Minnesota Trails 2019/20 Winter

Sax-Zim Bog • St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra • Banadad Skiing

TRAILS Minnesota

T h e P a r k s & Tr a i l s J o u r n a l

WINTER 2019-20

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200 SKI TRAILS SKI & FAT BIKE

EVENTS

P Co ark un s & cil T Pa rail ge s 5

Minnesota’s Top

Crosby - Ironton - Deerwood Bay Lake - Cuyuna - Emily 522 Sinclair Lewis Avenue Sauk Centre, MN 56378

www.MnTrails.com Minnesota Trails Staff Jan Lasar Editor/Publisher Joyce Frericks Accounting Brian Dingmann Page Layout & Design Graphic Design

Editorial Board Brett Feldman Executive Director Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

Vol. 24, No. 4 November 2019 Minnesota Trails magazine is a continuation of Minnesota Bike Trails & Rides, published quarterly in cooperation with the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that acquires, protects and enhances critical lands for public enjoyment. Your $35 membership subscription supports this work.

Minnesota Trails is not responsible for the return of unsolicited materials and reserves the right to reject unsuitable advertising.

Information in this publication is as accurate as possible. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not of Minnesota Trails.

SERVICES EAT & DRINK CUYUNA LAKES CHAMBER 117 West Main Street, Crosby 218-546-8131 www.cuyunalakes.com

CRMC

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HOSPITAL AND PHYSICIAN CLINIC 320 East Main Street, Crosby 218-546-7000 www.cuyunamed.org

CYCLE PATH & PADDLE 115 3rd Avenue SW, Crosby 218-545-4545 www.cyclepathpaddle.com

LODGING DEERSTAND RESTAURANT & BAR 24188 Mohs Street, Deerwod 218-534-9253 www.deerstandrestaurant.com

DEERWOOD SPALDING HOUSE 1 West Main Street, Crosby 218-546-6060 Huge craft beer selection

MOTEL

DEERWOOD MOTEL 23688 Forest Road, Deerwood 218-534-3163 www.deerwoodmotel.com

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JACOBS REALTY Hwy. 6 & 210, Crosby 218-546-8346 www.jacobsrealtymn.com

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218-546-8131

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2 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

Features

Columns

Departments

8

Sax-Zim Bog

15 Northeastern Ski Trails

Jan Lasar

4

Minnesota Miles

Jan Lasar

5

Parks & Trails Council

18 Central Ski Trails

2019 Photo Contest Winners

12 St. Croix 40

Winter Ultra

Jan Lasar

14 The Wilderness of the Banadad

Molly Brewer Hoeg

22 Northwestern Ski Trails 23 Southern Ski Trails 24

26 Fat Bike Event Guide

Cover Photo:

Amanda Harvey rides her fat bike in the inaugural St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra at St. Croix State Park.

Story on page 12 Michael Wheeler photo

Index photo:

Ski trails through a stand of red pine at the Brainerd Arboretum.

Jan Lasar photo

Metro Ski Trails Rides December through March

27 Ski Event Guide

Events December through March

28 Trails Q&A

People we meet along the trail

29 Minnesota Trails Map The state at a Glance

30 Business Directory

Find trail-friendly destinations

Next Issue: Spring: March 2020 Bike Rides and Tours, Mountain Bike Trails, State Parks

Thank you!

Find us on:

Minnesota Trails

Winter 2019-2020 3

Still Going Strong s r a e Y y t r o F r e t f A Chris O’Brien, active skier, biker, runner, kayaker and retired business executive, moved to Grand Marais with his wife Jane in 2016 after many years of vacation visits to the area. Two years later he became the president of the North Superior Ski and Run Club (NSSRC). He was drawn to this leadership role because of his passion for the trails at Pincushion Mountain and he feels very fortunate to have these trails right in his back yard.

We recently had a chance to talk about the trails, the organization and what’s next for the club that’s eighty members strong and celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year.

Can you give me a brief primer on the club and the Pincushion trail system?

The North Superior Ski and Run Club was founded 40 years ago, in 1979, and is the primary organization responsible for the maintenance and grooming of 25 km of multi-use skiing, running and hiking trails at Pincushion Mountain. NSSRC also hosts numerous events and programs on the Pincushion trails.

They include a high school cross country running competition and track program which were launched by NSSRC’s Chris Hegg 20 years ago and sponsored

by NSSRC for many years.

