Course & Checkpoints

Key info for 2024 (see links to GPX files on main page) – 

  • 80-mile start: Butternut Lake Lodge (on Butternut Lake)
  • 160-mile turnaround: Butternut Lake Lodge (on Butternut Lake)
  • Drop bags
    • 160-mile @ Ojibwa only (see below for more details)
    • 80-mile – none
  • No sleeping inside checkpoints & 60 minute time limit inside checkpoints (including Winter Depot & Birchwood Bobcats)
  • Designated ‘bivy’ locations (where we encourage participants to bivy rather than at random spots along the trail).

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The event is held on the Tuscobia State Trail in northern Wisconsin, between Rice Lake and a few miles west of Park Falls, including a 4-mile section of the Wild Rivers State Trail connecting the town of Rice Lake to the Tuscobia State Trail. The course includes ~4 miles of road/trail/lake between the Tuscobia Trail and Butternut Lake Lodge.

Trail conditions will depend on snowfall in the weeks and days leading up to the event. Expect a mix of conditions along the trail with some rough snow, icy patches and even some dirt. The trail may or may not be groomed for snowmobile traffic, depending on snow depth.

Event HQ and finish line for all distances is the KC Hall in Rice Lake located at North St. & Nuun Ave.

80-mile: Starts at Butternut Lake Lodge. It will be a SLOW rolling start so that everyone gets on the lake safely. Cross the lake, follow the signs and after ~4 miles you will turn right onto the Tuscobia trail here. Continue on the trail for approx. 70 miles, stopping at the Ojibwa checkpoint (mandatory check-in). See map below for access to Ojibwa. After visiting the checkpoint, return to the Tuscobia trail and continue all the way to the end of the trail at Hwy SS. Cross the road and turn left onto the Wild Rivers Trail. See map below. Continue for 4 miles until you see the finish line on the right side of the trail! You won’t miss it.

160-mile: Starts at the KC Hall in Rice Lake. Continue north on the trail for 4 miles at which point you will turn right and cross County Road SS (just before the Hwy 53 underpass) onto the Tuscobia Trail and head east. It’s worth being aware that the first several miles heading east on the Tuscobia Trail are shared with the Ice Age Trail so you will see signs for both. Continue on the Tuscobia Trail until the spur trail to the Ojibwa checkpoint at approximately mile 45 (left turn on your outbound journey). See map below. After visiting the checkpoint (mandatory check-in), continue east on the Tuscobia Trail towards Park Falls. You will turn left off the Tuscobia Trail here – it will be clearly marked. You will follow road/trail/lake for ~4 miles to the checkpoint at Butternut Lake Lodge. After visiting the checkpoint, turn around and repeat in reverse!

Tuscobia Trail – Wild Rivers Trail Junction Mapcapture

Ojibwa Checkpoint Mapojibwa

Checkpoint Rules:

  • Ojibwa Shelter: no sleeping inside; 60 minute time limit
  • Butternut Lake Lodge: no sleeping inside; 60 min time limit
  • Make sure you check in and check out of every checkpoint!

Drop Bags (160-mile only):

  • Drop bag at Ojibwa only (you can access it in both directions)
  • Drop bags will be stored outside the cabin, do not pack liquids
  • Keep your drop bags small (think max. 30L backpack)
  • Label your drop bag with name & bib number
  • Drop off your drop bag at the KC Hall prior to starting start your event
  • Drop bags will be returned to the KC Hall on Sunday (time cannot be guaranteed; we will not ship drop bags)

Other Warming Huts:

  • Winter Train Depot: no sleeping inside; 60 minute time limit
  • Birchwood Bobcats Clubhouse: no sleeping inside; 60 min time limit

Bivy Locations:

  • Butternut Lake Lodge checkpoint (160-mile turnaround)
  • Draper School Campground (has a bathroom) location map
  • Ojibwa checkpoint
  • Radisson Park (has a bathroom) location map
  • Couderay Park location map
  • Birchwood Bobcats Snowmobile Clubhouse location map

These are good locations that we designate as bivy spots to help you plan ahead.

Course Rules: All participants must stay on the Tuscobia & Wild Rivers State Trails at all times, unless course markings placed by event officials direct you otherwise (for checkpoints, or reroutes that may be necessary). Parts of the Tuscobia & Wild Rivers State Trails will cross roads, and will also run on roads, and you should follow the trail/road in this case. But diverting to a road that is near the trail is not okay. Of course, you may leave the trail to access a bathroom, gas station, bar, warm hotel room, etc. – just make sure you rejoin the trail at the same point you exited.

Approximate Distances between Checkpoints

  • Rice Lake – Ojibwa = 45 miles
  • Ojibwa – Butternut Lake Lodge = 35 miles

Local Businesses: If you need to grab food/water along the way, you will have easy access to gas stations and bars (during their opening hours) in the following towns:

  • Birchwood ~16.5 miles east of Rice Lake start/finish
  • Radisson ~6 miles west of Ojibwa checkpoint
  • Winter ~4.5 miles east of Ojibwa checkpoint
  • Loretta / Draper ~20 miles east of Park Falls

Maps: Here is a Tuscobia Trail map which shows mileage between towns along the trail: Tuscobia State Trail Map

Spectators: The Ojibwa checkpoint is in Ojibwa County Park, 4 miles west of Winter and 1 mile east of Ojibwa, on the south side of Hwy 70. No spectators are allowed inside any checkpoints. Feel free to walk out the spur trail and onto the Tuscobia Trail. It is a very pretty section!