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- All You Need to Know About Birkie Ski Passes
A Birkie Trail Pass is required for each person to ski on the 100+ kilometer Birkie Trail System from December 1 through March 31.
Birkie Trail Ski Passes are available for purchase in early November each year.
Now that the Birkie Trail is opened for the season, the Birkie Trail Pass gives you access to all groomed ski trails within the American Birkebeiner Trail System, including the Birkie Trail, the Birkie Classic Trail, the loops at the Birkie Trailhead, the connector loops at OO, Birkie Ridge, Hatchery Park, and all of the North End Trails. The ABSF makes a generous contribution to North End Ski Club for use of their trailhead to access the Birkie Trail. Night skiing, under the lights, can be found at the OO Trailhead and Hatchery Park loops.
Donations are welcome from other trail users including snow-shoers, mountain bikers, hikers, runners and Nordic walkers.
Birkie Trail Ski Pass Proceeds Fund the Following Trail Maintenance & Projects
- Snow Grooming
- Equipment and maintenance
- Trail Mowing, Brushing & Removing of Downed Trees
- Replacing & Updating Signage and Gates
- Erosion Control
- Lighting of 5km of trails
- Parking lot plowing and upkeep
- Restrooms at the “OO” and Mosquito Brook Trailheads
By order of the Sawyer County Board of Directors, no person may use that portion of the American Birkebeiner Trail System in Sawyer County between December 1 and March 31 unless they have purchased a Trail Pass. Sawyer County grants to the named holder of a Trail Pass a revocable temporary license to access the Trail System. Funds collected by sellers of Trail Passes are remitted to the County, which provides funds to the ABSF to maintain the Trail System. Sellers of Trail Passes act only as the agent of the County in collecting Trail Pass fees.
The ABSF spends over $350,000 annually to maintain the nationally recognized and award-winning Birkie Trail system. Depending on the time of the ski season, the ABSF offers three pass options:
Please note: now that we have natural snow that can be groomed, the Early Season is now over. The standard Birkie Trail Pass is now the only pass you need.
- A standard Birkie Trail Pass
- This is now the only pass you need. It gives you access to the entire groomed Birkie Trail!
- An Early Season Snow Pass (NEW in 2018!)
- This is a snow-making loop that is groomed and tracked before there is enough natural snow to groom the Birkie Trail.
- A Combo Birkie Trail Pass AND Early Season Snow Pass (NEW in 2018!)
We depend on the revenue from all ski passes to make certain that the Birkie Trail system remains the No. 1 cross-country ski destination in the nation. Please make certain every skier in your family has the appropriate ski pass!
Daily Pass Pricing for ANY Day (Birkie Trail or Early Season):
| PASS TYPE | PRICE |
| Adult (ages 19+) | $10 |
| Family (2 adults and children ages 13-18 with same address) | $25 |
| Youth (Ages 13 - 18) | $5 |
| Team Bus | $75 |
| Kids (12 and under) | Free |
Season Pass Pricing:
| PASS TYPE | Birkie Trail Pass ONLY (valid once the greater Birkie Trail officially opens) | Early Season Snow Pass ONLY | Birkie Trail Pass AND Early Season Snow Pass |
| Adult (ages 19+) | $50 | $50 | $80 |
| Family (2 adults and children ages 13-18 with same address) | $125 | $125 | $200 |
| Youth (Ages 13 - 18) | $25 | $25 | $40 |
| Kids (12 and under) | Free | Free | Free |
Annual and Daily Passes Can Be Purchased Online
Buy a Birkie Trail Pass Online!
Annual passes can also be purchased in-person at the following locations ONLY:
All annual passes will be mailed within 10 days of purchase. Your purchase receipt will act as your pass in the meantime. Please have your annual pass displayed visibly on you at all times while skiing. Annual passes are personalized with each skier’s name and include a carabiner, or you can upgrade to an armband for $5, as an option for wearing while skiing.
Birkie Trail Daily passes are available for purchase at the following locations:
At the trail heads look for the large yellow deposit tubes and wooden stands for the envelopes. Season ski passes should be purchased at one of the locations above – they are not available to purchase at the trailheads.
NEW IN 2018! While the standard “Birkie Trail Pass” is required to ski on the groomed Birkie Trail from December through March, the ABSF is pleased to announce early season skiing on our first-ever, man-made snow loop at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead near Cable, WI! A separate “Early Season Snow Pass” is required to ski on the man-made snow loop. Early Season Snow Passes are required until the greater Birkie Trail opens for the season. Revenue from the Early Season Snow Pass will help to offset the costs of snowmaking efforts and early trail and snow preparation at the venue.
