A considerable amount of snow fell throughout central and northern Minnesota earlier this week, with some areas receiving as much as 20 inches of new snow. An additional 3 to 6 inches of snow is in the forecast for tonight through tomorrow morning for much of the state. Skiers and snowmobilers should expect very good to excellent conditions along groomed trails in most parts of Minnesota by this weekend.
For help planning your next Nordic ski adventure, check out Cross Country Skiing in Minnesota. To learn about Minnesota's amazing snowmobile trails, order a copy of 2017-18 Minnesota Snowmobiling Destinations.
Northeast Region
International Falls - Voyageurs National Park
Park staff are working hard to groom area trails following a significant amount of snow that fell earlier this week. Most ski and snowmobile trails running through Voyageurs National Park are expected to be in great condition by the weekend.
Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail
In Cook County, just northwest of Grand Marais up the Gunflint Trail, the Upper Gunflint Trail ski trail system is freshly groomed for classic and skate skiing. The trails have a 10 to 12 inch base on average, and conditions are very good to excellent. Roughly 22 to 28 inches covers the ground off the trails. Similar conditions are reported for the nearby Banadad Trail ski trails. Many of the Gunflint Trail snowmobile trails are also groomed, with conditions described as great! The most comprehensive source for information on ski and snowmobile trails in this vicinity can be found at Visit Cook County's Winter Trail Conditions web page. At nearby Cascade River State Park, from 1.5 to 2 feet of snow blankets the ground. The ski trails are fully groomed, with a base measuring 10-12 inches thick. Conditions are reported to be excellent. The snowmobile trails running through Cascade River State Park are also groomed. These trails have an 8 to 10 inch base, and riders report very good conditions.
Grand Rapids/ Bigfork
The Cow Horn Road and River Road ski trails running through Golden Anniversary State Forest are groomed and in very good condition. The trails have a 6 to 8 inch base, and the ground is covered in 1 to 2 feet of snow. The portion of the Taconite State Snowmobile Trail that runs through the Grand Rapids area is also in very good condition with a 6 to 8 inch groomed surface. Area snowmobile clubs are also grooming their trails, with very good conditions expected once grooming is complete. Learn more about all of the Grand Rapids area trails.
Tower/Soudan
The snowmobile trails are fully groomed at Lake Vermilion - Soudan Underground Mine State Park. The trails have a 1 to 4 inch base, and local snow depth is 19 to 24 inches. Overall, conditions are considered very good.
Ely
Total snow accumulation in the Ely vicinity is 14 to 26 inches. The Arrowhead/David Dill State Snowmobile Trail has been groomed, and conditions are very good to excellent. The trail base measures 1 to 4 inches. Please note that there is a 3 mile section of trail between Elephant Lake and Elephant Lake Road to the south that is being shared with loggers. Please slow down and use extreme caution in this area. At Bear Head Lake State Park, the ski trails are groomed with a 3 to 5 inch base. Conditions are reported to be very good. The snowmobile trails have a 6 to 8 inch groomed surface, and conditions are described as very good. From 19 to 21 inches of snow covers the ground in the park.
Silver Bay/Two Harbors
The Tettegouche State Park area received between 12 and 20 inches of new snow this week. The ski trails are groomed and in excellent shape, with a 16 inch base. Area snowmobile trails have a 12 inch groomed surface, and conditions are also excellent. Just to the south, very good conditions are reported for the 12 miles of traditional cross-country ski trails at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The base of these trails measures 4 to 6 inches. Riders report very good conditions along the park's snowmobile trails. Both trails are freshly groomed. Local snow depth is 14 to 18 inches.
Duluth/Grand Marais
The entire C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Snowmobile Trail has been freshly groomed, and is slated to be regroomed on Friday and Saturday nights. Currently, the trail has a 4 to 6 inch base from Finland to Grand Marais. The southern section, from Duluth to Finland has a 2 to 6 inch base. Conditions are good overall. Local snow depth ranges from 10 to 31 inches.
Carlton
The ski trails at Jay Cooke State Park are groomed, and skiers report fair to good conditions. The trails have a 7 inch base on average. The snowmobile trails are groomed with a 4 inch base. Conditions are considered fair. Local snow depth is just over 1 foot.
