Explore Minnesota Winter Trails Update - Feb. 20, 2020

 

Warm temperatures and sunny days are in the forecast for this weekend which may cause the trails to deteriorate rapidly. Park staff encourage cross-country skiers and snowmobilers to hit the trails early this weekend before the meltdown begins!

Good to excellent cross-country ski and snowmobile trail conditions can be found throughout the entire state of Minnesota.

If you are new to cross-country skiing or are interested in learning more about this winter sport, check out Learn How to Cross-Country Ski in Minnesota.

And if you are looking for a cozy getaway or are interested in a winter adventure in Minnesota’s winter wonderland, learn more at Many Ways to Enjoy a Winter Getaway.

 

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

 

Northeast Region

Grand Rapids/Bigfork

The River Road cross-country ski trail running through Golden Anniversary State Forest is groomed and in good 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. Just to the north, at Scenic State Park, the ski and snowmobile trails are groomed and in good shape. The ski trails have a 12 inch, and the snowmobile trails have a 7 inch base. Nearly 2 feet of snow on the ground. Learn more about the many Grand Rapids area trails.

Hibbing/Side Lake

The snowmobile trails at McCarthy Beach State Park are groomed and in very good shape. The ski trails are groomed and in good condition overall, but there may be drifts and debris due to recent high winds. Both trails have a 4-8 inch base. Local snow depth is 27 inches.

Ely

Total snow accumulation in the Ely vicinity is 18-30 inches. Area cross-country ski trails, including the Birch Lake Plantation, Trezona and Hidden Valley trails, are groomed and in great condition. Most area snowmobile trails are freshly groomed with excellent conditions reported! At Bear Head Lake State Park, a number of ski trails were groomed this week, with good conditions reported. The trail base measures 6-11 inches. The snowmobile trails are groomed and in very good condition. These trails have a 5-12 inch base. Total snow accumulation in the park measures 24-31 inches.

Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail

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

Two Harbors/Silver Bay

Nearly 40 inches of snow covers the ground at Tettegouche State Park. Some of the ski trails were regroomed this week, and staff report conditions to be very good to excellent on these trails. The snowmobile trails are groomed, with conditions described as excellent. The base of these trails ranges is roughly 10 inches.

Duluth/Grand Marais

Very 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 will be regroomed Friday and Saturday nights. The trail base measures 10 inches. Snow cover along the trail is 18-40 inches.

Carlton/Moose Lake

Ski trails at Jay Cooke State Park that were groomed this week are reported to be in good condition with a 14 inch base on average. The remaining ski trails are icy. The snowmobile trails are groomed and also have a 14 inch base. Riders report fair conditions. Local snow depth is 28 inches.

Hinckley/Moose Lake

The snowmobile trails at St. Croix State Park are groomed and in very good condition. The base of the trails measures roughly 8 inches thick. Please note that the Kettle River Crossing remains closed due to thin ice. The ski trails are groomed and in good condition, with an 8 inch base. About a foot of snow covers the ground along the trails.

McGregor

The ski trails at Savanna Portage State Park are groomed and in good condition with a 10 inch base. Local snowmobile clubs groomed the snowmobile trails running through the park on Feb. 19, and most are in fair to good riding condition. Overall, the trail base measures 8 inches. Nearly 20 inches of snow covers the ground.

Northwest Region

Roseau

Roughly one foot of snow covers the ground at Hayes Lake State Park. The snowmobile trails are groomed and in very good condition, with a 6 inch base.

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 7 inches, with 13 inches of snow on the ground. To the north, the snowmobile trails at Lake Bronson State Park are reported to be in very good shape, with a 4 inch groomed surface. The cross-country ski trails in the park are in good to very good condition, with a 6 inch groomed surface. More than a foot of snow covers the ground.

Bemidji

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

Walker

The portion of the Paul Bunyan State Trail that runs through the Walker vicinity is groomed and riders report good conditions despite the hard-packed surface. The trail base measures 5 inches, with roughly 20 inches of snow along the trail. Nearby, the Heartland State Trail - North is groomed with a 10-12 inch base. Conditions are reported to be in very good for snowmobiling.

