Explore Minnesota Winter Trails Update - Jan. 24, 2019

Good to excellent cross-country ski and snowmobile trail conditions can be found throughout most of Minnesota. Please note that extremely cold temperatures are expected this weekend -- please use caution and dress appropriately.

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 the 2018-19 Minnesota Snowmobiling Destinations guide.

 

[Northeast] [Northwest] [Central] [Minneapolis-St. Paul Area] [Southern]

 

Northeast Region

International Falls/Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park staff have staked the Green Trail from Franks Bay through to Gold Portage and marked the known pressure ridges. The Voyageurs National Park Association is providing funding assistance to allow Voyageurs National Park staff to groom the cross-country ski trails and the Green Trail (the only safe marked snowmobile trail open in the park at this time) during the partial federal shutdown. This has made accessibility easier and safer - thanks VNPA! The Rainy Lake Visitor Center will be open over the next few weekends from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., providing people with information on safe travel routes. The Visitor Center parking lot is available for snowmobilers needing a place to park their vehicles and trailers.

Grand Rapids/Bigfork

The Cow Horn Road and River Road ski trails running through Golden Anniversary State Forest are groomed and trail conditions are reported to be fair. The trails have a 2 to 5 inch base, and the ground is covered in 10 to 15 inches of snow. The ski trails at Scenic State Park are in good condition with a 9 inch groomed surface. The snowmobile trails are groomed with a 7 inch base. Riders also report good conditions. After the recent snowfall, 20 inches of snow covers the ground. Learn more about these and other Grand Rapids area trails.

Ely

Total snow accumulation in the Ely vicinity is 14 to 24 inches. Area ski trails, including the Babbitt Golf Course and Birch Lake Plantation trails, are groomed and in excellent condition for classic and skate skiing. The entire Taconite/David Dill State Snowmobile Trail is groomed and in good condition. The trail base measures 2-4 inches. The Arrowhead/David Dill State Snowmobile Trail is reported to be groomed and in good condition with a 2 to 5 inch trail base.

Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail

In Cook County, just outside of Grand Marais up the Gunflint Trail, the entire Central Gunflint Ski Trail System has been groomed and tracked. Conditions are excellent. Other area ski trails are in similar condition. Conditions for the Sugarbush Ski Trails, located just to the south in Tofte, are mostly excellent. These trails are groomed with a 16 to 26 inch packed powder surface. For the most current ski trail conditions, check the Cook County Ski Trail Conditions web page. Overall, the snowmobile trails near the Gunflint Trail are groomed and in great shape with a 20 to 27 inch base. For the most current snowmobile trail reports, check the Cook County Snowmobile Trail Conditions web page. And be sure to check out area trails via web cams placed throughout Cook County.

Two Harbors

Excellent conditions are reported for Gooseberry Falls State Park's cross-country ski and snowmobile trails. The ski trails have a 10 to 12 inch groomed surface, and the snowmobile trails have an 8 to 10 inch groomed surface. Total snow accumulation within the park was 20 to 28 inches.

Duluth/Grand Marais

Fair trail conditions are reported for the C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Snowmobile Trail, running from Duluth to Grand Marais. The trail base measures 4 to 8 inches, and the entire trail has been groomed. The trail will not be regroomed on Friday and Saturday nights due to extremely cold temperatures. Current snow depth off the trail measures 12 to 41 inches. Please note that conditions can vary over the course of a weekend due to trail use and weather.

Carlton

The ski trails at Jay Cooke State Park have been regroomed following the additional 5 inches of snowfall earlier this week. Conditions are now excellent! These trails have a 6 inch base. The snowmobile trails remain ungroomed but riders report good conditions. Just to the west, riders are enjoying good conditions along the snowmobile trails running through Fond du Lac State Forest. Nearby, the Willard Munger State Trail is in good condition for snowmobiling with a 6 inch groomed surface. Roughly 18 inches of covers the ground off the trail.

