Time to Play in the Snow
With over 400 miles of groomed and marked snowmobile trails that wind through majestic forest and scenic meadows, Shawano Country (Shawano County and Menominee County) is a snowmobiler's paradise. ATVs can be used on most of the trails (with the exception of the Mountain Bay and Wiouwash Trails) when the temperature is below 28 degrees and when snowmobile trails are open.

The Mountain Bay Trail is a former 83-mile railroad corridor between Green Bay and Wausau. The Shawano County portion is 51 miles between the villages of Pulaski and Eland. The Wiouwash State Trail and the Mountain Bay Trail intersection in the village of Eland. The Shawano County portion of the Wiouwash State Trail is 23 miles between Split rock and the village of Aniwa.

The Thornton Trailriders Snowmobile Club's 14th annual Cabin Fever Ride will be Saturday, Jan. 29. Club members and volunteers take approximately 60 developmentally disabled adults and children from the area for a snowmobile ride with lunch afterwards. Anyone with sleds, especially two-ups, is welcome to join the fun. Contact Tim at (715) 524-3339 for details.

Local sport shops have snowmobiles for rent. For trail conditions and information, call the Shawano County automated trial openings and conditions report, (715) 524-4349. The local club, the Shawano Lake Sno*Blasters grooms the local trails. For more about the club, go to www.shawanosnowblasters.com.

In addition to snowmobiling, visitors can enjoy cross-country ski trails and festivals during the winter.

The 47th annual Gresham Winter Carnival will be Saturday, Jan. 29. The festival includes a fishing tournament, radar run, raffle prizes, all sponsored by the local Lions Club, and held at Johnson-Redmond Lions Park, Gresham.

The first ever Sled Fest at North Chase will be Saturday, Jan. 29. Speed runs will be held at Rusty's Sled Shop on Hwy. S in Sobieski, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (registration 8-11 a.m.). There will be tours of the Chase Stone Barn, hole-in-one contest for a new snowmobile, food, raffles, live music and Snow Bunny contest. North Chase is northeast of Pulaski.

Here are some suggestions for scenic cross-country ski trails:
Shawano Lake County Park – W5785 Lake Dr., Shawano
Wilson Lake County Park – Two miles west of Wittenberg on Nightingale Road.
Maple Hills Recreation Area – (sledding also available) – Hwy. 22 two miles south of Shawano. Three miles of groomed hilly trails for cross-country skiing, large lighted sledding hill with parking facilities.
Navarino Nature Center and Wildlife Area – 12 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. Many trails on the wildlife are left nature for the winter and are open to snowshoeing. Snowshoe rentals available at the center. Gentle sloping sledding hill next to the nature center. Visit www.navarino.org or call (715) 758-6999 for updated information. From Shawano, take Hwy. K south to Townline Road, turn left on Townline, turn right onto McDonald Road and turn left onto Lindsten Road.

The Navarino Center sponsors a number snowshoe hikes on its trails, including special candlelight hikes on Jan. 28 & 29, Feb. 18 & 19.