All posts by Jay Richards

Bike Trail

Mountain Bike Trail Report

The mountain bike trails are open. Great weekend of riding in place with lovely spring weather. Might be a few soft/wet areas from over 3″ of rain this week but very rideable and overall good early season conditions.  Ride the berms high and wide, any low areas that have water, ride around. Riding through makes ruts and holds the water longer. With all the recent rain, conditions are a bit soft mainly in the low areas. 

We have been busy doing trail work the past two weeks, blowing out the entire 25 mile LagChilada course the past two weeks. Secondary signage is up and the LagChilada course is marked.  Up next for trail work will be dirt work throughout the course, taking advantage of the damp and soft soil to form and repair berms, drainage etc. 

The LagChilada challenge remains in place, handful of riders already completed this year! The LagChilada encompasses all the trails at Maplelag. Click here for more details. 

 Maps: Trailforks and click on Maplelag map for reference of the trails. 

Maplelag is a family owned and operated business. We are one of the few MTB trail systems in the Midwest that maintain the trails ourselves with no outside funding or assistance and pay property taxes that in turn help support other trails in the state! Please consider a trail pass to offset some of our expenses. We love to mountain bike and share the trail with others…what it is all about! Thank you! 

Bear Pass singletrack, May 1st, 2025.
Taking the C line on the singletrack, April 30th, 2025. Many areas on the singletrack provide opportunities for different lines adding other the fun!
High point on Bullhead Bootleg loop, April 29th, 2025.
Moss lined singletrack on “Pirate’s Pass” singletrack, April 29th, 2025.
Moss lined singletrack on the Twin Lakes bridge segment, April 28th, 2025.
Start of first singletrack, April 28th, 2025.
Bear Pass singletrack, April 28th, 2025.
Great dirt and riding on Sunday capping off a sweet weekend of mountain biking on the Maplelag trails, April 27th, 2025.
Saturday riders, April 26th, 2025. (P.Arneson photo)
Navigating the Gnar, “North Loup Gnar”, April 26th, 2025. (PA photo)
Great early season riding on “Feeling Lucky”, April 26th, 2025. 
Wildflowers blooming big time today, April 26th, 2025.
Lakeside singletrack, April 26th, 2025.
Nature, Ski Trail

Trail and Woods Report

Happy May! Beautiful sunshine on Saturday and a really nice weekend in place. Wet conditions to kick off the month and the end of last month. Just under an inch of rain on Thursday and just over 2″ on Monday. Overall the rain was welcomed and has really brought the moss and grass on ski trails to life. With a little warmth to come, the woods should really “spring” to life. 

Spring is evident more each day with wildflowers and flora emerging from the forest flor. A great time of year to be in the woods and one of the best times for hiking and biking with no bugs etc. to take in the sounds of spring with birds, waterfowl and frogs echoing through the woods. 

The ice went off Little Sugarbush on April 16th and on nearby lakes. The loons have returned and the water is busy with a nice variety of waterfowl. The ice off is always a special time of year, marking the transitions of seasons from winter to spring. 

The trails are drying up and we are back in the woods doing trail work, focusing on the mountain bike trails. We are clearing sticks, branches and blowing out leafy areas but also cutting deadfall off the ski trail, cutting in to blocks and splitting for firewood for winter season 2025/26.. 

The mountain bike trails are open, click here for report. Nice to see folks out. this year so far.

A few wildflowers are emerging from the forest floor and and a few other signs of flora on the forest floor and the grounds slowly greening up.

Thanks everyone who supports the trails at Maplelag. We had a fun run to end the ski season. We appreciate you very much and can’t wait to have folks back on the trail for dirt season. Stay tuned for more updates.

Bloodroot flowers ready to emerge from the forest floor, May 1st, 2025. The woods should really start to come to life with warm weather moving in.
North end of Little Sugarbush lake, May 1st, 2025. Water tables and lake levels are above normal with recent rain and good moisture from winter snow.
Maplelag creek running good after 1.3″ of recent rainfall on April 28th, 2025.
Hepatica flowers blooming in full force today, April 26th, 2025.
Trumpeter swans on Kohlepp’s pond, April 23rd, 2025.
Evening scene along Mother North Star, April 21st, 2025.
Mossy ski trail, April 21st, 2025.
Busy beaver on a large oak tree. April 21s,t 2025. 
Group of trumpeter swans enjoying ice free Little Sugarbush lake, April 17th, 2025.
Bullhead lake ice free, April 13th, 2025.
Sunset over Little Sugarbush lake as seen in front of the new sauna, April 15th, 2025.
Edge of Little Sugarbush lake, April 13th, 2025.
Sunday night lightning, April 13th, 2025.
Bike Trail

Mountain Bike Trail Report

The mountain bike trails are open. Rain most of the day on Thursday has the trails a bit damp this morning but very rideable and should only improve throughout the day. Weekend looks great for riding!  Ride the berms high and wide, any low areas that have water, ride around. Riding through makes ruts and holds the water longer. With all the recent rain, conditions are a bit soft mainly in the low areas. 

We have been busy doing trail work the past two weeks, blowing out the entire 25 mile LagChilada course the past two weeks. Secondary signage is up and the LagChilada course is marked.  Up next for trail work will be dirt work throughout the course, taking advantage of the damp and soft soil to form and repair berms, drainage etc. 

The LagChilada challenge remains in place, handful of riders already completed this year! The LagChilada encompasses all the trails at Maplelag. Click here for more details. 

 Maps: Trailforks and click on Maplelag map for reference of the trails. 