McGregor

The ski and snowmobile trails at Savanna Portage State Park are in good condition. Most of the trails have been groomed. The ski trails have a 6 inch base, and the snowmobile trails have a 4 inch base -- expect drifting in some areas. Just off the trails, the ground is covered in roughly 16 inches of snow.

Northwest Region

Lake Bronson/far NW corner

The cross-country ski trails at Lake Bronson State Park are freshly groomed but conditions are still considered fair. The snowmobile trails were also recently groomed with fair conditions reported. Local snow depth is approximately 7 inches.

Roseau

The snowmobile trails within Beltrami Island State Forest - West are in fair condition. The trails are groomed with a 4 inch base. Just over a foot of snow covers the ground. The trailhead is located within Hayes Lake State Park.

Walker

The Paul Bunyan State Trail running through the Walker vicinity is groomed and riders report good conditions for snowmobiling. The trail base measures 4 inches, with 17 inches of snow off the trails. Nearby, the Heartland State Trail - North is in good condition, with a 5 inch groomed surface.

Park Rapids

The Soaring Eagle ski trails are reported to be in excellent condition. The ski and snowmobile trails at Itasca State Park are groomed and in good to very good condition. The ski trails have a 6 to 7 inch base -- some sections are icy. The snowmobile trails have a 3 to 4 inch base. Approximately 15 inches of snow covers the ground. Nearby, at La Salle Lake State Recreation Area, the snowmobile trails are reported to be in good to very good condition. Other area snowmobile trails, such as those groomed by the Nevis Trail Blazers, are freshly groomed and in great condition.

Detroit Lakes/Becker County

Area snowmobile trails are in good to very good condition, including the Northwoods Trails, Ultra Trails and Wolf Pack Trails. The trail bases range from 2 to 5 inches. Check out all of the trails at the Becker County snowmobile trail map.

Central Region

Pelican Rapids/Battle Lake

The ski and snowmobile trails at Maplewood State Park are in fair to good condition, although they have not been groomed since early January. The snowmobile trails have a 2 inch base, and the ski trails have a 6 inch base.

Alexandria

The ski trails at Lake Carlos State Park are icy due to rainfall on Jan. 7. Conditions are considered poor. The snowmobile trails, however, continue to be groomed and repaired by the Douglas Area Trails Association. Riders report very good conditions. Local snow depth is roughly 10 to 13 inches.

Brainerd/Pequot Lakes

The snowmobile trails running through Crow Wing State Park are reported to be in good condition, with a 2 to 3 inch groomed surface. Snowmobile trail conditions for the Paul Bunyan State Trail in the Pequot Lakes vicinity are good. The trail is groomed with a 2 inch base. Roughly 18 inches of snow covers the ground off the trail.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Three Rivers Park District parks in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Scott and Wright counties

Good conditions are reported for the groomed ski trails at parks with snow-making facilities such as Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove and Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington. Please note that the Hyland ski trails are at the Hyland Visitor Center and not at the Hyland Hills Ski Area. Rentals are available at the visitor center. Learn more at the Three Rivers Park District Trail Conditions web page.

Minneapolis

Theodore Wirth Regional Park offers 6 kilometers of fully groomed trails with manufactured snow for classic and skate skiing. The trails are lit from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Conditions are unknown at this time. Access all trails with manufactured snow through the lower stadium in front of the Trailhead. Classic skis, poles and boots are available to rent onsite.

Most other ski and snowmobile trails remain closed or are listed in poor condition due to a lack of snow.

Southern Region

Winona

Saint Mary's University staff have re-groomed the ski trails, and those with manmade snow are in fair to good condition despite some icy sections with a thin base. Track has been set on the loop with manmade snow.

Preston/Harmony/Lanesboro

The Harmony-Preston Valley and Root River state trails are partially groomed and in good condition with a 6 inch base.

New Ulm

As of Jan. 20, Flandrau State Park ski trails were groomed and in good condition with a 1 inch base. Approximately 4 inches of snow covers the ground. Ski and snowshoe rentals are available at the park office on weekends.

Most other ski and snowmobile trails remain closed or are listed 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