71 FALL 2019 ISSUE 01 / VOL . 01 maine ’ s magic carpet ride
SNOWGOER . COM 72
WELCOME TO NORTHERN BAYFIELD COUNTY
What we got into was some of the best snowmobile riding in the Upper Midwest , following a guy who soon became a friend and who made us all feel like explorers .
Northern Bayfield County , Wisconsin , is home of about 300 of the county ’ s 600 impressive miles of snowmobile trails , but about three times as many backcountry routes , thanks to unplowed Forest Service roads , logging roads and other paths .
Located on a peninsula that juts up from the south shore of the grand Lake Superior , the northern half of Bayfield County — the part north of U . S . Highway 2 — receives snow early and often , and it can stay very late . One recent spring , in fact , the last snow finally disappeared on June 15 .
The snowmobile trails here are regularly groomed and maintained , connecting the primary city of Bayfield with oddly named burgs like Herbster , Cornucopia , Vallhalla , Port Wing and Moquah , among others . But , to locals and regular visitors , these trails are almost a sucker-bet . Those riders have more fun making their own way by following the maze of unplowed roads . Go ahead and pick a direction at the next intersection — you ’ re bound to end up somewhere at sometime ; just make sure you have enough gas .
With a rural , rugged landscape that includes a healthy chunk of the beautiful Chequamegon / Nicolet National Forest , stunning winter views of Lake Superior at the edges of the county , an ice road that leads across the bay to the Apostle Islands and just enough services to allow riders to get around , riding Northern Bayfield County is a special treat .
It was made even better by our newfound friend , Dick Dalzell . It turns out he wasn ’ t a psycho killer leading us deep into the woods ; instead , he was the brother of the Gary Dalzell , then the owner of the snowmobiler-friendly Woodside Cottages in Bayfield — our choice of lodging for the long weekend . Between Dick and Gary , they love to ride with the guests at the Woodside , showing them around and riding with as friends , not as formal guides .
The Bayfield Peninsula landscape varies greatly – with everything from long flat stretches to choppy , hilly terrain to rugged cliffs creating a delightful experience for riders .
GETTING STARTED
The plan called for me and friends Steve and Greg to leave the Minneapolis area at 5:30 a . m . on a mid-March Friday for east-central North Dakota . The trailer was loaded , bags were packed , kitchen passes were signed and locals in that area were waiting for us . What could possibly go wrong ?
Well , somebody must have tried to “ fool Mother Nature ” like in the old Chiffon commercials , because she threw a nasty weather system at the Upper Midwest overnight . It poured rain , the winds kicked up and then it dipped below freezing overnight , leaving an incredible glaze of ice . All major highways between us and North