Chequamegon Thrills & Lakeside Chills: Trapper Lake Cabin for a Fall Family Weekend

Our family recently made a full weekend of the Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival, staying at Trapper Lake Cabin. Between racing the Little Logger, Short & Fat, and the full Chequamegon 40, we swam in the lake, had cabin chill time, and enjoyed the quiet of the Northwoods. Here’s what it was like to mix family time, fall colors, and a big Midwest mountain biking tradition.

To learn more about where we stayed, visit Trapper Lake Cabin on Airbnb. Plus message the host and mention the Nxrth for a 10% discount.

This past weekend, our family headed up for our annual fall getaway and our first-ever Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival experience. Last year we came up to Cable just to watch all of our favorite pros race in the Life Time Grand Prix and then got hooked on the idea of finding a way for the whole family to ride it this year.

We stayed at Trapper Lake Cabin, a newly renovated spot about 20 minutes northeast of Cable, nestled near Lake Namekagon and not far from the CAMBA Namekagon trail cluster. Between kids races on Friday and the big races on Saturday, we weren't sure how much down time we'd bet but Trapper Lake Cabin ended up being the perfect spot to relax, play, and be fully present in the Northwoods for the weekend.

Lakeside Cabin Chills

Our friends Megan and Dan have this freshly renovated lakeside cabin about 20 minutes northeast of Cable where they offered to let us stay for the weekend. Set near Lake Namekagon and within easy reach of the CAMBA trail system and gravel routes, it was a great place to settle in for our family's first weekend of the Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival. The lake itself is nice and quiet, sandy bottom, and cozy. Even though there was some fall chill in the air, we couldn't resist a few sunny family swims.

The cabin has a modern feel with vintage charm while keeping the cozy Northwoods atmosphere. Large windows overlook the lake, the yard opens up for campfires, dock swims, and downtime, and the bike-friendly touches, like covered hanging bike racks and tool stand right by the door, made it easy to come and go for riding.

It’s a place that feels like it was built with both quiet mornings and full days of adventure in mind. We unpacked quickly, made ourselves at home, started cooking with the fully stocked kitchen supplies while the kids piled up on the couch with blankets and we had everything we needed to enjoy a weekend of bike time and chill time.

We also made time to just enjoy being by the water. The kids went out on the lake solo with the paddle boat for their very first time, we all jumped in for a few swims, and one afternoon we had lunch outside on the patio with the lake in front of us and pine trees all around. Weekends like this with kids can be really hit or miss, but this weekend was a gem and everybody felt lucky to spend it at such a special place.

From Little Logger to the Chequamegon 40, Everyone Found Their Ride

Our weekend started with the Little Logger race on Friday evening. Our two younger kids lined up with hundreds of other riders for the kids' event, and after a bit of nervous waiting, they were all smiles once the race got rolling and I felt like a super proud parent. It was a really fun way to start the weekend. It was short, fun, and just serious enough to feel like they were part of something big too. Not to mention that they got medals they carried around the rest of the weekend.

The next morning, my wife and our older son took on the Short and Fat 16. He’d been looking forward to it all summer, and even with the course's relentless hills, he stayed strong and had a blast riding beside his mom. It was his first time on the Chequamegon course, and by the time they rolled into the finish, he was already talking about doing it again next year.

At the same they were riding, I rode my first Chequamegon 40. I started with a 38-mile ride to get to the start line and then jumped into the race (with just minutes to spare, thanks to an accidental re-route due to an unfortunate path that lead to a No Trespassing sign). The course is known for its punchy climbs and fast, rolling sections, and it delivered. I got to ride for a while with my friend Brandon, and absolutely loved all the time on the Birkie trail, suffering up the fire tower climb, and charging down hill in the finish line when it was all over. I was absolutely wrecked and it felt great to push so hard and then recover at the big festival party around the finish line.

Festival Fun and a Special Moment

After the races, the festival atmosphere was a huge part of the fun. We got to hang out, grab some food and drinks, and watch the award ceremonies. A really cool highlight was when my wife and daughter snuck away during the men's podium ceremony to meet Sofia Gomez Villafañe again. She’d come in second this year and actually gave her trophy to my daughter, which was just a really special moment for our whole family and made the event even more memorable.

One Weekend, Three Rides, and a Cabin That Worked for All of It

From Friday evening’s Little Logger to Sunday’s last swim off the dock, the weekend gave us a mix of racing, relaxing, and hanging out around Cable, one of our favorite spots to ride. Trapper Lake Cabin offered that quiet Northwoods setting, close enough to jump into the Chequamegon action, but far enough out to feel away in the woods on our own.

For our family, it was the kind of weekend where everyone had their own ride, their own little milestone, and a fun spot to come back to at the end of the days.

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To learn more about where we stayed, visit Trapper Lake Cabin on Airbnb. Plus message the host and mention the Nxrth for a 10% discount.