Explore Minnesota Winter Trails Update - Jan. 6, 2022

Cross-country skiing on the Mid Gunflint Ski Trail System out of Bearskin Lodge

This is your Explore Minnesota Winter Trails Update. Explore Minnesota will report cross-country ski and snowmobile trail conditions each Thursday during the winter season, with updates as conditions warrant.

Recent snowstorms have blanketed much of the state in a thick layer of snow. Numerous passes with grooming equipment have left trails in spectacular condition and ready for adventures through
a wintry wonderland!

Whether you’re ice fishing on a frozen lake, snowmobiling through the North Woods or fat biking through former iron ore mines, countless winter adventures await in the True North.

Prior to making plans, please visit
Explore Minnesota's COVID-19 Information page.

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

Northeast Region

Grand Rapids/Bigfork

The Cow Horn Road cross-country ski trails running through Golden Anniversary State Forest are groomed and in good condition. The trails have a 4 inch base on average, with one foot of snow along the trails. The Tim Corey Snowmobile Trail running through George Washington State Forest will be groomed Friday, Jan. 7. Riders should use caution on the north and west sections due to narrow sections of trail. Currently, conditions are reported to be good. The trail base is 3 inches thick. Learn more about the many Grand Rapids area trails.

Hibbing/Tower

The Arrowhead State Trail near Tower is groomed and overall conditions are fair. Conditions improve to the north near Cook and Orr. The trail base ranges from 1-8 inches. Local snow depth ranges from 8-22 inches.

Ely

Trail conditions in the Ely vicinity continue to improve. The Babbitt Golf Course and Birch Lake Plantation ski trails are groomed for classic and skate skiing, with excellent conditions reported. The cross-country ski trails at Bear Head Lake State Park are partially groomed and in fair condition. The trail base measures 1-3 inches. Local snow depth is roughly 1 foot.

Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail

In Cook County, just north of Grand Marais up the Gunflint Trail, the entire Upper Gunflint Ski Trail System is groomed for classic and skate skiing, with very good to excellent conditions reported. Most sections of trail have a base measuring 4-6 inches. The off-trail snow depth is 12-16 inches. Similar trail conditions are reported for other ski trail systems along the Gunflint Trail. Many snowmobile trails up the Gunflint Trail are groomed and in good condition. Most of these trails have a 6-10 inch base, with over a foot of snow in the woods. Good conditions are also reported for snowmobile trails in the Grand Portage vicinity. These trails have a 4-6 inch groomed surface. View snowfall on or near some of the trails at Cook County Webcams. And for the most current ski and snowmobile trail conditions in the area, check out the Cook County Winter Trail Conditions page.

Lutsen/Tofte

Most of the ski trails within the Sugarbush Trail System are in great condition. The trail base measures 4-8 inches. For the most current conditions, check the Sugarbush Trail Association web page. Just to the north, at Cascade River State Park, all ski trails are groomed and in good condition. The trails have a 3-6 inch base. The snowmobile trails are partially groomed with a 2-4 inch base, but conditions are unknown at the time. Local snow depth is nearly 3 feet.

Two Harbors/Silver Bay

At Gooseberry Falls State Park, all ski trails are freshly packed and tracked and conditions are described as excellent. The trail base measures 3-4 inches. The snowmobile trails remain ungroomed, but conditions are considered good. The base of these trails is 6-8 inches. Snow depth in the woods is 20 inches. Just to the north, park staff have finished packing and tracking the ski trails at Tettegouche State Park. Skiers will find very good conditions along a 4 inch base. The snowmobile trails are also groomed and in great shape with a 4 inch base. Area snow cover is more than 2 feet.

Duluth/Grand Marais

Fair to 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 Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The trail base measures 2-4 inches. Snow cover along the trail is 8-25 inches deep.

McGregor

The snowmobile trails at Savanna Portage State Park are groomed and in very good conditions. The trail base measures roughly 4 inches. The ski trails remain ungroomed due to unusable grooming equipment. Approximately 16 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

Carlton

The ski and snowmobile trails at Jay Cooke State Park are groomed, and park staff report good conditions for both trails. The trail base measures 3 inches. Area snow cover is roughly 10 inches.

Hinckley/Moose Lake

The entire Willard Munger State Trail running from Hinckley to Duluth is reported to be in fair condition for snowmobiling. The trail is groomed with a 3 inch base. Snow along the trail measures 16-20 inches. The ski and snowmobile trails at St. Croix State Park are freshly groomed. Both trails have a 3 inch base, with very good conditions reported. Roughly 14 inches of snow is on the ground.

