Explore Minnesota Winter Trails Report March 5,09
While last week’s snowstorm resulted in improved conditions on most trails, recent warm temperatures are having an adverse affect on trail conditions in much of Minnesota. At present, very good to excellent ski and/or snowmobile trail conditions can be found at the cities of Ely, Hibbing, Grand Marais, Lutsen, Bigfork, Waskish, Bemidji, Fergus Falls, and Pequot Lakes. Please note that trail conditions can change rapidly–please call ahead for the most current conditions.
A Snowmobile State Trail sticker is required for all snowmobiles operating on state or grant-in-aid trails, and all snowmobiles must have a $16 trail use permit. Cross-country skiers must also have a pass to use grant-in-aid and state-operated trails. For further information, contact the Department of Natural Resources, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-888-646-6367. You may order cross-country ski passes and snowmobile trail stickers at 1-888-665-4236. To locate a license center in Minnesota to purchase ski passes and snowmobile stickers, check out DNR license agents.
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Northeast Region
Bigfork (north of Grand Rapids)
Scenic State Park cross-country ski trails are groomed, and in very good condition. The trails have a 6 inch base. The snowmobile trail that runs through the park is also groomed, and riders report good conditions. The base of this trail is 1-3 inches. The historic lodge building is open. There is a stone fireplace, and a supply of wood for a nice warm fire. Roughly 12 inches of snow covers the ground in this area.
Side Lake (north of Hibbing)
The snowmobile trails at McCarthy Beach State Park have a 4 inch base and conditions are reported to be good. The ski trails are in very good condition, with a 6 inch groomed surface. The wooded areas are in very good condition. Trails may be hard-packed and icy in some areas. Please use extra caution on the lakes. Local snow depth is 14 inches.
Tower
The Arrowhead State Snowmobile Trail is groomed and in very good condition. The trail base measures 1-6 inches. Riders should expect some icy patches, and the high traffic areas and corners may have bare spots. The trailhead is located ten miles west of Tower, at the intersection with the Taconite State Snowmobile Trail. The snow in the woods measures 17-22 inches. Similar conditions are being reported for the Taconite State Trail, with snowmbilers reporting very good riding conditions.
Ely
Area snow depth is averaging 28 inches. The Stony Spur, Taconite Spur, and Tomahawk snowmobile trails have either been or will be groomed by Friday night. Expect good to excellent riding conditions, and a 1-6 inch trail base. Please note that there may be some areas where the trail is rough and wearing thin. Please note that trail conditions are generally poor where there is active logging activity. Lake conditions have improved, but watch for frozen ruts. A small ice ridge has been reported midway across Bear Island Lake. Area cross-country ski trails remain in good to excellent condition with a 6-9 inch base. Most trails will be freshly groomed before the weekend. Skiers report lots of tracks and other signs of wildlife on the trails. And, at nearby Bear Head Lake State Park, the ski and snowmobile trails are in very good condition. The ski trails have a 9 inch base, and the snowmobile trails have 1-4 inch base. Both trails are groomed. This is an excellent time of year to hit the trails due to mild temperatures, beautiful scenery and active wildlife! Please note that trail conditions can change rapidly–please call ahead for the most current trail conditions.
Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail
The ski and snowmobile trails are groomed, and conditions are reported to be very good to excellent. Grooming continues along all trails on a regular basis. Just northwest, ski trails near Golden Eagle Lodge, in the Central Gunflint Trail vicinity, are reported to be in good to excellent condition for both skate and classic skiing. These trails have a 12 inch base. Snow depth is 24-26 inches.
Lutsen
Cascade River State Park currently offers very good conditions for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The trails are groomed, with a 10 inch base. Trails will be regroomed today. Local snow depth is 21 inches.
Two Harbors
Temperatures have climbed above 40 degrees at Gooseberry Falls State Park, and trail conditions have deteriorated. The ski trails are now in poor condition, and the snowmobile trails are in fair condition. Both have a 10 inch base which turns soft during the day, and icy at night. There are beautiful ice formations on the waterfalls and along the Lake Superior shoreline. The Lower Falls has turned a beautiful blue-green, and ice shards are piling up on the shore. The park is covered in 16 inches of snow.
Duluth/Grand Marais
Riders report fair to good conditions for snowmobiling along the North Shore State Trail. The North Shore State Trail will is groomed, with a 3-8 inch base. Trail conditions vary–please use caution while riding. Trailside snow depth ranges from 11-30 inches. Please note that some sections of the trail are icy and there are some bare spots–please use caution.
Carlton
Jay Cooke State Park trails have rapidly deteriorated, and conditions have been down-graded to poor for both skiing and snowmobiling. The ground is covered in roughly 8 inches of snow.
East of Hinckley
The ski and snowmobile trails running through St. Croix State Park are ungroomed and in fair condition, with 4 inch base. Expect some thin areas and bare spots along the way, especially with the recent warm temperatures. The Kettle River ice crossing has been closed due to unknown ice conditions. Roughly 10 inches of snow covers the ground in this area.
Northwest Region
Hallock
Rain fell this morning on Lake Bronson State Park, and the ski and snowmobile trails have deteriorated considerably. The park manager reports poor to fair conditions for both trails.
