Vilas County Snowmobile
Vilas County Snowmobile Trail is a 35-mile snow trail in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin and Michigan. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to snowmobile, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. It enters Blackjack Springs Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Chequamegon-Nicolet 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 | 45.9760° N, 89.1908° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 46.0940° N, 89.1710° 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 | 35 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | snow trail |
| Surface | snow |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Open to at least one motorized use |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| Trail numbers | SNO-33275 |
| Forest | Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (unit 0913) |
| States | Wisconsin, 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
| Snowmobile | Allowed 12/01 to 03/14 (month/day) |
| Snowshoeing | Allowed year-round |
| Cross-country skiing | Allowed year-round |
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.
Wilderness
- Blackjack Springs WildernessFS · the line touches the boundaryWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
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
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- WildfireBlack River
47 mi from the trail midpoint · 362 acres · 90% contained
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 Wisconsin
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- 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 Vilas County Snowmobile Trail?
The Forest Service records 35 miles under this name in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the sum of 1 segment.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Vilas County Snowmobile Trail?
Snowmobile, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are allowed. The trail is open to at least one motorized use. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Vilas County Snowmobile Trail start?
The line begins at 45.9760° N, 89.1908° W and ends at 46.0940° N, 89.1710° 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 Vilas County Snowmobile Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Blackjack Springs Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Blackjack Springs Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Vilas County Snowmobile Trail?
Anvil Lake Campground (under 0.1 mi), Lac Vieux Desert Campground (1.9 mi) and Franklin Lake (2.2 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 8 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Vilas County Snowmobile Trail?
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 Vilas County Snowmobile Trail?
The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Vilas County Snowmobile Trail?
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Forest Service unit 0913. The trail is in Wisconsin and Michigan.
Is there a fire near the Vilas County Snowmobile Trail?
The interagency feed shows 1 active incident within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Black River at 47 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 1 segment named Vilas County Snowmobile in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0913. 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.