘Ice’ in Ice Age Trail

now officially a national park, the Ice Age Trail draws visitors in wintertime, too

While outdoors enthusiasts may first think of hitting the trail in summer or fall, the Ice Age Trail is open 365 days a year, and there are plenty of people who enjoy the beauty – and challenge – of traversing it during the colder months ...

‘Get It Groomed’ Effort to Improve Ski Trails Strides Toward Goal

$50K in donations still needed for trail grooming project

The Eau Claire Ski Striders’ “Get It Groomed!” campaign, which launched last winter, has raised about $150,000 to date, allowing a down payment to be made on a Favero Snow Rabbit 3 groomer – an advanced piece of equipment that will be able to keep trails at ...

Winter Fun in Dunn Launches for a Second Chilly Season

rewards offered for locals who partake in winter activities

What’s more fun than enjoying the wonders of a Wisconsin winter? Enjoying the wonders of a Wisconsin winter while winning prizes! For the second year, Health Dunn Right – a community health coalition – and Explore Menomonie ...

Pinehurst Park Ski Lift Project Shifts to New Direction

due to budget restrictions and other changes, ski lift plans have been altered

Despite the recent lack of snow, the Chippewa Valley is still gearing up for a winter full of skiing, skating, snowboarding, sledding, and more. That includes Pinehurst Park, Eau Claire’s hub for outdoor activities. For the past decade, OutdoorMore Inc., a local nonprofit ...

Outdoor Recreation Worth Nearly $10B for the State

Wisconsin’s outdoor industry grew 7% last year, breaking record

From snowmobiling to water skiing, outdoor recreation isn’t just a lot of fun for Wisconsinites: It’s also big business. How big? It contributed nearly $10 billion to the Badger State’s gross domestic product in 2022, according to recently released figures from the ...

USA Snowshoe National Championships to Offer Events For All Ages

national sporting event will return to Eau Claire Feb. 9-11

The 23rd annual Snowshoe National Championship will traverse Lowes Creek County Park in Eau Claire this February, with events for all ages slated for Feb. 10-11, 2024. The United States Snowshoe Association (USSSA) announced recently that the sporting event ...

Temps Too High for Outdoor Ice Rinks, City of E.C. Says

Looking to ice skate? At the moment, your only option is indoors

Hoping to lace up your skates to hit the outdoor ice? You may have to wait a little longer, at least here in the Chippewa Valley. Eau Claire’s Parks, Recreation, and Forestry division says that ...

5 Winter Airbnb Getaways Around the Chippewa Valley

Need a cool getaway? Some of the coolest are right in our backyard

From Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls to Menomonie and the Elk Creek area, the Chippewa Valley is plentiful with air bnbs, and not just your average apartments and homes for weekend stays, either. Off-the-grid cabins, retro time capsules, and more ...

WINTER WHEELS: Urban Fat Bike Group Encourages Community

local fave SHIFT Cyclery & Coffee Bar is now offering a new free event

SHIFT’s new Urban Fat Bike Group Rides event is scheduled out through March and will be every other Wednesday at 6pm, starting and ending at the shop. While fat bikes are a plus given our area’s wintry weather through spring, SHIFT Bike Manager Chris Locke said they certainly aren’t a requirement for people to participate ...