Category Archives: Reports

Parent section — don’t assign

Ski Trail Report

Happy Earth Day! We are very grateful to be in such an amazing part of the Earth. The spring is always a special time of year with the ice going off the lake and the sounds echoing through the forest. A great time of year to be in the woods and one of the best times for hiking and biking with no bugs etc.

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.

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.

Mountain Bike Trail Report

Happy Earth Day!

The mountain bike trails are open for riding. Damp conditions today after an early morning rain shower but looks to be dry the rest of the day and trails are open. Might be a few slick spots here and there in the low areas with high humidity but the rain was welcomed as it was dry and dusty in a few spots!

Trail is drying out nicely after the winter thaw and firming up good. Typical early season conditions ranging from tacky to a loamy surface and a few soft areas but very rideable and firming up more each day and with rider traffic and dry weather. Rain has actually been helpful last week to help tighten up the deck.

We have started clearing on the course, blowing out leaves, sticks and deadfall on the singletrack. We should complete the clearing of the entire LagChilada course by today or Wednesday. We hope to have most of the signage out this week as well.

Nice job to riders notching the first LagChilada over the weekend! The LagChilada signs are out, click on the above link for the exact course. T-shirts for anyone that completes the loop in one ride and a belt buckle for those that do a double in one day!

 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!

Bullhead Bootleg singletrack, April 21st, 2025.
Singletrack April 19th, 2025.
Twin Lakes roots! April 19th, 2025.
Twin Lakes rock garden, April 19th, 2025.
Riding Friday April 18th, 2025.
Clearing singletrack, April 17th, 2025.

Mountain Bike Trail Report

The mountain bike trails are open for riding. Great day of riding for Easter Sunday and another great day of early season riding on tap today! Nice job to riders notching the first LagChilada over the weekend.

Trail is drying out nicely after the winter thaw and firming up good. Typical early season conditions ranging from tacky to a loamy surface and a few soft areas but very rideable and firming up more each day and with rider traffic and dry weather. Rain has actually been helpful last week to help tighten up the deck.

We have started clearing on the course, blowing out leaves, sticks and deadfall on the singletrack. We have cleared most of the inner singletrack and also Bullhead Bootleg to the east. We hope to have most of the signage out this week. Twin Lakes loop is a bit softer but rideable with no mud. Watch for a few downed trees on Hudson’s Hula loop.

Use Strava or Trailforks for reference. 

Singletrack April 19th, 2025.
Twin Lakes roots! April 19th, 2025.
Twin Lakes rock garden, April 19th, 2025.
Riding Friday April 18th, 2025.
Clearing singletrack, April 17th, 2025.

Mountain Bike Trail Report

The mountain bike trails are open for riding. Great day of riding on tap for Easter Sunday! Typical early season conditions with a loamy surface and a few soft areas but very rideable and firming up more each day and with rider traffic.

We have started clearing on the course, blowing out leaves, sticks and deadfall on the singletrack. We have cleared most of the inner singletrack and also Bullhead Bootleg to the east. We have 2-3 weeks to get all the signage out and best to ride if familiar with the trails. Twin Lakes loop is a bit softer but rideable with no mud. Watch for a few downed trees on Hudson’s Hula loop.

The secondary signage will take a few weeks place out, use Strava or Trailforks for reference. 

Singletrack April 19th, 2025.
Twin Lakes roots! April 19th, 2025.
Twin Lakes rock garden, April 19th, 2025.
Riding Friday April 18th, 2025.
Clearing singletrack, April 17th, 2025.

Mountain Bike Trail Report

The mountain bike trails are open for riding. A cold night with temperature down to 24 degrees. The soil had a light freeze over, best riding will be in the afternoon after it can dry out a bit. Overall a great week of drying. Only day with ran was Thursday. The trail is very rideable, a bit softer but should only improve through the weekend. We have started clearing on the course, blowing out leaves, sticks and deadfall on the singletrack. We have cleared all of the inner singeltrack and also Bullhead Bootleg to the east.

The secondary signage will take a few weeks place out, use Strava or Trailforks for reference. 

Typical early season conditions with loamy/soft areas but rideable. We have 2-3 weeks to get all the signage out and best to ride if familiar with the trails. 

Riding Friday April 18th, 2025.
Clearing singletrack, April 17th, 2025.
Moss lined singletrack, April 13th, 2025.
Bullhead Bootleg singletrack, April 13th, 2025.
One of the many technical sections on the singletrack, April 13th, 2025.
The higher ground segments of the ski trail are relatively dry, the lower and north facing areas are soft and damp, should be avoided by staying on the side. April 12th, 2025.
Mountain bike singletrack, April 12th, 2025. Loamy riding surface. 
Wildflowers emerging from the forest floor! April 12th, 2025.