Explore Minnesota Winter Trail Conditions Report: March 6
Explore Minnesota Winter Trail Conditions Report as of Thursday, March 6, with information provided courtesy of the Department of Natural Resources, the Three Rivers Park District, communities and properties throughout Minnesota. This report is brought to you by Explore Minnesota Tourism.
In general, good to excellent cross-country ski and snowmobile trail conditions can be found throughout the northern one-third of the state. Good to very good conditions can be found throughout the remainder of the state.
Please be aware that snowmobiles with studs are not allowed on most paved state and public trails. Also, all snowmobiles must obtain a $16 trail use permit. 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
www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/agents.htmlNortheastern Region
International Falls/Voyageurs National Park
The Tilson Creek Ski Trail within Koochiching State Forest is fully groomed and in excellent condition. The trail base is averaging 5 inches. Please note that the east side of the red loop will be closed until the forestry sale is complete. Snow depth is roughly 16 inches in this area. Area land-based snowmobile trails are in excellent condition, with a 12-24 inch base. All snowmobile trails within Voyageurs National Park are open and staked. Extreme caution should be used on ungroomed sections of lake trails and immediately adjacent to the groomed trails due to hard-packed snow drifts. Travel off staked snowmobile trails is not recommended–recent accidents with injuries have resulted due to travel off the staked trails. Land-based ski and snowshoe trails are open and in excellent condition. The Rainy Lake ice road has been extended to just west of Diamond Island.
Grand Rapids
The Cow Horn and River Road ski trails, running through the Golden Anniversary State Forest, have been groomed, and conditions are reported to be good to very good. The trail base measures 4 inches, with roughly 10 inches of snow on the ground. Some sections of the trail are icy. Just to the north, the Taconite State Trail is reported to be in good condition for snowmobiling, with a 1-2 inch groomed surface. Expect some bare areas along the way. Local snow depth is roughly 11 inches. Nearby, within Scenic State Park, the ski trails are in very good condition, with an 8 inch groomed surface. The snowmobile trails are in fair condition, with a 5 inch base. The two-mile connector trail on the north end of the park was groomed this week, and it is in fair to good condition. The Historic Lodge Building is open, and firewood is available in the shelter, along with fire starting materials.
NW of Hibbing
The snowmobile trails running through George Washington State Forest are in good condition. The trails have a 1-2 inch groomed surface. The corners and high use areas have bare spots. The Thistledew Ski Trail running through George Washington State Forest is groomed and in very good condition, with a 4 inch base. Approximately 1 foot of snow covers the ground in this area.
Tower
The Arrowhead State Trail is fully groomed for snowmobiling. This trail is reported to be in fair condition overall, with a 2-4 inch base. More bare areas are appearing due to a lack of snow, exposure to sunshine, and general wear and tear. The trail may be icy or rough in certain areas. Please ride with caution. The Putnam and Fishing Lakes snowmobile trails running through the nearby Bear Island State Forest are groomed and in fair condition. Please note that the corners of area snowmobile trails are showing some wear, and may be icy or rough. A total of 1 1/2 feet of snow covers the ground in this area.
Ely
Area snowmobile trails are in fair to good condition, with a 3-5 inch groomed surface. Please be aware that sections of the trails that are exposed to sunlight are becoming thin, and snowmobilers should watch for occasional protruding rocks. Most area lake trails are staked, and riders are asked to please follow the staked trails when choosing lake travel. Area cross-country ski trails are mostly in good condition, with a 6-8 inch base. The Birch Lake Plantation, Trezona, Hidden Valley and connecting trails have been groomed. Most user-tracked trails remain in fair to good condition. Area snow depth is roughly 16 inches.
Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail
At the city of Grand Marais, all cross-country ski and snowmobile trails are reported to be in very good to excellent condition. The trails have an 8-24 inch base, and grooming continues. Similar conditions are being reported for skiing and snowmobiling up the Gunflint Trail.
N of Lutsen
Cascade River State Park is covered in 18 inches of snow. The ski and snowmobile trails have an 8 inch groomed surface, and are both listed in very good condition. Nearby, the Deeryard, Pioneer, Ridge Run, Lookout and Cascade River trails are in excellent condition. The Hall Loop, Massie Loop and the North Shore Trail are reported to be in excellent condition for skate sking, and in good to very good condition for classic skiing. All trails have a 6-16 inch groomed surface, with 12-30 inches of snow in the woods.