Northwest Region

Williams/Baudette

Snowmobile trail conditions at Zippel Bay State Park have been upgraded to good now that the trails are groomed. The trail base measures 3 inches. Local snow depth is more than 1 foot.

Warroad

Snowmobile trails running through the southern edge of Beltrami Island State Forest are groomed and in excellent condition. The trail base measures 4 inches. From 6-12 inches of snow covers the ground in this area.

Roseau

More than a foot of snow covers the ground at Hayes Lake State Park. The snowmobile trails are groomed and in very good condition.

Waskish - Upper Red Lake

The snowmobile trails at Big Bog State Recreation Area are fully groomed and in good condition. The trail base measures 3 inches. Local snow depth is roughly 17 inches.

Bemidji

The snowmobile trails at Lake Bemidji State Park are groomed and park staff describe conditions as excellent. The trail base is roughly 4 inches deep. The cross-country ski trails also have a 4 inch groomed surface, and are in excellent condition. Area snowcover is 15 inches.

Park Rapids/Nevis

Many of the ski trails at Itasca State Park are packed and tracked with a 4 inch base. Very good conditions are reported for these trails. Skiers can also enjoy Itasca's Twinkle Light Trail which is open each night from dusk (around 5 p.m.) to 10 p.m. The snowmobile trails are fully groomed and riders report good conditions along these trails. The trail base measures 3 inches. Approximately 20 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

Detroit Lakes/Becker County

The snowmobile trails in Becker County have a 6-12 inch base and are groomed on a weekly basis. Roughly 18 inches of snow covers the ground. 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

Most of the cross-country ski trails at Maplewood State Park are groomed and in good to very good condition. The trails have a 6 inch base on average. The snowmobile trails remain ungroomed, although riders report good conditions on a 3 inch base. The ground is covered in more than 2 feet of snow.

Alexandria/Carlos

Lake Carlos State Park offers groomed cross-country ski and snowmobile trails. The ski trails are in good condition with a 6 inch base. Snowmobilers report very good conditions on a 4 inch base. Total snow cover within the park is roughly 13-15 inches.

Ashby/Osakis

The Central Lakes State Trail is packed and groomed for snowmobiling. Conditions are reported to be good. The trail base measures 6 inches on average. Towards the city of Fergus Falls, the trail base thins, with measurements of 2-6 inches. Local snow depth is 16 inches.

Crosby

The snowmobile trails running through the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area have a 5 inch base and are listed in good condition. The ski trails are also in good condition, with a 6 inch base. Both trail systems have been groomed. Area snow cover is roughly 14 inches.

Onamia/Garrison

Park staff at Mille Lacs-Kathio State Park report good conditions for their ski trails. The trails have a 3 inch groomed surface. Ski rental is available at the park. Similar conditions are reported for the snowmobile trails. Approximately 15 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

Willmar

All snowmobile trails at Sibley State Park remain ungroomed but conditions are considered fair. The trails have a 3 inch base. Roughly 6 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

Cambridge/Orrick

The Sand Dunes State Forest North Unit Trail Head is groomed for snowmobiling, and riders report fair conditions. On average, the trail base is 2 inches thick. Local snow depth is 6 inches.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Center City

Most of the ski trails at Wild River State Park have been repacked and staff hope to have the ski tracked by the end of the day, Jan. 6. Skiers currently report good conditions, but conditions should improve once grooming is complete. Overall, the trail base measures 2-3 inches. Local snow depth is roughly 10 inches.

Marine on St. Croix/north of Stillwater

The classic and skate ski trails at William O'Brien State Park are packed, but no classic tracks have been set. Conditions are reported to be fair. The trail base is 2 inches thick. Roughly 5 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

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 Hills Ski Area in Bloomington. Good conditions are also reported for some 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.

Minneapolis

The 400-meter manmade snow loop at Theodore Wirth Regional Park is reported to be in good shape for classic and skate skiing. Learn more.

Long Lake/Winstead

The eastern section of the Luce Line State Trail remains ungroomed but conditions are considered fair for snowmobiling. The trail base measures roughly 3 inches. The ground is covered in 4-6 inches of snow in this area.

Southern Region

Lanesboro/Preston

The Root River State Trail is partially groomed for skiing and conditions are reported to be fair. The snowmobile trails remain ungroomed. Both trails have a 3 inch base. Local snow depth is approximately 4 inches.

Most other cross-country ski and snowmobile trails remain closed or in poor condition in this region of the state.

Information used to compile the Winter Trails Update is provided courtesy of the Minnesota DNR, 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.

Have something else in mind?
OUR EXPERT TRAVEL COUNSELORS CAN HELP!