Explore Minnesota Winter Trails Update - Jan. 21, 2021

Snowmobiling on Grand Rapids area trails / www.VisitGrandRapids.com

Here is your weekly Winter Trails Update featuring cross-country ski and snowmobile trail conditions throughout the state.

Fair to good conditions for cross-country skiing can be found throughout Minnesota, with good to excellent conditions reported in the northeast region of the state. Fair to good conditions for snowmobiling can be found in the central and northern regions.

Minnesota has nearly as many miles of snowmobile trails (roughly 22,000) as it does highways. These trails, many of which are maintained by local snowmobile clubs, extend to all corners of the state. Order or download a free copy of Minnesota Snowmobiling Destinations. 

Please note: Cross-country skiers and snowmobilers are asked to practice safe social distancing on the trails. Learn more about safer ways to travel at Explore Minnesota's COVID-19 Information page.

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

Northeast Region

Many cross-country ski and snowmobile trails are open and in good shape, with some ski trails in good to excellent condition.

Grand Rapids/Bigfork

The River Road and Cow Horn Road cross-country ski trails running through Golden Anniversary State Forest are groomed and in very good condition. The trail has a 2 inch base on average. The Tim Corey Snowmobile Trail running through George Washington State Forest was groomed in early January. The north and east sections are in good condition with a 2 inch base. At Scenic State Park, the ski trails are groomed and in fair condition. The trail base measures roughly 2 inches. Snow depth within the park measures 10 inches. Nearby, the Taconite State Trail is groomed and in mostly good condition for snowmobiling. The trail base measures roughly 2 inches, and the ground is covered in 6-8 inches of snow. Learn more about the many Grand Rapids area trails.

Hibbing/Biwabik

The ski trails at Giants Ridge are freshly groomed, and skiers report great conditions.

Ely

Snow depth in the Ely vicinity ranges from 4-18 inches. The Hidden Valley, Trezona and Babbitt Golf Course ski trails are groomed for classic and skate skiing, with good to very good conditions reported. The Taconite State Trail running through Bear Head Lake State Park is groomed, with fair conditions reported for snowmobiling. The trail base measures roughly 2 inches. The ski trails have not been groomed, but some are packed and in fair to good condition. Other sections of the Taconite Trail near the city of Ely have been groomed, but these sections have a 1-2 inch base with some bare areas. Similar conditions are reported for the Arrowhead State Trail. Snow depth ranges from 4-10 inches. For the most current conditions, check the Ely Winter Trail & Fishing Conditions web page.

Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail

In Cook County, just north of Grand Marais up the Gunflint Trail, the Central Gunflint Ski Trail System offers good to excellent conditions for classic and skate skiing. The trails are generally groomed 2-3 times each week, and most trails were freshly groomed on Jan. 19. The trail base averages 3-6 inches. Roughly 9-11 inches of snow covers the ground. Similar trail conditions are reported for many of the other ski trail systems along the Gunflint Trail. View some of these trails at Cook County Webcams. Many snowmobile trails near Grand Portage are groomed and in good condition. Most of these trails have an 8-10 inch base, with more than 2 feet of snow in the woods. To the southwest, near Lutsen, the snowmobile trails have been groomed, and riders report good conditions and a 6-9 inch base along the Upper Trails, inland from Lake Superior. Check the Cook County Winter Trail Conditions page to learn more about all area ski and snowmobile trails.

Two Harbors/Silver Bay

At Gooseberry Falls State Park, park staff report that rain and warm temperatures have negatively affected the ski trails. The trail base is very icy, and conditions are considered poor. Snowmobile trail conditions are unknown but likely in similiar condition. The ground is covered in 4-6 inches of snow.

McGregor

The ski trails at Savanna Portage State Park are freshly groomed and in good condition with a 3 inch base. Local snowmobile clubs have groomed the snowmobile trails running through the park this week, and most are in fair condition. Overall, the trail base measures 3 inches. Nearly 10 inches of snow covers the ground.

Hinckley

The Willard Munger State Trail is listed in fair condition for snowmobiling from Hinckley to Moose Lake, with good riding conditions from Moose Lake to Duluth. The trail is groomed with a 2 inch base, but some bare areas exist on the southern portion. Nearby, the Matthew Lourey State Trail has been groomed, and riders report good conditions along a 3 inch trail base. Local snow depth is 10-12 inches.

Northwest Region

Some cross-country ski and snowmobile trails are open and in fair to good condition.

Warroad

Snowmobile trails running through Beltrami Island State Forest have an ungroomed 2 inch base, with fair conditions reported. Roughly 6 inches of snow covers the ground in the forest.

Thief River Falls/Hallock

The cross-country ski trails at Lake Bronson State Park are freshly groomed with a 4 inch base. The trails are reported to be in good condition. Approximately 6 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

Walker

The portion of the Paul Bunyan State Trail which runs through the Walker vicinity remains ungroomed, but riders and groomers have packed the trail base nicely. Fair conditions are reported. The trail base measures roughly 2 inches, with 11 inches of snow along the trail.

Central Region

Some cross-country ski and snowmobile trails are open and in fair to good condition.

Pelican Rapids/Battle Lake

The 5-mile Cataract Lake Ski Trail in Maplewood State Park is packed and in fair condition, with a 3 inch base. The remaining ski trails are ungroomed and in fair condition. The snowmobile trails are reported to be ungroomed and in poor condition — more snow is needed before grooming can begin. The ground is covered in 10 inches of snow.

Brainerd/Pequot Lakes

The snowmobile trails running through Crow Wing State Park were groomed last weekend. Riders reported fair conditions along a 2 inch trail base at that time. Total snow cover within the park was roughly 5 inches.

Crosby

The snowmobile trails running through the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area have a 3 inch base, and are listed in fair condition. The ski trails are in good condition, with a 4 inch base. Both trail systems have been groomed. Area snow cover is roughly 8 inches.

Onamia/Garrison

The ski and snowmobile trails at Mille Lacs-Kathio State Park are groomed and holding up well. Both trails have a 1 inch base on average, with good conditions for skiing, and fair conditions for snowmobiling. Approximately 7 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Some cross-country ski trails are reported to be in fair to good condition.

Decent conditions for cross-country skiing can be found at sites with snowmaking facilities such as Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Minneapolis, Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, and Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington. Classic and skate ski rental is offered at some parks within the Three Rivers Park District, including Elm Creek and Hyland Lake park reserves where trail conditions are considered good. Learn more at the Three Rivers Park District rates and reservations web page. 

Southern Region

Some cross-country ski trails are reported to be in fair to good condition.

Winona

The ski trails at Great River Bluffs State Park were groomed last weekend. The trails are in good condition, with a 3 inch base. Approximately, 5 inches of snow covers the ground within the park. Nearby, the ski trails with manufactured snow at St. Mary's University are reported to be in good condition.

Owatonna

The ski trails at Rice Lake State Park have a 3-4 inch ungroomed surface. Conditions are reported to be fair to good. Snow cover in the park ranges from 7-10 inches thick.

New Ulm

As of Jan. 16, the ski trails running through Flandrau State Park had a .5-1.5 inch groomed surface. Conditions are described as fair for sections of trails with the thickest base. Roughly 2 inches of snow covered the ground within the park.

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 contacting 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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