McGregor
The trails at Savanna Portage State Park are in the process of being groomed for the weekend. Both trails have a 4 inch base on average. Conditions are reported to be very good for snowmobiling. The ski trails should also be in very good condition once grooming is complete. More than a foot of snow covers the ground. Similar conditions are reported for the ski and snowmobile trails running through nearby Savanna State Forest
Northwest Region
Roseau
Roughly 1 foot of snow covers the ground at Hayes Lake State Park. The snowmobile trails have a 5 inch groomed surface, and conditions are described as good. The ski trails also have a 5 inch groomed surface, and conditions are good.
Lake Bronson/far NW corner
The Lake Bronson State Park ski and snowmobile trails are groomed, and conditions are considered very good to excellent. These trails have a 5 inch base on average. Local snow depth is nearly 1 foot.
Bemidji
Nearly 1 1/2 feet of fresh, fluffy snow has fallen in the Bemidji area this week. Both the ski and snowmobile trails at Lake Bemidji State Park are groomed, with excellent conditions reported. The trails have a 5 inch base on average. Area snow cover is nearly 20 inches.
Walker
The Paul Bunyan State Trail near Walker has a 6 inch groomed surface, and conditions are described as good. The ground is covered in 19 inches of snow.
Park Rapids
At Itasca State Park, the ski trails are in excellent condition with a 5 inch groomed surface. The snowmobile trails have a 4 inch groomed surface, with very good to excellent conditions reported. Nearby, a Soaring Eagle Ski Trails Open House will be offered Saturday, Feb. 24, across from the Eagle View Golf Course. Borrow ski, boots and pools and enjoy beautiful trails and great trail conditions. Admission is free, but a MN Ski Pass is required.
Central Region
Pelican Rapids/Battle Lake
The ski trails at Maplewood State Park have a 5 inch groomed surface, and skiers report excellent conditions. The snowmobile trails are ungroomed but in mostly good condition, with a 4 inch base. Local snow depth is roughly 11 inches. Nearby, at Glendalough State Park, the ski trails are groomed and in excellent condition. The base of the trails measures 2 inches on average. Roughly 7 inches of snow covers the ground.
Brainerd/Pequot Lakes
The Paul Bunyan State Trail is groomed and in good condition for snowmobiling. The trail base measures roughly 1 to 2 inches, with 7 to 8 inches of snow on the ground. This evening's snowfall should improve conditions considerably.
Onamia/Garrison
The ski and snowmobile trails at Mille Lacs-Kathio State Park are in fair condition, with a 2 inch base. The ski trails have not been groomed this week. Local snow depth is 7 to 8 inches.
Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan Vicinity
Alma -east of North Branch
Wild River State Park is covered in roughly 8 inches of snow. Most of the ski trails are groomed and conditions are good overall. The trail base measures roughly 1 inch. Ski and snowshoe rental is available at the Trail Center on weekends. Please call ahead for availability at 651-257-0685.
Afton - north of Hastings
The ski trails at Afton State Park are in very good condition in the wooded areas, with a 3 inch groomed surface. Snow cover just off the trails is roughly 8 inches. Snowshoe rental is available at the park, and there are eleven miles of snowshoe trails. Snowshoes can be reserved at 651-436-5391
Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Scott and Wright counties
Fair to good conditions are reported for many of the ski trails at parks within the Three Rivers Park District. Some of the best conditions are along the ski trails at parks with snow-making facilities such as Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove and Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington. Learn more about ski trail conditions at the Three Rivers Park Trail Conditions web page.
Monticello -southeast of St. Cloud
The ski trails at Lake Maria State Park are packed, but more snow is needed before they can be tracked. Conditions are still considered fair. The base of the trails measures roughly 1 inch. Local snow depth is 2 to 3 inches.
Southern Region
Most ski and snowmobile trails are in poor condition due to a lack of snow.
Explore Minnesota will report winter trail conditions each Thursday during the winter season, with updates as changes in conditions warrant. Information used to compile the Winter Trails Update is provided courtesy of the Minnesota DNR, Voyageurs National Park, the Three Rivers Park District, and communities throughout the state.
Begin planning your winter getaway by one of our travel counselors at 888-VISITMN (888-847-4866), or request a customized travel planner at Contact a Travel Counselor.
Please note that a Snowmobile State Trail sticker is required for all snowmobiles operating on state or grant-in-aid trails. All cross-country skiers on state park or forest ski trails, or on state or grant-in-aid trails, who are 16 years or older must have a Minnesota Ski Pass. For further information, contact the Department of Natural Resources, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-888-646-6367. To order cross-country ski passes and snowmobile trail stickers, dial 1-888-665-4236 or access the DNR Online License Sales web site. To locate a license center in Minnesota to purchase ski passes and snowmobile stickers, check out DNR License Agents
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