John Murphy and Joe Groshek are avid fat bikers and are dedicated to creating and maintaining fat bike trails in our area. Joe says fat biking is very different than mountain biking. For one, the tires are more than four inches wide, compared to less than three inches on mountain bikes. You can also bike year-round and can go anywhere on snow, sand or ice on a fat bike. You can climb anywhere with gears that shift easily and smooth pedaling. One big difference with a fat bike is its weight, which is considerably heavier than road bikes; 1 mile of fat biking is about the same as 15 miles of road biking. Fat bikes are also slower, but they give you plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. These two guys created an activity they call “fat bike safaris” as a way to educate riders in a group led by an experienced guide. Joe’s favorite adventure is biking on Lake Superior ice but warns that you must know what you’re doing since conditions can change rapidly on Lake Superior. John has fascinating stories about wolves and tracking them in the forest. Wolves often separate into smaller groups and when they return to their pack, they re-greet each other just like domestic dogs, wagging their tails and rolling on their backs. And if you are fearful about running into wolves, don’t be. They are very cautious and will keep their distance from humans.

October is the perfect time for family fun and corn mazes. Bayfield County has two very popular corn mazes: one in Oulu and the other at White River Ag in Mason, Wis. The Oulu Corn Maze has been around many years. Each year, the owners come up with a new design to make it more interesting for repeat visitors. Everyone gets a punch card that is stamped every time they get to a different station within the maze and then the card is turned in at the end for prizes, hot cider and treats. The weekend before Halloween, the maze is turned into a haunted experience for those who love to get spooked. At White River Ag, there are different activities for the kids, including a hay pyramid they can climb.

With travel restrictions in place to help stop the spread of the COVID 19 virus, Co-hosts Nancy Christopher and Mary Motiff, Director of Bayfield County Tourism, are doing their part to keep their distance. This is a slightly edited version of a previous episode. They talked with Jennifer Maziasz, the Recreation Manager for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest about all the ways to explore and enjoy the nearly 1.5 million acres of public lands and waterways in Bayfield County.

No matter what time of year, Bayfield County is a great place to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect with nature. On this episode, Mary Motiff talks about what makes Bayfield County a great place to get away from it all. Half a million acres of public land offer an abundance of ways to recreate outdoors in some of the most beautiful and scenic parts of the state.

On this episode of Bayfield County Wild, we talk to the area’s foremost authority on ice fishing and why Bayfield County is ideal for this popular pastime. Plus, will there be access to the famous ice caves on frozen Lake Superior this year? Our guest from the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore fills us in on the details and why these magnificent ice formations draw thousands to the Northwoods.

If you love snow, this is a great time to be in Bayfield County! With more than 30-inches of the white stuff falling overnight in December followed by numerous other storms, the Nordic ski trail systems are packed and groomed for outstanding skiing and snowshoeing. We chat with the new operations manager at Mt. Ashwabay about their plans for an entire season of family fun.

We are having “snow” much fun this episode as Director of Tourism Mary Motiff gets us ready for our favorite winter activities in Bayfield County. Owner and Brew master Bo Belanger shares what he calls his “living room” vibe at the South Shore Brewery, and Mary reveals some of Santa’s hang outs, the best bazaars to shop and lots of other events to get you in the holiday spirit.

You can learn a lot about a community’s local culture at its eateries. On this episode, Director of Tourism, Mary Motiff, shares some of the food experiences to savor in Bayfield County and takes us to the Old Rittenhouse Inn to find out about a local, holiday tradition that has been bringing the community together for more than 50 years. Plus, a film festival, wine weekend and other events to discover this November.

Pumpkin farms and cornfields are the perfect backdrop for the ever-more popular corn mazes. Director of Tourism Mary Motiff tells us about two in Bayfield County, plus takes us to the Delta Diner. Located almost literally in the middle of nowhere, the perfectly restored diner has not only earned a national reputation for its unique menu, but it has become a destination for experiential diners. Plus, a preview of the County’s signature October event and other things to do this October!

September is a wonderful time to be in Bayfield County. The farmers are getting ready for what is expected to be a great apple harvest. New in the County are the hard cideries that can be found in the hills surrounding Bayfield. Director of Tourism Mary Motiff talks about the different types of cidery experiences and farm stores and takes us to Sunset Valley Orchards to hear about the best cider in Bayfield County.