Warm weather closed snowmobile, fat bike trails

At IRONBULL's Last Hurrah, Chris Schotz flies by enroute to a 2nd place finish in the 20k fat tire bike race. Photo credit: Coates Photography

Warmer-than-usual late February temperatures have shut down a number of the area's trails this week. 

Marathon County announced over the weekend that all county snowmobile trails closed as of Monday morning. Trails had only opened Feb. 14, making a pretty short season without colder temperatures and more snow. 

The warm temperatures also closed down all of the fat bike trails in the county. Ringle and Nine Mile Forest had been opened and groomed. 

Officials from the Wausau/Marathon County Parks Department announced that cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Nine Mile remain open as of Monday morning. They also say outdoor ice rinks are closed until temperatures are more amenable. 

That’s not likely to change soon with temperatures forecast a week out into the 30s and 40s.