All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail

Woods and Trail Report

A relatively dry 10 days after a wet start to the month. We have been missing most of the recent storms. Woods are still very lush and green from the overall wet summer. We have been working on the trail when we can amongst the projects at Maplelag, clearing deadfall and mowing on the inner trails. 

A busy month of July clearing trees off the trails after strong winds over 80mph brought down 100’s of tree on the Maplelag property during the “Solstice Storm”. We have cleared nearly 300 trees on the trails so far. We were able to get the 25 mile “LagChilada” mountain bike course open a week after the storm. We are extremely grateful for the professional crew that helped us out. Thank you! 

The woods look a little different in areas from the Solstice Storm but wildlife has been on the move and an interesting variety of mushrooms and lichens popping up along the forest floor as well as the usual wildflowers. 

The mountain bike trails are open, click here for report.  

Support the trails! Day and season pass purchases help us offset costs to maintain the trails. Thanks everyone for the support. 

Nature scene along Mother North Star trail, August 15th, 2025.
Calm Little Sugarbush lake, August 14th, 2025.
Campion flowers blooming, August 13th, 2025.
Oyster mushrooms on a dead maple tree, August 10th, 2025.
Little Sugarbush sunset August 9th, 2025. 
Another round of Chicken of the Woods mushrooms popping up on a oak tree, August 9th, 2025.
Little Sugarbush sunset, August 8th, 2025.
Ski trail mowing, August 1st, 2025.
Natural Knotweed along the trail, August 1st, 2025.
Fog lingering over the marsh area, north end of Little Sugarbush lake, July 28th, 2025.
Decaying oak deadfall providing nutrients for the forest floor, July 28th, 2025.
“Maple” mushroom, July 22nd, 2024.
Ghost pipe mushrooms popping up along the trail this week, July 23rd, 2024.
Tranquil evening on Little Sugarbush, July 17th, 2025.
Bald eagles along Skaters Waltz extension, Ju.ly 16th, 2025. Active nest on Eagle View along Island Lake trail again. 
“Buck” moon over Little Sugarbush lake, July 9th, 2025.
Calm waters on Little Sugarbush, July 8th, 2025.
Clearing on Sukkerbusk ski trail, June 27th, 2025.
Black Eyed Susan along the trail, June 28th, 2025.
Yarrow along the trail, June 28th, 2025.
Trees still to clear at start of Bullhead lake trail, June 28th, 2025.
Colorful mushrooms sprouting along the trail, June 28th, 2025.
Clearing storm blow down before the start of the LagChilada bike course, June 23rd, 2025.
Thanks Jack and Laurens for your help this week clearing trail!
Thanks Steve and Keith! 
Jens tossing off another log. One of many this week!
Blowdown on the ski trail after the Solstice storm, June 21st, 2025.
Wild Iris flowers blooming the end of this week, June 13th, 2025.
“Strawberry” moon over Little Sugarbush lake, June 12th, 2025. 
Bike Trail

Mountain Bike Trail Report

Trails are open. Dry conditions continue. No rain last night or this morning and another great day of riding on tap! The entire LagChilada was blown out this week and the track is rolling really nice.

Some areas are a little extra root spicy from the weathering this year. Recommended to drop a little tire pressure for better rolling.

We have cleared nearly 300 trees so far since the Solstice Storm. Huge huge thanks to the crew that helped us out!  Be aware trees may fall without warning and assume full responsibility while riding.


Race info for the 35th Laddies Loppet mountain bike race over Labor Day Weekend


The LagChilada challenge remains in place which encompasses all the trails at Maplelag. Click here for more details.  Secondary signage is up and the LagChilada course is marked. Click here for the Strava map which can be downloaded. Nice job to everyone completing the challenge this year including the riders doing a double!! 


 Maps: Trailforks and click on Maplelag map for reference of the trails. 
The Maplelag trails are described as classic or old style. Featuring more narrow singletrack with roots and rocks and generally more technical in nature. A good beginner loop is the Citizen Loop and a good intermediate loop is the Sport loop. 


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.