Waskish
Snowmobile trails running through the Big Bog State Recreation Area and surrounding area are groomed and in very good condition. The trails have a 4 inch base. Camper cabin users have been snowshoeing and skiing in the bog and report a nice base of snow. Twelve inches of snow is on the ground in this area.
Bemidji
The Lake Bemidji State Park snowmobile trails have a 7 inch groomed surface, and are listed in very good condition. The ski trails are groomed and in excellent condition, with an 8 inch base. Local snow depth is 14 inches.
Central Region
Fergus Falls/Battle Lake
The Otter Country snowmobile trails are currently in good to excellent condition. Approximately 14-22 inches of snow covers the ground. Trails running through wooded areas offer the best riding conditions. The ski trails running through Maplewood State Park are in very good condition, with an 8-10 inch groomed surface. Expect some icy spots along the way. The snowmobile trails are in good condition, with a 0-4 inch base. And at nearby Glendalough State Park, the ski trails are in good condition, with a 5 inch groomed surface. Some sections of trail are icy. Ski rental is available, and more youth sizes were recently added. Local snow depth at both state parks is 14-17 inches.
Little Falls
Park officials at Charles A. Lindbergh State Park report good conditions for cross-country skiing, however trails are beginning to deteriorate. The trails are groomed, with a 3 inch base. The park’s log cabin shelter building is available to use and/or rent throughout the winter. Wood is available in the shelter for public use in the woodstove. There is 11 inches of snow in the woods.
Brainerd
More than 4 inches of snow fell throughout the area last night. The ski and snowmobile trails within Pillsbury State Forest are listed in very good condition. These trails have a 3 inch base. Groomers will hit the trails in the next few days. Local snow depth is 1 foot. Nearby, the section of the Paul Bunyan State Snowmobile Trail running through Pequot Lakes is reported to be in good to very good condition, with a 3 inch groomed surface. And the ski trails running through the Land O’ Lakes State Forest are groomed and in very good condition. These trails have a 3 inch base, and approximately 16 inches of snow is on the ground. Temperatures are in the 40’s, and park officials expect trails to deteriorate.
Onamia
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park ski trails are groomed and in fair to good condition, with a 6 inch base. The snowmobile trails have a 5 inch base, and listed in fair condition. Local snow depth is roughly 13 inches. Ski and snowshoe rentals are available during the day, each Saturday and Sunday during the winter season. Camper Cabin reservations can be made by calling 1-866-857-2757, or by logging on to the reservation website at
www.stayatmnparks.comMonticello
Lake Maria State Park ski trails are in fair condition, with a 2 inch base on all 22 kilometers of traditional ski trails and 5 kilometers of skate ski trails. While the track is in fair to good condition, thawing temperatures will make the base icy early in the morning and soft as temperatures rise. The ground is covered in roughly 8 inches of snow.
New London
Sibley State Park ski trails are have been down-graded to fair condition due to recent above-freezing temperatures. The trails have a 1-4 inch base. The snowmobile trails are in poor condition, with 0-3 inch base, and lots of bare areas. Roughly 8-10 inches of snow covers the ground in this area. The nearby Glacial Lakes State Trail has deteriorated, and conditions are reported to be poor.
Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan Vicinity
Three Rivers Park District -Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Scott and Wright county parks
Packed and tracked trails, as well as good classic and skate ski trail conditions, can be found at Carver Park Reserve in Victoria, and Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove. Most other parks within the Three Rivers Park District have either down-graded their trails to poor condition or closed them due to a lack of snow.
Almelund (east of North Branch)
The ski trail system within Wild River State Park has been groomed and tracked, and conditions are reported to be good. The trails have a 3 inch base. Areas with low spots have pooling water and are in fair condition. Roughly 8 inches of snow is in the woods. Wild River offers ski and snowshoe rental throughout the winter season when trails have suitable snow cover. For rental information, dial 651/257-0685
Marine On St. Croix (north of Stillwater)
Due to recent warm temperatures, the William O’Brien State Park ski trails have been down-graded to poor condition. The trail base is now 0-1 inches.
Afton (south of Hastings)
The ski trails at Afton State Park are groomed, with a 0-3 inch base. Conditions are reported to be fair. Recent warm temperatures have caused trails running through open areas to rapidly deteriorate. The ground is covered in roughly 5 inches of snow.
Southern Region
Frontenac (south of Red Wing)
The ski and snowmobile trails have been closed at Frontenac State Park due to a lack of snow. An additional 5-6 inches of snowfall will be needed to groom and reset track.
Waterville (southwest of Faribault)
The ski trails at Sakatah Lake State Park are in fair to good condition, with a 2-3 inch groomed surface. The snowmobile trails are reported to be in fair condition, with a 1-2 inch ungroomed surface. These trails will most likely deteriorate with the current warm temperatures. Local snow depth is 5-6 inches.
Granite Falls
The ski and snowmobile trails running through Upper Sioux Agency State Park are in fair condition, with a 2 inch base. Expect icy conditions under the snow. The ground is covered in 7 inches of snow.
Most other ski and snowmobile trails in this region of the state are either in poor condition or have been closed due to a lack of snow.
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Department of Natural Resources State Climatology Office and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
