North End Snowshoe Classic Set to Go on January 3

The North End Ski Club in Cable will present the 7th annual North End Snowshoe Classic on Saturday, January 3, 2026.  After two years of very challenging conditions, when the Snowshoe Classic was held as a trail run in 2024 and cancelled in 2025, the 2026 event will be held on its full course on snow. The area has been graced by plentiful, early snow, which brought with it another set up challenges in the form of heavily snow laden trees obscuring the trails. All trails have been cleared and are in excellent condition for this year’s Snowshoe Classic.

 

The Snowshoe Classic race will start and finish at the North End Trailhead and use a looped route on the North End Classic Ski Trail. Racers find the narrower North End Classic Trail, with its rolling terrain and remote feel, an idyllic trail experience.  The racecourse also uses a few short segments of the main North End Ski Trail and Ojibwe bike trail. Those trails will remain open and there may be snowshoe racers briefly sharing the trail.

 

Starting at the North End Trailhead, two miles south of Cable on Randysek Road, the Snowshoe Classic will offer 5 km and 10 km options. The 10km race will start at 9:45am and the 5km at 10:00. The race is open to the public and all levels of participants are welcome.

 

There will be one aid station on the course with water and energy drink, but participants should bring their own water bottle. The Snowshoe Classic is a low key event that emphasizes having fun and enjoying spending a day on the trails.  Awards will be presented to the overall winners in each race, as well as the first place finisher in each age group. All racers will receive a loaf of homemade bread from Tilly’s Pies and a jar of homemade jam from the UCC church.

 

All of the North End Ski Trails will remain open except the North End Classic Trail, which will be closed until about 12:00 noon. If possible, efforts will be made to regroom the trail at that time.

 

Registration is online only and there will be no on-site race day registration. Racers may register online at https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=415318 or by visiting www.northendskiclub.org. Registration closes at 6:00 pm on Friday, January 2, but to be guaranteed a full goodie bag, racers must register by December 29. Registration is $31 for racers over age 12. The fee for participants under 12 is $15 with a goodie bag, or free without a goodie bag.  Proceeds benefit the North End Ski Club with $1.00 of every entry to be donated to the Great Divide Ambulance Service to support their important efforts in the Cable community.

 

Bib pick-up will take place at the North End Cabin on Saturday, January 3 at 9:00 am. Full race details can be found at: https://northendskiclub.org/north-end-snowshoe-classic/.

 

For additional information, contact Shelly Wilson, shellywilson68@gmail.com, (715)307-3720.

 

 

The North End Trailhead is home to 30km of regularly groomed cross country ski trails and 10 kilometers of well-marked and mapped snowshoe trails.  Based in the Bayfield County Forest, the trails traverse deeply wooded and remote terrain, and provide a perfect opportunity to escape from the every day. The Bayfield County Forest rustic yurt is available for rental and is easily accessible from the ski, snowshoe and bike trails. The North End Ski Club is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization that has developed and maintains the North End trails and cozy warming cabin. For more information, visit www.northendskiclub.org.