Mt. Ashwabay: Where Generations Come to Play
Just south of Bayfield, Mt. Ashwabay has been a gathering spot for families and outdoor lovers for over 76 years, ever since it opened in the late 1940s. What started as a modest alpine ski area has grown into a warm, community-driven hill where stories are made.
Today, families can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and over 40 km of groomed Nordic trails, skijoring and fat bike trails, 12 alpine runs across 65 acres. Lessons and youth programs welcoming little ones and newcomers. In summer, the fun continues with hiking, mountain biking, and community events.
Come ski, play, and make memories together at Mt. Ashwabay Ski and Recreation
For generations, Mt. Ashwabay has been a place where the community comes together to ski, ride, explore, and enjoy the outdoors. More than just a recreation area, it’s a local tradition built on shared experiences, familiar faces, and a love for the seasons that make this place home.
Mt. Ashwabay is operated as a non-profit and thrives on volunteer support, donations, and local community involvement.
Pricing is structured to welcome a wide range of visitors, and they even offer special deals for first-timers, youth, seniors, etc.
The chalet, warming area, snack bar, and rental shop are friendly, modest, and focused on the outdoor experience rather than flashy infrastructure.
With sweeping views of Lake Superior and a relatively intimate vertical drop (317 ft), the beauty of nature is always part of the experience.
Owner; Kylmala Truss
Professor; State University of New York (retired)
Regional Director; Otto Bremer Trust
College Enrollment Consultant & Former President; National Association for College Admission Counseling
Architect/Owner; DSGW Architects
Partner; Ehlers & Pierce CPAs (semi-retired)
Owner & Engineer; Ashland Industries (retired)
Owner; Howl Adventure Center
Vice President; Northern State Bank
As a non-profit, Mt. Ashwabay would be nothing without our generous volunteers and donors. Explore the ways you can get involved and keep Mt. Ashwabay running.
Mt. Ashwabay was established as a small alpine ski hill serving the communities of Ashland, Washburn, and Bayfield. The hill quickly became a winter gathering place for local families and outdoor enthusiasts.
Mt. Ashwabay expanded its recreation offerings by adding Nordic ski trails, transforming the hill into a broader outdoor recreation destination with cross-country skiing opportunities.
A permanent tent theater opened near Mt. Ashwabay, launching what became the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua. The 900-seat blue canvas tent quickly became one of the Midwest’s most unique summer music venues, hosting artists like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Emmylou Harris.
Planning began to expand programming beyond the summer tent season, leading to indoor venues and partnerships that would support year-round music and arts.
The Backstage opened to provide a small indoor venue for concerts and community events, allowing programming to continue outside the summer tent season.
StageNorth first opened in 2001 in Washburn as a small community theater, later relocating in 2007 to a new purpose-built facility overlooking Lake Superior. Founded by local creatives and built with strong community involvement, the 150-seat venue quickly became a staple of the South Shore arts scene, hosting live music, theater, and performances in an intimate setting. Today, under the operation of Big Top Chautauqua, StageNorth continues to serve as a year-round extension of the region’s performing arts presence, connecting local talent and touring acts with audiences in the Bayfield area.
The Alliance now supports programming across four locations:
• Mt. Ashwabay, outdoor recreation and education
• Big Top Chautauqua, large summer concert venue
• StageNorth, performing arts venue in Washburn
• The Backstage, intimate indoor music venue