Dry conditions on the track, August 14th, 2025.
First signs of fall on the forest floor! August 14th, 2025.
Clearing on the trail, August 14th, 2025.
Rolling at the end of Feeling Lucky starter loop, August 13th, 2025.
Starter loop singletrack, August 13th, 2025.
Lakeside singletrack, August 13th, 2025.
Blowing out trail, August 13th, 2025.
Mossy berm on Hudson’s Hula singletrack, August 13th, 2025.
Great riding on Bullhead Bootleg after clearing earlier this week, August 12th, 2025.
Beautiful morning lakeside! August 13th, 2025.
“Toot” singletrack, August 10th, 2025.


Sunny at the start of the LagChilada, August 9th, 2025.

Bike Trail

Trails are open. Dry conditions continue. No rain last night or this morning and we look to be dry today. Yesterday was a great day for riding and trail work. The starter loop, SukkerWest and the original Twin Lakes Loop was cleared and blown out. Today we are grooming on inner trail Bjorps and Moorhead which will bring the entire LagChilada blown out since Monday.

The track is rolling good to excellent. Some areas are a little extra root spicy from the weathering this year. Recommended to drop a little tire pressure for better rolling.

We have cleared nearly 300 trees so far since the Solstice Storm. Huge huge thanks to the crew that helped us out!  Be aware trees may fall without warning and assume full responsibility while riding.


Race info for the 35th Laddies Loppet mountain bike race over Labor Day Weekend


The LagChilada challenge remains in place which encompasses all the trails at Maplelag. Click here for more details.  Secondary signage is up and the LagChilada course is marked. Click here for the Strava map which can be downloaded. Nice job to everyone completing the challenge this year including the riders doing a double!! 


 Maps: Trailforks and click on Maplelag map for reference of the trails. 
The Maplelag trails are described as classic or old style. Featuring more narrow singletrack with roots and rocks and generally more technical in nature. A good beginner loop is the Citizen Loop and a good intermediate loop is the Sport loop. 


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.

Rolling at the end of Feeling Lucky starter loop, August 13th, 2025.
Starter loop singletrack, August 13th, 2025.
Lakeside singletrack, August 13th, 2025.
Blowing out trail, August 13th, 2025.
Mossy berm on Hudson’s Hula singletrack, August 13th, 2025.
Great riding on Bullhead Bootleg after clearing earlier this week, August 12th, 2025.
Beautiful morning lakeside! August 13th, 2025.
“Toot” singletrack, August 10th, 2025.


Sunny at the start of the LagChilada, August 9th, 2025.

Bike Trail

Mountain Bike Trail Report

Trails are open. Dry conditions continue. Absolute gorgeous day to ride (and for trail work!) Today we are blowing out the starter loop, first and last part of Twin Lakes (Hudson’s Hula cleared yesterday) and SukkerWest. Yesterday North Loup Gnar was also blown out. The track is rolling good to excellent. Some areas are a little extra root spicy from the weathering this year. Recommended to drop a little tire pressure for better rolling.We are trying to blow out as much trail as we can before the NWC Wolves MTB Camp!

We have cleared nearly 300 trees so far since the Solstice Storm. Huge huge thanks to the crew that helped us out!  Be aware trees may fall without warning and assume full responsibility while riding.


Race info for the 35th Laddies Loppet mountain bike race over Labor Day Weekend


The LagChilada challenge remains in place which encompasses all the trails at Maplelag. Click here for more details.  Secondary signage is up and the LagChilada course is marked. Click here for the Strava map which can be downloaded. Nice job to everyone completing the challenge this year including the riders doing a double!! 


 Maps: Trailforks and click on Maplelag map for reference of the trails. 
The Maplelag trails are described as classic or old style. Featuring more narrow singletrack with roots and rocks and generally more technical in nature. A good beginner loop is the Citizen Loop and a good intermediate loop is the Sport loop. 


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.

Great riding on Bullhead Bootleg after clearing earlier this week, August 12th, 2025.
Beautiful morning lakeside! August 13th, 2025.
“Toot” singletrack, August 10th, 2025.
Twin Lakes singletrack, August 10th, 2025.


Sunny at the start of the LagChilada, August 9th, 2025.
Lakeside singletrack, August 9th, 2025. 
The “gnar” of first half Twin Lakes singletrack, August 9th, 2025. Summer weathering has made for “spicy” conditions. We are trying to blow out as much trail as we can before the NWC Wolves MTB Camp!