Maplelag is a family owned and operated business. We are one of the few MTB trail systems in the Midwest that maintain the trails ourselves with no outside funding or assistance and pay property taxes that in turn help support other trails in the state! Please consider a trail pass to offset some of our expenses. We love to mountain bike and share the trail with others…what it is all about! Thank you! 

Bear Pass singletrack, May 1st, 2025.
Taking the C line on the singletrack, April 30th, 2025. Many areas on the singletrack provide opportunities for different lines adding other the fun!
High point on Bullhead Bootleg loop, April 29th, 2025.
Moss lined singletrack on “Pirate’s Pass” singletrack, April 29th, 2025.
Moss lined singletrack on the Twin Lakes bridge segment, April 28th, 2025.
Start of first singletrack, April 28th, 2025.
Bear Pass singletrack, April 28th, 2025.
Great dirt and riding on Sunday capping off a sweet weekend of mountain biking on the Maplelag trails, April 27th, 2025.
Saturday riders, April 26th, 2025. (P.Arneson photo)
Navigating the Gnar, “North Loup Gnar”, April 26th, 2025. (PA photo)
Great early season riding on “Feeling Lucky”, April 26th, 2025. 
Wildflowers blooming big time today, April 26th, 2025.
Lakeside singletrack, April 26th, 2025.
Nature, Ski Trail

Trail and Woods Report

Happy May Day! Wet conditions to kick off the month and the end of last month. Just over a half inch of rain on Thursday and rain on Monday just over 2″. Overall the rain was welcomed and has really brought the moss and grass on ski trails to life. With a little warmth to come, the woods should really “spring” to life.

Spring is evident more each day with wildflowers and flora emerging from the forest flor. A great time of year to be in the woods and one of the best times for hiking and biking with no bugs etc. to take in the sounds of spring with birds, waterfowl and frogs echoing through the woods. 

The ice went off Little Sugarbush on April 16th and on nearby lakes. The loons have returned and the water is busy with a nice variety of waterfowl. The ice off is always a special time of year, marking the transitions of seasons from winter to spring. 

The trails are drying up and we are back in the woods doing trail work, focusing on the mountain bike trails. We are clearing sticks, branches and blowing out leafy areas but also cutting deadfall off the ski trail, cutting in to blocks and splitting for firewood for winter season 2025/26.. 

The mountain bike trails are open, click here for report. Nice to see folks out. this year so far.

A few wildflowers are emerging from the forest floor and and a few other signs of flora on the forest floor and the grounds slowly greening up.

Thanks everyone who supports the trails at Maplelag. We had a fun run to end the ski season. We appreciate you very much and can’t wait to have folks back on the trail for dirt season. Stay tuned for more updates.

Maplelag creek running good after 1.3″ of recent rainfall on April 28th, 2025.
Hepatica flowers blooming in full force today, April 26th, 2025.
Trumpeter swans on Kohlepp’s pond, April 23rd, 2025.
Evening scene along Mother North Star, April 21st, 2025.
Mossy ski trail, April 21st, 2025.
Busy beaver on a large oak tree. April 21s,t 2025. 
Group of trumpeter swans enjoying ice free Little Sugarbush lake, April 17th, 2025.
Bullhead lake ice free, April 13th, 2025.
Sunset over Little Sugarbush lake as seen in front of the new sauna, April 15th, 2025.
Edge of Little Sugarbush lake, April 13th, 2025.
Sunday night lightning, April 13th, 2025.
Hepatica flowers ready to bloom thanks to warm nights and sunshine, April 12th, 2025.
Bike Trail

Mountain Bike Trail Report

The mountain bike trails are open for riding. Wet conditions after more rain this morning.  Ride the berms high and wide, any low areas that have water, ride around. Riding through makes ruts and holds the water longer.  Trails should roll better by Friday afternoon and looks like to be a good weekend of riding. With all the recent rain, conditions are a bit soft mainly in the low areas.

We have been busy doing trail work the past two weeks, blowing out the entire 25 mile LagChilada course the past two weeks. Secondary signage is up and the LagChilada course is marked.  Up next for trail work will be dirt work throughout the course, taking advantage of the damp and soft soil to form and repair berms, drainage etc. 

The LagChilada challenge remains in place, handful of riders already completed this year! The LagChilada encompasses all the trails at Maplelag. Click here for more details. 

 Maps: Trailforks and click on Maplelag map for reference of the trails. 

Maplelag is a family owned and operated business. We are one of the few MTB trail systems in the Midwest that maintain the trails ourselves with no outside funding or assistance and pay property taxes that in turn help support other trails in the state! Please consider a trail pass to offset some of our expenses. We love to mountain bike and share the trail with others…what it is all about! Thank you! 

Taking the C line on the singletrack, April 30th, 2025. Many areas on the singletrack provide opportunities for different lines adding other the fun!
High point on Bullhead Bootleg loop, April 29th, 2025.
Moss lined singletrack on “Pirate’s Pass” singletrack, April 29th, 2025.
Moss lined singletrack on the Twin Lakes bridge segment, April 28th, 2025.
Start of first singletrack, April 28th, 2025.
Bear Pass singletrack, April 28th, 2025.
Great dirt and riding on Sunday capping off a sweet weekend of mountain biking on the Maplelag trails, April 27th, 2025.
Saturday riders, April 26th, 2025. (P.Arneson photo)
Navigating the Gnar, “North Loup Gnar”, April 26th, 2025. (PA photo)
Great early season riding on “Feeling Lucky”, April 26th, 2025. 
Wildflowers blooming big time today, April 26th, 2025.
Lakeside singletrack, April 26th, 2025.
Twin Lakes singletrack, April 24th, 2025.