The group also sponsors Chris O’Brien a high school Nordic ski team and competitions for high school age kids in Cook County. For younger kids, the Youth Ski Program provides equipment and weekly ski lessons with an enrollment of more than 70 during the last ski season. Annual events include the Pincushion Ski Festival in February and the Fisherman’s Picnic Run in August.

NSSRC works in close partnership with other complementary trails organizations at Pincushion, including the Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) and the Superior Cycling Association.

NSSRC also works closely with the US Forest Service to coordinate trail maintenance efforts at Pincushion.

The Pincushion recreation area Minnesota Miles Who does all of this work? is located on the bluff overlooking the NSSRC is a volunteer-led city of Grand Marais, and is one of the organization. Club members and most popular recreation destinations neighbors invest a total of several in Cook County. This trail network is hundred hours per year on many unusual for several reasons. First, it’s fronts: Maintaining grooming located just three miles from the city equipment, clearing and maintaining of Grand Marais and easily accessible trails and organizing and staffing by both visitors and residents. competitions and events. The club The geography is distinctive, with hosted a chainsaw safety-training beautiful views of Grand Marais and course with the US Forest Service Jan Lasar Lake Superior from the Pincushion in 2018 so that we have a group of bluffs. The Pincushion trails area is Trails Editor/Publisher trained sawyers to help with treealso home to several different types of clearing projects on the trails. A trails. In addition to the 25km of skiing, running dozen volunteers have signed up as so-called trail and hiking trails maintained by NSSRC, there are section captains, taking primary responsibility 11km of single track mountain bike trails built and for brush clearing on specific sub-sections of the maintained by Superior Cycling Association, and Pincushion trails. On our annual trail work day a stretch of approximately 10km of the Superior each October, volunteers team up and clear the Hiking Trail runs through the Pincushion Area. trails in preparation for the ski season.

Most of today’s trails and facilities did not exist when NSSRC was founded in 1979. At that How does the NSSRC support itself? time there were a just a few miles of multi-use We rely on a variety of sources for the funding trails and part of the Pincushion area had been for operations and equipment. Membership dues used as a dump in previous years. The network are the principal source of revenue for regular of trails grew over the years through the efforts club operations. An annual grant from the DNR’s of club members. There was a major upgrade at Grant-in-Aid program provides funding that pays Pincushion 20 years ago, when the club received for trail grooming and equipment maintenance grant funding to build a warming chalet and expenses. The club has relied on grants from the maintenance building at the Pincushion trailhead, Federal Recreational Trails Program and from the and was also able to purchase a used PistenBully Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board trail groomer to improve ski trail grooming. At (IRRRB) to defray the cost of new trail grooming the same time, trail expansion continued, an open equipment. NSSRC recently received a grant from stadium area was cleared in front of the chalet the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation for renovation of near the trailhead and lights were added to one the public warming chalet at Pincushion. of the skiing loops.

Additional trails were cleared in the What’s the status of the SHT trail project? years since then and trails were widened to In collaboration with NSSRC and the US accommodate skate skiing. Today, there are 25 km Forest Service, the Superior Hiking Trail Association of ski trails that are groomed for both classic and is building a new dedicated trail segment between skate skiing. The trails are mowed regularly during the Pincushion parking area to the Pincushion the summer for use by hikers and runners.

Mountain overlook and the continuation of the SHT beyond Pincushion. This new trail segment will allow hikers to access the Pincushion Mountain overlook year-round. Currently the hiking trail to the overlook is closed to hikers in the winter because of ski-trail grooming. The new SHT segment has been cleared and final trail preparation work is underway.

How to get involved

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Mark Morgen photo

“We welcome new members and volunteers.

You can find out more about the club and sign up for a membership at www.pincushiontrails.org.”

people saving special places

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PHOTOGRAPHY

CONTEST Seeing Seasons 2019 Winners Announced This year, Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota’s annual photo contest showcased Minnesota’s parks and trails in all four seasons.

A total of 147 submissions were entered into the categories of spring, summer, fall and winter. Perhaps as expected, the majority of the submissions captured the splendor of Minnesota in summer. Turns out, even us hardy Minnesotans can’t get enough of summer. Not to be neglected though, spring, fall and winter made strong showings with photographs that made clear, Minnesota is full of breathtaking scenes all year long.

