December 9, 2010 Explore Minnesota Winter Trail Conditions Report
In general, fair to good cross-country ski and snowmobile trail conditions can be found throughout the state of Minnesota, with excellent conditions reported at Ely and Roseau! Skiers and snowmobilers are asked to please stay off the lakes and rivers until ice grows thicker. Heavy snow is expected Friday evening and all day Saturday, December 10 & 11, dropping a potential 6-12 inches of snow on the southern half of the state.
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 old or older must have a Minnesota Ski Pass. Please note that a new state law requires nonresidents to have Recreational Vehicle trail passes beginning January 1, 2010 if using state or grant-in-aid trails. 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.
Northeast Region
International Falls
The Koochiching State Forest Tilson Creek ski trails are in good condition. The trails have a 2-3 inch partially groomed surface. Local snow depth is 13-15 inches. Please note that there are a lot of ice-covered branches hanging over the trail edges - please use caution.
Side Lake - north of Hibbing
The ski trails at McCarthy Beach State Park have been groomed and have a very nice track. Skiers should remain on the look out for overhanging, snow-laden brush on the trail edges. The ski trail base averages 4 inches. The park snowmobile trails are reported to be in good shape for riding, but the swamps are not frozen - please use caution. Approximately 1 foot of snow covers the ground at McCarthy Beach State Park. Please note that new snow covers unstable lake ice, therefore lake travel may not be safe for some time.
Ely
The Ely vicinity has more than a foot of snow on the ground, and snow is in the forecast for later this week! Overall, most snowmobile trails will be cleared by the weekend. Grooming operations are in the beginning stages so not all trails can be groomed at this time due to swamps and other wet areas that remain unfrozen. Snowmobilers are encouraged to stay off the lakes, as the required 9 inches of good ice is still a ways off. The Hidden Valley, Birch Lake Plantation, Babbitt Golf Course, Bear Head Lake State Park and Trezona cross-country ski trails are all groomed and in good to excellent condition, with a 4-5 inch base. Most user tracked trails in the Ely area are cleared and packed.
Grand Rapids/Bigfork
Cross-country ski trail conditions at Scenic State Park are very good. Most of the trails are packed and groomed, with a 3 inch base - the two low-lying, swampy sections of ski trail have not yet been groomed. The snowmobile trail loop that runs through the park remains closed. Approximately 8 inches of snow covers the ground at Scenic State Park. The nearby Golden Anniversary State Forest Cow Horn Road cross-country ski trails were last groomed on December 3, and trails are in good condition, with a 1 inch base. Local snow depth is 3 inches.
Sandstone
Banning State Park ski trails have a 2 inch ungroomed surface, however skiers report fair conditions. Conditions for area snowmobile trails are unknown. A snowmobile parking lot is available at nearby Banning Junction Restaurant & C-Store. Local snow depth is roughly 10 inches. At nearby Moose Lake State Park, trails are partially groomed, and conditions are reported to be good. Both parks are described as stunning winter wonderlands.
Northwest Region
Williams - northwest of Baudette
Zippel Bay State Park is covered in just over one foot of snow. The trails have an 8 inch base. The Big Pine Loop needs additional clearing before it will be open for skiing. The snowmobile trails have not yet been groomed.
Argyle -northwest of Thief River Falls
Old Mill State Park ski trails were groomed December 8, and conditions are reported to be very good. A foot of snow covers the ground in this area. Visitors are also enjoying the sledding hill!
Lake Bronson - east of Hallock
Lake Bronson State Park ski trails are groomed and in very good condition. The snowmobile trails are reported to be in good condition. Just over 1 foot of snow covers the ground.
Roseau
One foot of snow covers the ground at Hayes Lake State Park. The ski and snowmobile trails are groomed, and reported to be in excellent condition. The trail base averages approximately 8 inches.
Bemidji
Lake Bemidji State Park currently offers very good conditions for cross-country skiing. The ski trails were last groomed on December 6, at which time they had a 2 inch base. The snowmobile trails have a 2 inch ungroomed surface, but conditions are unknown. Two inches of fresh powder covers the trails. Local snow depth is approximately 8 inches.
Lake Itasca - north of Park Rapids
The ski trails at Itasca State Park are partially packed and tracked for classic and skate skiing, and conditions are reported to be good for most of the trails. The base measures roughly 2 inches. Conditions are currently unknown for the snowmobile trails. Roughly 8 inches of snow covers the ground in this area.
Moorhead
Buffalo River State Park cross-country ski trails are in very good condition, with a 3 inch base. The trails were last groomed on December 4. The sliding hill has been packed, and is in fair to good condition. The ground is covered in roughly 1 foot of snow.
Central Region
McGregor
Conditions for skiing within Savanna Portage State Park are very good. The trails have a 3 inch base, and have been fully groomed. There are more than 20 miles of ski trails within the park and adjoining Remote Lake Solitude Area. The snowmobile trails are open, but have not yet been groomed. Local snow depth is approximately 10 inches.
