Bruce Mound

Wisconsin is often associated with cold weather, but many winter venues like the Bruce Mound ski area never make a visitor's list of places to visit. Established by a local ski club, the facilities have been open since 1948. Clark County has operated it since 1960, with local skiers and riders forming a non-profit to help improve the structures and amenities.

The ski area sits on the eastern edge of Merrillan, Wisconsin. Interstate travelers can use I-94 to Black River Falls before transferring onto US Route 12 to Merrillan. Several local and domestic airfields are closer, but Minneapolis - Saint Paul International Airport (139 miles away in Minnesota) is where most will land.

Not Just for Villagers

The village of Merrillan may only have a few hundred residents, but it also has a well-maintained facility in the Bruce Mound Winter Sports Area. While the village sits in Jackson County, the winter venue is far enough east to be in Clark County. Clark County has a bit more revenue for maintaining operations, which benefits locals who frequent the place. A 501c3 non-profit called the "Friends of Bruce Mound" has been helping to supplement funding to improve the grounds since 2002.

Visitors to the area will need to find lodging accommodations off-site, along the highway, or in Merrillan. The Bruce Mound Winter Sports Area does have a chalet in the base area, where guests can meet up for refueling and socializing before heading back uphill. A fully equipped rental shop has gear for those who arrive without any, making it easy for locals and travelers alike.

Ski and snowboarding lessons will help guests get started, but there are limited areas for newbies to play here. It is a smaller facility, but there is a ski patrol to help keep guests safe and offer aid when needed. Local park rats should also be aware of the Ski and Snowboard Club.

Well Groomed Slopes

The Bruce Mound Winter Sports Area sits in west-central Wisconsin. That means it does not receive the lake-effect snow that winter venues to the north get each year. Average annual snowfall amounts in the area reach 42 inches, requiring Clark County to supplement Nature's bounty. Luckily, the grounds here have snowmaking equipment on about three-quarters of 40 acres of skiable terrain.

Guests skiing or snowboarding at the Bruce Mound Winter Sports Area can also take advantage of the lights for night skiing on roughly 30 acres of the winter venue. The lift system here consists of a triple chairlift and several surface lifts. Surface equipment consists of a T-bar, paddle tow, and rope tow designs. A 375-foot vertical drop offers plenty of potentials for the trail system uphill, with more gentle terrain near the base for beginners at the Bruce Mound venue to enjoy.

Trails here rate as green/beginner (one run/10-percent), blue/intermediate (two runs/20-percent), black diamond/advanced (five runs/50-percent), and double black diamond/expert (two runs/20-percent). Guests looking to rip or shred at the Bruce Mound Winter Sports Area can hit the terrain park (appropriately named "Show Off"). Tube Time offers visitors five lanes of snow tubing for those wanting some family-oriented winter fun.