A panel of five judges gathered at the Parks & Trails Council office to pour over the submissions. They weighed elements such as composition, lighting, color, focus, and of course the content of each photos and how well they represent the season in which they were taken. It was a task that rewarded with a visual

smorgasbord of beauty and that punished with a requirement to choose equally great photos.

We want to thank everyone who submitted photos. The quality of submissions we received reflects the strength and skill of the community of people who appreciate Minnesota’s parks and trails. When we take time to see the natural beauty these places hold, we can’t help but be inspired to protect it.

You can view framed versions of each winning photo on display at the visitor center in the park where they were taken, or in the case of John Rystad’s photo from Judge C. R. Magney State Park, which has no visitor center, the photo is on display at nearby Grand Portage State Park.

We interviewed each of the winners to learn more about their photos and how they came to be. See all the winning photos on the next page.

Winners on next page Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota would like to thank the following sponsor Minnesota Trails

www.pincushiontrailsinn.com Winter 2019-2020 5

People saving special places

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FIRST PLACE: SPRING

Kay V. Christianson at Wild River State Park

How would you describe the mood? I use this poem whenever I show and share my nature photographs.

It sets the mood for my pieces and holds true for this photo of the Night Heron: Write your story, sing your song, illuminate your vision of the natural world.

That we may better see our relation with Nature, experience its gifts to us, and deepen our love and care for the earth.� ~ Bonnie Gisel How did you set up this photo? Whenever I go for a hike, my camera is always with me. I had not expected to see a black crowned night heron that day. But what an awesome surprise to come upon it and be ready to capture its beauty. It was a very lucky day!

FIRST PLACE: SUMMER

James Misuraca at Judge C. R. Magney State Park

Where was the photo taken? From the road between campsite 5 and 6.

What was the mood like? The entire campground was asleep and the wind was gently blowing through the tree tops. The night sky was so crystal clear and there was absolutely zero light pollution.

I couldn’t fall asleep for most of the night. I just stared at the sky and watched the stars curled up with my dog. Sadly our dog passed away a month later unexpectedly, so I will always remember this trip and that night as our last adventure together. We hiked Magney, Grand Portage and Temperance the next day, but nothing else we saw was as beautiful as that night.

I also want to say, I just barely got into photography with a Canon EOS M50, and a few hours of YouTube tutorials.

Anyone can take a shot like this with a little effort and the right night.

6 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

People saving special places

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FIRST PLACE: AUTUMN

Alison Christensen at Maplewood State Park

Where was the photo taken? Just off the trail leading up to the Little Grass Lake hike-in campsite.

When did you take the photo? It was early October, overcast, and pretty cold outside (as you may have gathered from boots and hat). It was very quiet and tranquil.

Nobody else was nearby on the trail.

How would you describe the mood? I felt like I had stumbled across this hidden magical fairytale land. You can’t see this from the photo, but there were orange and yellow leaves gently falling from the trees and hitting the surface of the pond like it was raining gold flakes in slow motion. And here we were just standing in the middle of it, almost like time had stopped.

FIRST PLACE: WINTER

John Rystad at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Where was the photo taken? I was positioned close to the southern point on Pebble Beach within the park.

What brought you to this place? The annual lighting of the beacon to honor the lives lost on the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.

What were the conditions like? The day was unseasonably cold. I believe the temperature was around 15 degrees and I remember wondering if I had dressed warm enough to withstand the cold for the anticipated hours of waiting for the light to appear.

How would you describe the mood? When I look at the image I think it generates a mood fitting the event.

The water and clouds give it a cold and unforgiving feel worthy of the unforgiving lake. The light from the beacon and support buildings gives a feeling of warmth and safety.

Minnesota Trails

Winter 2019-2020 7

Sax-Zim Bog

by Jan Lasar

A birder’s paradise in northeastern Minnesota Northeastern Minnesota’s Iron Range is known for its mining history, rugged landscape and the countless recreational opportunities that come from some of the abandoned iron ore operations. But unless you’re a birder, you might not have heard of the Sax-Zim Bog, which is roughly 40 miles from either Duluth or Grand Rapids.

This 300 squaremile blend of wetlands, black spruce and tamarack bogs, aspen uplands, maple forest, lakes and rivers is home to many boreal bird species. Thousands of birdwatchers come here from around the country and the world each year to work on their life list, hoping to catch a glimpse of a rare owl, chickadee or woodpecker.