Brainerd Lakes Area
A few snowmobilers and cross-country skiers have set their own trails at Crow Wing State Park. The ski trails may be packed later this week to set a good base for later snowfalls. The ski trails are currently in fair condition, and snowmobile trails are in poor condition. Both trails have a 1 inch base. Roughly 7 inches of snow covers the ground in the park. Just to the north at Pequot Lakes, the Paul Bunyan State Trail is reported to be in good condition, with a 2 inch base. It has been groomed, however other trails in the area are only partially groomed due to unsafe conditions on lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Riders are asked to please stay off area lakes, streams, and rivers since the ice is very thin under the snow. Local snow depth averages 6 inches.
Most other ski and snowmobile trails are either in poor condition or remain closed due to a lack of snow.
Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan Vicinity
Marine on St. Croix - north of Stillwater
William O'Brien State Park ski trails are open. All skate ski trails are groomed and in good condition. Most of the traditional ski trails have been tracked. Both trails have a 1-2 inch base. Five inches of snow covers the ground at William O'Brien.
St. Paul/Stillwater
The Gateway State Trail has been packed for skiing, but no track has been set. The base is roughly 2 inches thick. Local snow depth is 9 inches. The section from Cayuga to Hwy 12 was plowed December 6. Parking lots are at 55th Avenue and Hwy 96 - they have been cleared of snow, and parking is available.
Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Scott and Wright county parks
Most traditional and skate ski trails within the Three Rivers Park District are packed, tracked and in fair to good condition, including 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 Maple Grove, French Regional Park in Plymouth, and Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington. Trails at Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve in Savage are in poor to fair condition. The sliding hill is open at Hyland Lake Park Reserve. For the most current trail conditions, dial 763/559-6778. Please note that high school Nordic ski races are held in some parks during the winter season - skiers are asked to check the race schedule prior to planning an outing. Rentals are available at many of the parks within the Three Rivers Park District - please call ahead to secure equipment rental.
Jordan/Shakopee/Chaska
The Minnesota State Trail, running through the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, is open and groomed for snowmobiling, however all snowmobiles must stay on the marked trail as it travels through some private property. The base measures 1 inch and conditions are reported to be good. The ski trail which follows the hiking trail in the Lawrence Unit is in fair condition, but ungroomed. Please note that large areas of open water covered sections of trail just a few days ago - please use caution due to possible icy conditions. Local snow depth is roughly 8 inches.
Most other ski and snowmobile trails are either in poor condition or remain closed due to a lack of snow.
Southern Region
Northfield
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park ski and snowmobile trails are packed and in good condition. The base on both trails measures roughly 5 inches. There is just over 10 inches of snow on the ground in this area.
Preston
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park ski trails are reported to be in fair condition. The trails have not yet been groomed. Nearby, the Harmony-Preston Valley and Root River state trails are in fair condition for skiing, but remain ungroomed. More than half a foot of snow covers the ground in this area.
Winona
Great River Bluffs State Park cross-country ski trails have a 2 inch base overall, however snow depth is not consistent enough to set track. Local snow depth is approximately 7 inches.
Waterville - west of Faribault
Sakatah Lake State Park offers good conditions for skiing, and fair conditions for snowmobiling. The ski trail is groomed, with trail bases measuring 3 inches. The snowmobile trail is ungroomed, and the trail base thickness is unknown. More than 6 inches of snow covers the ground in this area. The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail that runs through the park currently offers fair conditions for skiing, and poor conditions for snowmobiling. The ski trail has been groomed, however the snowmobile trail has not. The base of the trails run 1-2 inches. Snow depth ranges from 4-8 inches.
Owatonna
Rice Lake State Park ski trails have not yet been groomed, but several skiers have created their own tracks and report good conditions. A 4 inch base covers these trails, and nearly 8 inches of snow is on the ground. Snowmobile riders report fair conditions, and a 2 inch base.
Fairfax - northwest of New Ulm
Fair conditions are reported for both skiing and snowmobiling at Fort Ridgely State Park. The trails have a 2 inch base, with 6 inches of snow on the ground.
New London -north of Willmar
All ski trails at Sibley State Park were groomed December 6, and have a 3-4 inch base. The eastern trails are in good condition, and the western trails in fair to good condition. The Mt. Tom road/trail was used heavily by deer hunters over the weekend, but it should be okay for classic skiing. The skate portion of this trail is not in good condition. Hunters drove on some of the western trails, therefore conditions are only fair. More snow will improve conditions considerably. The sliding hill has also been groomed and is ready for use. More than a foot of snow covers the ground.
Watson - northwest of Montevideo
Snow fall this week has really improved conditions at Lac qui Parle State Park. The ski trails are packed, but not yet tracked. They have a 4 inch base, and conditions are fair. Local snow depth is 7 inches.
Luverne
Blue Mounds State Park staff report that the snowmobile trail is in good condition, with a 5 inch base. The trail has not yet been groomed. Local snow depth is also 5 inches. Parking is available at the trailhead.