Park Rapids/Nevis

Most ski trails at Itasca State Park are packed and tracked, with good to excellent conditions reported. The trail base measures 5-8 inches. The snowmobile trails have a 4-6 inch groomed surface, and conditions are considered very good. Itasca offers a number of snowshoe trails, which are currently in great shape due to abundant snow cover. Approximately 22 inches of snow covers the ground within the park. Conditions are considered excellent for snowmobiling along the Heartland State Trail - West. The trail is groomed, with a 12-16 inch base. Snow along the trails measures 18-24 inches.

Central Region

Pelican Rapids/Battle Lake

Most of the cross-country ski trails at Maplewood State Park are groomed and in very good condition, with a 15-20 inch base. The snowmobile trails are also reported to be in great shape, with a 4-12 inch groomed surface. The ground is covered in roughly 2 feet of snow. Please note that local lakes have areas of slush on top of the ice.

Alexandria

Very good conditions are reported for the snowmobile trails at Lake Carlos State Park. The ski trails have been down-graded to fair condition due to walkers on the trails. Both trails have a 6 inch groomed surface. Local snow depth is roughly 1 foot.

Crosby/Ironton

Nearby, at the city of Ironton, the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area ski trails are groomed and in good to very good condition. The trails have a 7 inch base. Area snowmobile trails are in similar condition. Conditions for fat tire biking are inconsistent. Roughly 20 inches of snow covers the ground.

Onamia/Garrison

Most of the ski trails at Mille Lacs-Kathio State Park are groomed and in good condition. The trails have a 6 inch base on average. The snowmobile trails are groomed and in good condition, with a 4 inch base. Approximately 16 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

Hutchinson

The Luce Line State Trail, running from the McLeod County Line to Cosmos, is freshly groomed for snowmobiling. The trail base measures 9 inches, with about a foot of snow on the ground along the trail. Good conditions are reported.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Monticello

The cross-country ski trails at Lake Maria State Park are groomed and in good condition. The trails have a 6 inch base. Snow cover within the park measures 16 inches.

Center City

Most cross-country ski trails at Wild River State Park have been groomed since the 3 inch snowfall earlier this week. Trail conditions range from fair to good. Roughly 14 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.

Marine on St. Croix/north of Stillwater

The classic and skate ski trails at William O'Brien State Park are groomed and in very good shape. The trails have a 4 inch base on average, with 7 inches of snow covering the ground within the park. Park staff recommend hitting the trails early this weekend before the meltdown begins!

Afton

All 12 miles of Afton State Park's cross-country ski trails have been groomed. The trails have a 5 inch base on average, and conditions are considered very good. Local snow depth is roughly 14 inches.

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. Conditions are also good for many of the groomed ski trails with natural snow within the Three Rivers Park District. 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 will be entirely groomed by the end of today, Feb. 20. The trail base measures 5-6 inches, and groomers report good conditions. Snowcover along the trail is roughly 10 inches.

Southern Region

Red Wing/Lake City

By the end of the day today, Feb. 20, all of the cross-country ski trails at Frontenac State Park will be groomed. The base of the trails measures 3-5 inches, and park staff report good to very good conditions. Snowcover within the park measures 6-8 inches. The Goodhue Pioneer State Trail is reported to be in good condition for snowmobiling. The trail base measures 4 inches, with 8 inches of snow on the ground.

Winona

All cross-country ski trails at Great River Bluffs State Park will be freshly groomed for the weekend. The trails currently have a 12 inch base on average, and park visitors report very good conditions. Roughly 14 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 these trails is approximately 8 inches thick. The Fillmore/Houston county grant-in-aid snowmobile trail running through the area is groomed and in good condition, with an 8 inch base. Local snow depth is roughly 1 foot.

Rochester

The Douglas State Trail is reported to be in excellent condition for snowmobiling. The trail base measures 6 inches, with 12 inches of snow on the ground. Similar conditions are reported for snowmobiling on the Great River Ridge State Trail.

New Ulm

The ski trails running through Flandrau State Park are freshly groomed, with a 7 inch base. Conditions are described as excellent! Roughly 15 inches of snow covers the ground within the park. Cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals are available at the park office.

Currie/Slayton

The snowmobile trails at Lake Shetek State Park are ungroomed but reported to be in great condition with a 3-4 inch base. The ground within the park is covered in roughly a foot of snow. Camper cabins are available for rent year-round.

 

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.