Driving the deserted gravel road to the Friends of The Black-backed woodpecker is one of the many boreal birds at home in the bog.

Friends of Sax-Zim Bog photo

Watching Pine Grosbeaks at the feeder.

Jan Lasar photo

Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center on a snowy February morning, a steady wind rattled the car and whipped the flakes into a white wall, drowning out the horizon.

It was busy at the center for a ten-degree Sunday morning. Various bird feeders were rocking with lively pine grosbeaks, chickadees bounced around the ground and woodpeckers were chipping away at a deer carcass, put up just for them. The chirping and squawking was muffled by eight inches of fresh snow, and the trees and the air were full of birds.

Bundled up against the cold, a dozen bird enthusiasts waited patiently to get a shot of their favorite species and tried to keep the drifting snow off their huge telephoto lenses and spotting scopes.

C l i n t o n Dexter-Nienhaus, head naturalist for the Friends of

Sax-Zim Bog, was keeping warm by the stove inside the Welcome Center, waiting for a group of field trip participants to arrive for a snowshoe hike. At both ends of the small, rectangular room, large glass doors let in lots of light and views of the birder’s paradise.

“The winter is sort of the start of our season,” Dexter-Nienhaus said.

“Typically I try to run two programs a day on the weekend, starting right away in December and running through March when we close.”

It’s a lot of work, but he feels it’s essential to take visitors out into the bog. “If somebody can relate to the place, that’s super-important,” he said. For him it’s all about people learning new things about the bog and taking ownership in their education by discovering the lichens, insects and countless other organisms that make up this seemingly lifeless wetland. “[...] if you can get in it, you can smell it, you can feel it, it helps solidify that learning in your head or at least

8 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

The Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center is open December through March. Jan Lasar photo

the experience of the place,” he said.

The bog is accessible by a recently built network of trails. A brand new 900-foot boardwalk keeps foot traffic off the sensitive, sometimes difficult to navigate terrain. “The boardwalk is important. That’s a huge thing for us,” Dexter-Nienhaus said, because it allows access to a broader audience.

People began trickling in to

sign up for the field trip, boarded a van and by noon a group of six was trudging through fresh snow in one of the friend group’s parcels, the 97acre Yellow-bellied Bog. The snow and wind hadn’t let up, but inside the bog it was remarkably still because the thick stands of black spruce, tamarack and aspen blocked much of it.

Dexter-Nienhaus lead the way through a maze of lichen-covered trunks, his orange coat a pop of color in a landscape of gray, green and white.

Because of the poor nutrients in the soil, he explained, trees in the bog grow slowly. “They might be 30 or 40 Continued on page 10…

HISTORY

Dexter-Nienhaus leads the way through the Yellow-bellied bog.

Jan Lasar photo

Minnesota Trails

In the early 1900s the Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railroads made the area between Duluth and Grand Rapids accessible for settlement. Czechoslovakian, German, Swedish and Finnish immigrants arrived and several small towns sprang up, including Sax and Zim. During the middle of the nineteenth century these newcomers to the United States began draining some of the bog in order to turn it into productive farmland, with varying levels of success. Some tracts became incredibly productive for many years, like Wilderness Valley Farms, who produced celery for national food brands like Chun King. Others failed and eventually interest in the labor-intensive cultivation of the bog disappeared and along with it the small villages, though Sax and Zim remain unincorporated communities with a population of 10 and 20.

Beginning with the sighting of the very rare Northern Hawk Owl in the 1960s the Sax-Zim Bog became known among birders as a national hotspot for viewing uncommon species.

In 2008 the Minnesota Audubon Society designated the area, mostly tax-forfeited land, an Important Bird Area (IBA.) The Friends of Sax-Zim Bog formed in 2010 as a response to an increase in logging of black spruce trees, a vital species for bog-specialized birds like the Great Gray Owl. The next year, the group made its first purchase of 40 acres.

Today, the nonprofit Friends of Sax-Zim Bog manage eight parcels of land totaling 483 acres, and they hope to own 1,000 acres soon. Their mission to preserve, promote and protect the Sax-Zim Bog for future generations of birds and birders. www.saxzim.org

Winter 2019-2020 9

…Continued from page 9

years old, but barely stand four feet tall.”

He stopped occasionally to point out bog-specific plants that had adapted to this challenging environment.

