Minnesota Winter Trails Report: December 11, 2008
In general, some cross-country ski and snowmobile trails within the Twin Cities vicinity, and in south-central and southeastern Minnesota, are groomed and reported to be in fair to good condition. Most other Minnesota ski and snowmobile trails are either in poor condition or remain closed due to a lack of snow. Snow is in the forecast for the entire state this weekend, and any accumulation could result in improved trail conditions and the opening of additional ski and snowmobile trails. Please remember 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. 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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Northeastern Region
All ski and snowmobile trails in this region of the state are either in poor condition or remain closed due to a lack of snow.
Northcentral/West Region
All ski and snowmobile trails in this region of the state are either in poor condition or remain closed due to a lack of snow.
Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan Vicinity
Three Rivers Park District -Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Scott and Wright county parks
Ski trails at Cleary Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake are tracked, packed, and listed in fair condition for traditional and skate skiing. Trail lights have been turned on. The visitor center is open until 9:00pm, and rentals are available. At Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, 2.2 kilometers of the Valley Trail have been packed and tracked, with good conditions being reported for classic and skate skiing. The lesson area is also open and in good condition, and rentals are available. At the Glen Lake Golf Course in Minnetonka, the skate ski trail is packed and in fair condition. The skate ski trails at Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington are packed and reported to be in good condition. Lights are on, and the sliding hill is also open. At Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve in Savage, the Knob and Kettle trails are packed and tracked. The trails are in good condition for skate skiing, and in fair condition for classic skiing. Most other cross-country ski trails within the Three Rivers Park District remain closed.
St. Paul
Fort Snelling State Park ski trails are partially groomed and in fair condition, with a 2 inch base. Roughly 4 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.
Afton (south of Hastings)
The ski trails at Afton State Park are packed. While the trail base is an average of 1-2 inches, some areas remain bare due to the wind. More snow is needed before tracks can be set. The ground is covered in roughly 3 inches of snow.
Most other ski and snowmobile trails in this region of the state are either in poor condition or remain closed due to a lack of snow.
Southern Region
Frontenac (south of Red Wing)
The Frontenac State Park snowmobile trails have been groomed, and park officials report fair conditions. While the ski trails have been packed, the trails remain in poor condition. Both trails are covered in 1.5 inches of snow. The ski trails will be tracked once the area receives at least 2 inches of new snow. Just to the south, the Hok-Si-La Trail in Lake City has been packed and tracked. This trail is listed in poor to fair condition. Local snow depth is roughly 4.5 inches.
Elba (north of St. Charles)
Ski trails within Whitewater State Park will be fully groomed by Friday morning. The sections of the ski trails that have already been groomed are reported to be in fair condition, with a 1-2 inch base. Overall, there is 7 inches of snow on the ground.
Preston
The snowmobile trails within Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park are currently being groomed by local grant-in-aid clubs. Riders report good conditions. The ski trails should have a set base by this weekend, and conditions are expected to be fair. Approximately 10 inches of snow covers the ground within the park.
Albert Lea
Myre-Big Island State Park currently offers 3 miles of groomed ski trails. This portion of the park trail system is reported to be in fair to good condition, with a 3 inch base. The remaining 2 miles are also groomed, but in poor condition. There is roughly 8 inches of snow on the ground.
Owatonna
Rice Lake State Park cross-country ski trails are in very good condition, however trails remain ungroomed. The snowmobile trails are in fair condition, and are also ungroomed. The ski trails have a 4 inch base, and the snowmobile trails have a 3 inch base. Local snow depth is 5-6 inches.
Waterville (southwest of Faribault)
Roughly 7 inches of snow covers the ground at Sakatah Lake State Park. Some of the trail system has been packed, and more grooming may take place prior to this weekend. Both the ski and snowmobile trails are listed in fair condition, with a 5-6 inch ungroomed surface. The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, which travels past Sakatah Lake State Park, has been groomed for skiing, however conditions are considered poor to fair. Please note that while there is ice on Upper and Lower Sakatah lakes, the ice is not yet safe. The snowcover on top of the ice also makes it more difficult to identify problem areas.
New Ulm
Flandrau State Park ski trails are groomed and in fair condition, with a 1/2 inch base. Trails in the wooded areas are in the better condition than those in the open, windswept areas. Overall, there is approximately 4 inches of snow on the ground in this area. Flandrau State Park rents cross-country skis, boots and poles, as well as snowshoes.
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of the Department of Natural Resources State Climatology Office and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
