Explore Minnesota Winter Trails Update - Jan. 30, 2020

 

Good to excellent cross-country ski and snowmobile trail conditions can be found throughout the entire state of Minnesota. Warm temperatures are in the forecast for this weekend which may cause some trails to deteriorate and become icy.

 

Please note that the Winter Trails Update e-newsletter will not be sent out next week. Explore Minnesota newsletters will resume the week of Feb. 9.

 

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

 

Northeast Region

International Falls/Voyageurs National Park

As of Jan. 23, Voyageurs National Park staff report that all snowmobile trails are open, with the exception of the blue trail, which crews continue to check. Riders are encouraged to use extra caution, especially when riding in areas off the staked snowmobile trails on the lake surface due to deep pockets of slush.

Lake access is an issue throughout the area. The Rainy Lake ice road is open, but areas of the lake are difficult to access due to the thick snow cover and slush. The Kabetogama Ice Road is open for approximately 2.6 miles (beginning from the Kabetogama Visitor Center boat launch), and includes a safety barricade and turnaround area at the end. 

A snowshoe and cross-country ski loan program is available at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Please call 218-286-5258 to check on availability.

Grand Rapids/Bigfork

The River Road cross-country ski trail running through Golden Anniversary State Forest is groomed and in fair condition. The trail has a 1-8 inch base, and the ground is covered in 15-30 inches of snow. Please note that the Cow Horn Road ski trail is closed due to logging activity. Learn more about the many Grand Rapids area trails.

Hibbing/Side Lake

Both the ski and snowmobile trails at McCarthy Beach State Park are groomed and in very good condition. Both trails have a 4-8 inch base. Local snow depth is 31 inches.

Tower

The entire Arrowhead/David Dill State Snowmobile Trail has been regroomed, and riders report very good conditions. The base of the trail measures 1-6 inches. Snow off the trail measures 12-34 inches.

Ely

The entire Taconite/David Dill State Snowmobile Trail has been groomed, and riders report very good conditions. The base of the trail measures 1-6 inches. Snow off the trail measures 16-36 inches.

At Bear Head Lake State Park, the ski trails are groomed and in good to very good condition. The trail base measures 6-11 inches. The snowmobile trails are groomed and reported to be in very good shape. These trails have a 5-12 inch base. Total snow accumulation in the park measures 24-30 inches.

Other area cross-country ski trails, including the Birch Lake Plantation, Trezona and Hidden Valley trails, are groomed and in great condition!

Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail

In Cook County, just outside of Grand Marais up the Gunflint Trail, the entire Central Gunflint Ski Trail System is groomed for classic and skate skiing, with excellent conditions reported. Most sections of trail have a base measuring 13-14 inches. The off-trail snow depth is roughly 25 inches. Similar conditions are reported for the nearby Upper Gunflint and Banadad ski trail systems.

Area snowmobile trails are groomed and in great condition, with a 24 inch base on average.

At Cascade River State Park, more than 18 inches of snow has fallen over the last week, leaving the ski and snowmobile trails in excellent condition. Both trails were recently groomed. The base of the trails measures 10-12 inches on average. Roughly 3 feet of snow covers the ground.

Check out some of the trails via web cams placed throughout Cook County. For the most current conditions, check the Cook County Trail Conditions web page.

Lutsen/Tofte

At Temperance River State Park near Tofte, 31 inches of snow covers the ground. The snowmobile trails are groomed, with very good conditions reported along the 6 inch trail base. While the ski trails remain ungroomed, they offer a great opportunity for backcountry skiing and snowshoeing.

Two Harbors/Silver Bay

Tettegouche State Park is covered in more than 40 inches of snow! Most of the ski trails are groomed and tracked, with 12 inch base. Conditions are described as excellent. The snowmobile trails are also groomed, and conditions are reported to be very good. The base of these trails measures 10 inches.

Just to the south, the ski trails at Gooseberry Falls State Park are freshly groomed. These trails have a base measuring more than 6 inches, and conditions are considered very good. The snowmobile trails are reported to be in excellent condition. Total snow accumulation in the park is 22-26 inches.

Duluth/Grand Marais

Good conditions are reported for the C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Snowmobile Trail, running from Duluth to Grand Marais. The entire trail has been groomed, and parts of the trail will be regroomed Friday and Saturday nights. The trail base measures 10 inches. Snow cover along the trail is 30-45 inches.

Carlton/Moose Lake

All ski trails at Jay Cooke State Park are groomed and in very good shape. These trails have a 14 inch base on average. The snowmobile trails are also fully groomed with a 14 inch base. Riders report good conditions. Local snow depth is 30 inches.

Hinckley/Moose Lake

Both the ski and snowmobile trails at St. Croix State Park are freshly groomed and in good condition. The base of the trails measures roughly 12 inches thick, with 16 inches of snow in the woods. Please note that the Kettle River Crossing remains closed due to thin ice.

The Willard Munger State Trail was regroomed for snowmobiling this week. The trail base is 6-10 inches thick, and conditions are good. The ground along the trail is covered in 16-24 inches of snow.

Northwest Region

Thief River Falls

The snowmobile trails running through Old Mill State Park are groomed and in very good condition. The base of the trails measures roughly 6 inches, with 14 inches of snow on the ground.

To the north, the snowmobile trails at Lake Bronson State Park are groomed and in good condition, with a 6 inch base.

Waskish - Upper Red Lake

The snowmobile trails at Big Bog State Recreation Area are reported to be freshly groomed and in excellent condition. The base of the trails is roughly 7 inches thick. Local snow depth is 27 inches.