“Labrador Tea is so cool,” he said, dropped to his knees and began digging through the snow until he reached a small, brownish shrub. “This is one of the earliest flowering plants in the area,” he said and passed around a sample of a pineysmelling, leathery leaf with a spongy underside-a survival mechanism for the cold.

The plant, he explained, forms pre-set buds in the fall and is ready to bloom right away in the spring after the snow melts. A vital head start in an environment where sometimes there’s ice under the mossy ground until June.

At another stop the group examined signs of animal browsing on the branch of

a tamarack tree, a sure sign the plant was only dormant, not dead.

After an hour trek through the frozen bog, the group was treated to a rare sight. A Black-backed Woodpecker, perched on the trunk of a tree while pecking for a meal under the bark, didn’t seem to care about the gaggle of snowshoers boarding the van just a few yards away.

“It was certainly beautiful,” Joyce Hein, retired hospital administrator and Master Naturalist from Duluth said after the group returned to the Welcome Center. It was her second time at Sax-Zim Bog with friend Merrie Healy of Plymouth, but they plan to visit again. “I’m anxious to see what it’s like in the spring,” she said.

The 900-foot Warren Woessner boardwalk in the Warren Nelson Memorial Bog took 15 volunteers 20 hours to build and was completed at the end of 2018.

Friends of Sax-Zim Bog photo

Dormant or dead? Naturalist Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus (left) explains the winter survival strategy of Labrador Tea. Carol and Peter Waselk of Hibbing, Merrie Healy of Plymouth and Joyce Hein of Duluth observe.

Jan Lasar photo 10 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

Drift less.

SKI MORE .

Trout Run Trail

Be sure to bring your gear and gorp into the Decorah Driftless.

Plus your bike, binoculars, love of craft beer, and interest in Norwegian history. And don’t forget your healthy palette, green thumb, artsy tastes and intrepid curiosity. You don’t want to miss anything! V I S I T D E C O R A H . C O M

Glaciers missed us. Be sure you don’t.

Minnesota Trails

Winter 2019-2020 11

ST CROIX 40 Winter Ultra

by Jan Lasar

Co-organizer Jamison Swift recently talked to Trails about the inaugural race and what’s new for 2020.

Michael Wheeler and Cole Peyton photos

What’s the idea behind the that kind of experience. There’s another or they put it in their bike bag if they set of races over in Wisconsin called were on a bike. A lot of people, though, St. Croix Winter Ultra? the Tuscobia 160-mile, they also do an have never used their gear because The impetus behind it was that there are these very long, large winter ultra marathon races around the country.

They started up in Alaska. The Iditarod races are kind of the most famous examples of where they started, and down here in Minnesota the most famous one that just recently happened is the Arrowhead 135. There was a lot of press coverage about how cold it was.

But it’s a 135-mile race and that’s kind of a really big undertaking for people on their first try. They need a lot of experience to get to that level and there weren’t a lot of other races to get

80-mile version and they used to do a 35-mile version, but they had to stop doing that race. Logistically it wasn’t feasible for them to keep doing it and so there was kind of a gap there of shorterdistance races that can also help educate people about how to participate in that sport.

So you wanted to give somebody who’s never done an ultra before a way in, just to try it?

Yes, exactly. For those who’ve never done it before or this is as long as they’re going to manage.

Can you explain how the race worked?

What did racers have to do?

It was a 40-mile race around St. Croix State Park, a single 40-mile loop. The unique aspect of the race was that everybody in this race had to carry a required set of gear. That included things like a zero-degree sleeping bag, bivvy sack, stove, and usually they’d pull it on a sled

they’ve been able to be successful. So we wanted to force people to have to actually use some of their gear, try it out and actually get some experience with it. So we had everybody start inside their sleeping bags and bivvy sacks so they’re all tucked away and when I rang the starting bell, everybody had to pack everything up. Get it all packed down into their equipment, into their sleds, into their bags, because they have to carry everything. They couldn’t just leave it there, they had to bring it with them. And then, at the halfway point, we asked them to boil water using their stoves they all had to carry. If they couldn’t get the water boiling within a certain amount of time, we let them go.

But in general they had to demonstrate that they could actually stop in the middle of the race when it’s cold in the middle of the night and create water out of snow.

Part of the plan was that the race needed to be held overnight?

