All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail

Woods and Trail Report

Happy May! Beautiful weather this week with slightly warmer temps moving in Sunday. The warm weather has really brought the forest to life with leaves popping out and the underbrush and forest floor exploding with wild flowers and the coveted morel mushroom.  With just over 3″ of rain last week and water tables at and slightly above normal there is ample moisture for the woods to be healthy. 

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.

Bear up on the northern part of the trail system, May 9th, 2025.
Marsh marigolds blooming in full force in recent days, May 10th, 2025.
Tamarack buds, May 10th, 2025.
Ferns emerging from Sugarbush creek, May 8th, 2025.
Tracks on tracks! Bear track on the mountain bike singletrack, May 6th, 2025.
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. Conditions don’t get much better for this time of year. Great temps and the riding deck has firmed up nicely after the recent rain. Track isn’t buffed out like August or September but for this time of year about as good as it gets. No bugs and great sight lines….one of the best times of year to ride! As always, watch for any deadfall that has fallen. We try to clear any trees as soon as possible but with 25 miles of trail, trees can fall down across the trail even if no storms or wind.

This past week we started dirt work, tuning sections of the course, focusing mainly on the Sport/Comp/Expert loop. 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. 

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 locally and 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.

Bullhead Bootleg singletrack, May 10th, 2025.
Twin Lakes track, May 10th, 2025.
Twin Lakes singletrack lakeside, May 10th, 2025.
Twin Lakes rock garden, May 10th, 2025.
Ski Trail

Trail and Woods Report

Happy May! Beautiful weather this week with slightly warmer temps moving in. The warm weather has really brought the forest to life with leaves popping out and the underbrush and forest floor exploding with wild flowers and the coveted morel mushroom.  With just over 3″ of rain last week and water tables at and slightly above normal there is ample moisture for the woods to be healthy. 

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.

Ferns emerging from Sugarbush creek, May 8th, 2025.
Tracks on tracks! Bear track on the mountain bike singletrack, May 6th, 2025.
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. Conditions don’t get much better for this time of year. Great temps and the riding deck has firmed up nicely after the recent rain. Track isn’t buffed out like August or September but for this time of year about as good as it gets. No bugs and great sight lines….one of the best times of year to ride! As always, watch for any deadfall that has fallen. We try to clear any trees as soon as possible but with 25 miles of trail, trees can fall down across the trail even if no storms or wind.

This week we started dirt work, tuning sections of the course, focusing mainly on the Sport/Comp/Expert loop. 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. 

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 locally and 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.

One of the berms seeing tuning on the singletrack, May 8th, 2025.
Low area that was holding water recently now dried up and tacky! May 6th, 2025. Thanks for riding wide and on the upside on the berms and corners during the recent wet period. By doing so, it prevents ruts in the middle of the track.
Tracks on tracks! See the bear track embedded?!? May 6th, 2025.