Explore Minnesota Winter Trails Update - January 26, 2023

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.

Snow will fall throughout the state today and tonight, leaving trails coated with a fresh layer of snow. Skiers and snowmobilers should expect beautiful trails in good to excellent condition this weekend!

It's time to start planning your perfect winter getaway! Whether you’re ice fishing on a frozen lake, snowmobiling through the North Woods, skiing aside scenic bluffs or fat biking through former iron ore mines, countless winter adventures await in Minnesota's winter wonderland!

Red Wing/Frontenac

The cross-country ski trails at Frontenac State Park are groomed and in fair condition with a 4 inch base. Local snow depth is approximately 6 inches.

Winona

The ski trails at Great River Bluffs State Park are groomed and in good condition for classic and skate skiing. The trails are scheduled to be regroomed on Jan. 27. The base of trails currently measures 6 inches, with approximately 8 inches of snow on the ground.

Lanesboro/Preston

The Root River State Trail is groomed for skiing from Fountain to Isinours. The trail has a 4 inch base and conditions are reported to be good. Local snow depth is approximately 6 inches in this area.

Rochester

The Douglas State Trail is reported to be groomed and in fair condition for snowmobiling.

Faribault/Waterville

The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail which runs through Sakatah Lake State Park is entirely groomed for snowmobiling. Conditions are mostly good, with a trail base measuring roughly 3 inches. Seven inches of snow covers the ground along the trail.

Fairfax/Sleepy Eye

Park staff at Fort Ridgely State Park report good conditions for snowmobiling. The trails have a 6 inch base. Twelve inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

Center City

The ski trails at Wild River State Park are groomed and in good condition with a 4-6 inch base. Local snow depth is 20 inches. Ski and snowshoe rental can be reserved at the park on weekends. Learn more at 651-387-4692.

Marine on St. Croix/north of Stillwater

The ski trails at William O'Brien State Park are freshly groomed for classic and skate skiing. Conditions are reported to be very good. The base of the trails is 5 inches thick with 14 inches of snow on the ground.

St. Paul

Ski trails throughout Fort Snelling State Park are packed and tracked with fair to good conditions reported. The trail base measures roughly 1 foot.

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

The cross-country ski trails with natural and manmade snow at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove and Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington are groomed and in good condition. Many ski trails at other Three Rivers Park District Park are also groomed and in good condition. Check out the Three Rivers Park District Trail Conditions web page for the most current conditions.

Ironton/Crosby

The ski trails at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area are groomed and in very good condition with a 6 inch base. The snowmobile trails are groomed and in fair condition with a 5 inch base. Local snow depth is 14 inches.

Brainerd/Pequot Lakes

The section of the Paul Bunyan State Trail that runs from Pequot Lakes to Brainerd is reported to be groomed and in verry good condition for snowmobiling. The base of the trail measures 3-6 inches with 20-24 inches of snow on the ground.

Willmar

The Glacial Lakes State Trail has a 6 inch groomed surface and groomers report very good conditions for snowmobiling. Roughly 15 inches of snow covers the ground along the trail.

NORTHWEST REGION

Roseau

The snowmobile trails at Hayes Lake State Park are groomed and in good to very good condition. Snow depth along the trails is 16-20 inches.

Walker

The section of the Paul Bunyan State Trail that runs through the Walker vicinity is groomed and in good condition with a 2 inch base. The section of the Heartland State Trail that runs through the area is reported to be in good condition with a 3-6 inch trail base. Local snow depth is 12-15 inches.

Park Rapids/Nevis

The section of the Heartland State Trail that runs through the Nevis vicinity is reported to be groomed and in fair condition with a 4-6 inch base. Snow along the trail measures 14-17 inches.

Cook/Tower

The David Dill portion of the Arrowhead State Trail near Tower is groomed and in mostly good condition for snowmobiling. The trail base is 1-4 inches thick. Local snow depth measures 12-22 inches. Riders are asked to use caution near swampy areas, and to stay to the right of the trail due to logging activity in some areas.

Hibbing/Side Lake

The cross-country ski and snowmobile trails at McCarthy Beach State Park are fully groomed. The ski trails are reported to be in fair condition with a 12 inch base. The snowmobile trails are in excellent condition with a 10 inch base. Roughly 30 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.

Gilbert

The snowmobile trails running through the Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area are groomed with good conditions reported for most trails. Overall, the trail base measures 11 inches with roughly 2 feet of snow on the ground in this area. Please note that not all swamp crossings are fully frozen.

Ely

The ski and snowmobile trails running through Bear Head Lake State Park are now entirely groomed. Most of the ski trails are in good condition with a 7 inch base, and most of the snowmobile trails are in excellent condition with an 8 inch base. Local snow depth is 20-24 inches. The section of the Taconite State Trail running from Ely to Tower is groomed and in good condition for snowmobiling. The trail base measures 1-4 inches. Local snow depth ranges from 14-24 inches. Please watch for logging trucks along the way.

Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail

The Pincushion Mountain Ski Trail in Cook County is groomed and in excellent condition. The base of the trail averages 8 inches with more than 2 feet of snow on the ground. Just to the southwest, the Sugarbush Trail System is groomed and in very good to excellent condition for skiing. The trail base measures more than a foot. Many of the snowmobile trails in the Grand Marais and Lutsen vicinities are groomed and in great condition.

Two Harbors/Silver Bay

The ski trails at Gooseberry Falls State Park are fully groomed with very good conditions reported. The snowmobile trails are partially groomed and in fair condition. The base of both trails measures 8-14 inches. Local snow depth is 14-22 inches.

Cromwell/Carlton

The snowmobile trails running through Fond du Lac State Forest are groomed and in good condition. The base of the trails measures roughly 8 inches, with roughly 30 inches of snow on the ground.

Hinckley/Duluth

The entire Willard Munger State Trail running from Hinckley to Duluth is groomed and in good to very good condition. The base of the trail measures 6-9 inches. Snow depth along the trail ranges from 20-30 inches. Nearby, the Chengwatana State Forest Trails are groomed and in good condition for snowmobiling. The trail base measures 6 inches. Local snow depth is roughly 15 inches.

Information used to compile the Winter Trails Update is provided courtesy of the Minnesota DNR, Three Rivers Park District, city/regional park systems 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 Great Minnesota Ski Pass. For further information, contact the Department of Natural Resources at 1-888-646-6367. To order a cross-country ski pass or snowmobile trail sticker, dial 1-888-665-4236 or access the DNR Online License Sales web site. To locate a license center in Minnesota to purchase a ski pass or snowmobile sticker, check out DNR License Agents.