Two Harbors
Gooseberry Falls State Park currently has 1 foot of snow on the ground. The snowmobile trails have a 4 inch groomed surface, and are reported to be in good condition. The ski trails have become very fast and icy, and are considered to be in poor condition. The waterfalls have many beautiful ice formations, and wildlife sightings are common–skiers report a lot of wolf tracks are being observed on the ski trails. Please note that the steps are still very slippery.
Duluth/Grand Marais
The North Shore State Snowmobile Trail, running from Duluth to Grand Marais, has been fully groomed. The base is 2-7 inches deep, and conditions are reported to be fair to good, however trail conditions will vary. Expect some bare spots and exposed rocks along the southern section of the trail–please use caution while riding.
Carlton
Most sections of the Willard Munger State Trail are reported to be in good condition for snowmobiling, with a 2-4 inch groomed surface. The sections of the Munger Trail located within Chengwatana and St. Croix state forests are listed in fair condition, with a 2 inch groomed surface. Please note that there is logging activity along some areas of the Munger Trail. Also, expect occasional icy and bare sections. Just to the west, the ski trails running through Fond du Lac State Forest are groomed, and in very good condition, with a 6-9 inch base. Please note that there is logging activity north of Roger’s Lake. The snowmobile trail has been groomed, and conditions are reported to be good. Some corners may be icy. At nearby Jay Cooke State Park, the ski and snowmobile trails are in fair condition, with a 4 inch groomed surface. Please note that the recent warm temperatures have resulted in some icy areas along the trail; please use caution, especially on the hills. Local snow depth is 7-10 inches.
Sandstone
Banning State Park currently offers fair conditions for snowmobiling. These trails are partially groomed, with a 3 inch base. The ski trails are fully groomed, and have a 6 inch base. Conditions are reported to be very good. Roughly 1 foot of snow is on the ground in this area.
E of Hinckley
Both the St. Croix State Park ski and snowmobile trails have a 4-5 inch groomed surface. The snowmobile trails are in good condition, however the ski trails are very icy and considered to be in poor condition. A lot of deer activity is being noted on the ski trails, and a warming house is available. Roughly 13 inches of snow covers the ground in this area.
Northcentral/West Region
Moorhead
The ski trails at Buffalo River State Park are groomed and in fair condition, with a 7 inch base. A warming house is open on Saturdays and Sundays, and there is a new sliding hill within the park. Local snow depth is 14 inches. Area snowmobile trails maintained by the Clay County Trail Blazers are reported to be in very good condition. The entire 168-mile trail system has been groomed. The trail base ranges from 3-24 inches depending on location. Snow depth is reported to be 10-16 inches.
Pelican Rapids
Maplewood State Park classic and skate ski trails are ungroomed and in fair condition, with a 6 inch base. The snowmobile trails are also considered to be in fair condition, but trails are groomed, with a 1-3 inch base. Snow has drifted onto the trails in the open areas. One foot of snow covers the ground in this area.
Outing
The Washburn Lake Ski Trail running through Land O’ Lakes State Forest has a 5 inch groomed surface, and is reported to be in fair condition. Only the 7-mile northern segment is being groomed this winter. One foot of snow covers the ground in this area.
N of Brainerd
The Paul Bunyan State Trail is reported to be in poor condition for snowmobiling. Riders report that the trails are very ice and bumpy. The snowmobile trails running through nearby Pillsbury State Forest are also in poor condition. The ski trails are in fair to good condition. Local snow depth is 8 inches. At the city of Brainerd, the snowmobile trails running through Crow Wing State Park are listed in fair condition, with a 4 inch base. The forested areas remain best for snowmobiling. The ski trails are in good condition, with a 5 inch base. Both trails have been groomed. Snow cover is averaging 10 inches in the park.
Little Falls
The cross-country ski trails at Charles A. Lindbergh State Park have a 2 inch groomed surface, and are in fair condition. The set tracks remain intact. Local snow depth is 9 inches. Bald eagles and pileated woodpeckers were recently observed in the woods.
Orrock/Zimmerman
The Ann Lake Ski Trail, running through Sand Dunes State Forest, is groomed and in fair to good condition. The trail base is averaging 2 inches, with roughly 8 inches of snow on the ground.
Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan Vicinity
Monticello
Lake Maria State Park is covered in 8 inches of snow. The cross-country ski trails have a 2 inch groomed surface. One inch of fresh snow has covered the icy sections, and the trails have been upgraded to good condition. There are 22-kilometers of traditional tracked trail, and 5-kilometers of skate ski trail. Skiers may also want to take advantage of the ski-in camper cabins available for winter use. There are also 3 miles of packed trail for winter hiking and snowshoeing, and Lake Maria also offers an ice skating rink.
West Metro vicinity/Three Rivers Park District
All parks with cross-country ski trails within the Three Rivers Park District have packed and tracked trails. At present, good conditions can be found along the skate ski trails at Baker Park Reserve in Maple Plain, Carver Park Reserve in Victoria, Cleary Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake, Eagle Lake Regional Park in Plymouth, Elm Creek Park Reserve in Dayton, French Regional Park in Plymouth, Glen Lake Golf Course in Minnetonka, Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington, and Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve in Savage. Good conditions can be found along the traditional ski trails at Elm Creek and Hyland park reserves, as well as at Cleary Lake Regional Park. Please note that conditions can change daily. Skiers are asked to call ahead for the most current conditions, and to confirm days and hours of operation, at 763/559-6778.
E of North Branch
A total of 9 inches of snow is on the ground at Wild River State Park. The ski trails have been groomed, and are reported to be in good to very good condition, with a 3-7 inch base. One-half inch of fresh snow fell March 5, which was just enough to cover the rough sections on the tracks. Wild River offers ski and snowshoe rental when the trails are open and useable. Wild River also rents its Guest House and two camper cabins year-round. There are 30 miles of tracked ski trails and 17 miles of skate ski trails within the park.
N of Stillwater
The ski trails at William O’Brien State Park are in excellent condition for skate skiing, and in good condition for classic skiing. Both trails have a 2 inch groomed surface. The ground is covered in 0-3 inches of snow within the park.
St. Paul
Fort Snelling State Park ski trails are reported to be in fair condition, with a 4 inch partially groomed surface. The Pike Island trail will be rolled on March 6 in order to compact 2 inches of new, fresh snow. A winter walking trail is also available for hikers on Pike Island.
N of Hastings
Afton State Park ski trails are in poor condition overall, with a 1 inch groomed surface. Please note that the more open areas have an icy base. The snowshoe trails remain in good shape. Ski and snowshoe rentals are available within the park–please call ahead to confirm availability. Roughly 2 inches of snow covers the ground at this time.
Southern Region
S of Red Wing
Frontenac State Park ski trails are icy and in poor condition, with a 2 inch base. The snowmobile trails have been closed due to a lack of snow. Local snow depth is roughly 4 inches.
Preston
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park snowmobile trails are reported to be in fair condition, with a 1-6 inch partially groomed surface. The ski trails are in fair condition, with a 6 inch partially groomed surface. Despite 1 1/2 inches of new snow, expect some sections of the snowmobile trails to have a thin base, and portions of the ski trails to be icy. Area snow depth ranges from 0-13 inches.
Faribault/Mankato
The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail is icy and in poor condition for skiing. The snowmobile trail has now been closed due to a lack of snow. At nearby Sakatah Lake State Park, the ski trails are in fair condition overall, with a 1-2 inch groomed surface. Please note that some very icy sections may be encountered. Local snow depth is roughly 4 inches.
N of Willmar
The snowmobile trails at Sibley State Park are in fair condition, with a 1 inch partially groomed surface. Some bare spots have appeared on the curves and in the open areas. The ski trails have a 2 inch groomed surface, and conditions are reported to be good for both classic and skate skiing. The exposed sections of the ski trails are prone to melting and have become somewhat icy. Skiers should use caution in these areas, and be aware that conditions can change rapidly this time of year. Local snow depth is 7 inches. The nearby Glacial Lakes State Trail is in poor condition for snowmobiling, with a 0-2 inch ungroomed surface. The ground is covered in 4 inches of snow in this area.
NW of Montevideo
The ski trails at Lac qui Parle State Park are in fair condition, with a 1/2 to 2 inch base. Expect some bare areas. Roughly 3 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Department of Natural Resources State Climatology Office and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
