Rapid River Ski S1 Loop
Rapid River Ski S1 Loop is a 3.7-mile snow trail in Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Hiawatha National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 46.0150° N, 86.9752° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 46.0082° N, 86.9818° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start.
The trail
| Length | 3.7 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | snow trail |
| Surface | snow |
| Typical grade | 8-10 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| National designation | National Recreation Trail or other national designation |
| Trail numbers | 109-C |
| Forest | Hiawatha National Forest (unit 0910) |
| States | Michigan |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Snowshoeing | Allowed 12/01 to 03/31 (month/day) |
| Cross-country skiing | Allowed 12/01 to 03/31 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Fire nearby
- WildfireSilver Leaf
39 mi from the trail midpoint · 12 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Hiawatha National Forest and Michigan
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Field Guide Hiawatha National Forest Ecological Classification SystemGreg Kudray, 2019Find at Bookshop.org
- Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes on and Around the North Country Trail - Michigan and WisconsinThomas Funke, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Rapid River Ski S1 Loop?
The Forest Service records 3.7 miles under this name in Hiawatha National Forest, the sum of 1 segment.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Rapid River Ski S1 Loop?
Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Rapid River Ski S1 Loop start?
The line begins at 46.0150° N, 86.9752° W and ends at 46.0082° N, 86.9818° W. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Rapid River Ski S1 Loop in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Rapid River Ski S1 Loop?
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. The camping section covers dispersed camping, which most National Forest land allows.
How developed is the Rapid River Ski S1 Loop?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Rapid River Ski S1 Loop?
The typical grade is 8-10 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Rapid River Ski S1 Loop a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Recreation Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Rapid River Ski S1 Loop?
Hiawatha National Forest, Forest Service unit 0910. The trail is in Michigan.
Is there a fire near the Rapid River Ski S1 Loop?
The interagency feed shows 1 active incident within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Silver Leaf at 39 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 1 segment named Rapid River Ski S1 Loop in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0910. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.