Bemidji

The cross-country ski and snowmobile trails at Lake Bemidji State Park have a 10 inch groomed surface. Both trails are reported to be in excellent condition. Area snowcover is roughly 2 feet.

Walker

The portion of the Paul Bunyan State Trail which runs through the Walker vicinity is groomed and riders report very good conditions. The trail base measures 5 inches, with roughly 2 feet of snow along the trail. Please watch for groomers, and remember to stay on the trail.

Detroit Lakes

For the most current conditions along the many snowmobile trails in the Detroit Lakes area, check out the Winter Wonderland Snowmobile Trail Report.

Central Region

Pelican Rapids/Battle Lake

Some of the cross-country ski trails at Maplewood State Park are freshly groomed and in excellent condition, with a 15-20 inch base. The snowmobile trails are reported to be in great shape, with a 10-15 inch groomed surface. The ground is covered in up to 26 inches of snow. Please note that local lakes have areas of slush on top of the ice.

Alexandria

Very good conditions are reported for the ski and snowmobile trails at Lake Carlos State Park. Both trails have a 6 inch groomed surface. Local snow depth is roughly 1 foot.

Brainerd/Pequot Lakes

The snowmobile trails running through Crow Wing State Park are partially groomed. Riders report good conditions on the 1-6 inch base. Total snow cover within the park is roughly 20 inches.

Onamia/Garrison

Most ski trails at Mille Lacs-Kathio State Park are groomed and in good condition. The trails have a 4 inch base on average. The snowmobile trails are also groomed and in good condition. Approximately 16 inches of snow covers the ground.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Monticello

The cross-country ski trails at Lake Maria State Park are groomed but skiers report fair conditions due to icy patches. The trails have a 4 inch base. Snow cover within the park measures 10 inches.

Orrock/Zimmerman

The snowmobile trails running through Sand Dunes State Forest near the North Unit Trail Head were groomed today, and conditions are reported to be good. The trails have a 3 inch base on average. Approximately 8 inches of snow covers the ground in this area.

Center City

Currently, the cross-country ski trails at Wild River State Park are groomed and in good condition with a 4 inch base. Roughly 15 inches of snow covers the ground. Warm temperatures are in the forecast for this weekend which may cause the trails to deteriorate rapidly. Ski and snowshoe concessionaires offer rentals on select days.

Afton

All 12 miles of Afton State Park's cross-country ski trails have been groomed. The trails have a 4 inch base on average, and conditions are considered good. Local snow depth is roughly 10 inches. Please note that trail conditions may change rapidly due to above-freezing temperatures this weekend.

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

Good conditions are reported for all groomed cross-country ski trails with man-made snow at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove and Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington. Good conditions are also reported for many of the of the groomed ski trails with natural snow within the Three Rivers Park District parks. Check out the Three Rivers Park District Trail Conditions web page for the most current conditions. Rentals are available at some parks.

Long Lake/Winsted

The Luce Line State Trail has been downgraded to poor condition due to warm temperatures and a minimal base.

Winter enthusiasts will want to check out the City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival held Jan. 31 - Feb. 2 in Minneapolis! The Loppet features cross-country ski races for all ages, skill-levels and abilities. Also enjoy a youth ski carnival, skijoring races, kubb tournament, snow sculpture competition, sprint races, ice biking and popular Luminary Loppet, a beautiful nighttime ski around Lake of the Isles, all lit up with thousands of ice luminaries! The Trailhead at Theodore Worth Regional Park. 612-604-5330

Southern Region

Red Wing/Lake City

A few of the cross-country ski trails at Frontenac State Park are groomed, with a 4-6 inch base. Park staff report fair to very good conditions, with the best conditions along the bluff trails. Snow cover within the park measures 6-8 inches.

As of Jan. 27, the Goodhue Pioneer State Trail was reported to be in good condition for snowmobiling. The trail base measured 3 inches, with 7 inches of snow on the ground. Trail use and above-normal temperatures may cause the trail base to deteriorate rapidly.

Winona

The cross-country ski trails at Great River Bluffs State Park are groomed. The trails have a 6 inch base on average, and park visitors report that the trails are in very good shape. Roughly 7 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

Preston/Harmony/Lanesboro

The Harmony-Preston Valley and Root River state trails have been groomed, and skiers report excellent conditions! The base of the trails is approximately 5 inches thick. The Fillmore/Houston county grant-in-aid snowmobile trail running through this area is groomed and in good condition, with a 5 inch base. Local snow depth is roughly 1 foot.

Rochester

As of Jan. 27, the Douglas State Trail was reported to be in very good condition for snowmobiling. The trail base measured 4 inches, with 9 inches of snow on the ground. Current above-normal temperatures may cause the trail base to deteriorate rapidly.

Faribault/Waterville

The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail is partially groomed for snowmobiling. Conditions range from poor to very good depending on the portion of trail being ridden. On Tuesday, Jan. 28, the Waterville to Faribault section was groomed, with very good conditions reported. Overall, the trail base measures 4 inches. Seven inches of snow covers the ground.

Marshall

While the trails at Camden State Park will not be groomed this season, park staff report good conditions for skiing and snowmobiling. The trails have a 4-5 inch base on average. Roughly 6 inches of snow covers the ground.

Montevideo

The cross-country ski trails at Lac qui Parle State Park have been groomed. The trail base measure 2 inches, with more than a foot of snow along the trails within the park. Conditions are unspecified at this time.

 

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.