Yes. Many of these races take multiple days to complete [and] one of the most challenging times for people is usually overnight and continuing to go overnight so we wanted people to experience that. Going overnight was another key component of the race.

12 Winter 2019-2020

The St. Croix Winter Ultra is the newest long-distance, multi-discipline winter race in Minnesota and it had its debut last January.

63 athletes assembled at St. Croix State Park for a 40-mile race on foot, skis or fat bikes on the park’s roads and the Matthew Lourey State Trail to get a taste of what cold season endurance racing is all about. Jamison Swift says he and his wife Lisa, both experienced runners, spent two years planning the race, which took 30 volunteers to execute.

Minnesota Trails

What time did the race most part I think everything went Did you work with the really well. We have a few things we park staff to put on the start?

The people on foot and ski want to tweak for next year just to race? make a few improvements based on started at 6 pm and the people on bikes started at 10 pm [Saturday], then they all had the same cutoff on Sunday morning. They all had to be done by 10 am.

Did everybody finish?

Everybody finished by about 8:30 am, actually. We had a lot of people who were very successful.

This year the temperature was 20 degrees above zero, which was pretty mild for a Minnesota January.

So that helped people keep moving and not have to worry too much about the temperature being an issue for them. Yup, everybody finished! The last people to come in were actually our people on skis.

The skiing unfortunately, with the ice, those were not ideal conditions.

They had a rough time of it, but they got it done.

feedback. There was certainly some feedback from people about what they liked and disliked. We tried to incorporate a lot of education into this around frostbite, hypothermia, trench foot and such and we had participants emailing us after the race saying “Thank you for what you educated us on.” Like one person, when they got to the halfway point realized they had trench foot starting and they were just going to drop. They were like “No, I’m done,” and then they remembered some of the things we talked about and some of the information we had sent out to everyone and they were able to actually take care of it and finish the race. They finished the race with their feet in better condition than they were at the halfway point.

What were some of the 2019 was your inaugural comments people had about the race? event. How did it go?

They loved the format. A lot of It went really, really well. My wife and I have a lot experience with races. We run aid stations at various races, trail-running races around the upper Midwest, we kind of have a lot of experience. I’m a manager type person so we were able to use a lot of those skills. We felt like we went in as prepared as we could be, we still know there are things that we would have wanted to do better or do differently and for the

people loved the park, they thought it was beautiful. One of the biggest complaints we had was people saying they wished they could have seen it in the daytime. There were a lot of people thanking us for putting something on that people had been wanting for a long time. It filled a need and that felt really good to hear.

Oh yes. The Saint Croix State Park staff were absolutely amazing through this whole process. This is the third venue we tried to work with. It’s a little hard sometimes to get permission to use the snowmobile trails and the park was very open to working with us and working with the snowmobile clubs in the area. The park staff was amazing. They helped us out with everything.

Besides the park staff being good to work with, what other reasons drew you to St. Croix State Park?

What kind of changes are you making for next year?

Next year a few things we needed to improve were a couple of the marking flags for the course.

There were a couple of spots where we needed to improve that and that’s something that every race goes through as they develop their courses.

As far as other changes go, we are opening up the field to a few more people. We wanted to keep it very small this year. We are going to open it up to a larger field next year so we can hopefully get a few more people who want to get involved, because we had a waiting list this year.

Part of the reason is that the entire set of trails we’d be using would be managed by the state. It would not be managed by snowmobile clubs. The idea of working with multiple snowmobile clubs across multiple counties was looking to be larger than what we wanted to take on. Working with just a single park with a single set of trails that is managed by a single organization really streamlined things.

St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra January 11-12, 2020 www.stcroixwinterultra.com Minnesota Trails

Winter 2019-2020 13

The Wilderness of the Banadad

by Molly Brewer Hoeg

labeled the adventurous hills Whoopee One and Banadad Trail Association brings volunteers from Whoopee Two, so dubbed by early skiers. That all over the state to help with the constant trail If cross-country skiing is a silent sport, then day we declined the challenge and resumed our maintenance required to keep the path clear. We the Banadad Ski Trail is a world cup venue, my peaceful trek back. sat riveted, and listened, his stories a living history longtime friend Susan and I visit it as often as When we followed the Banadad from the lesson. we can. east we entered from Poplar Lake. We It was over one of Barbara’s sumptuous We glide along the narrow had no trouble finding the trail, breakfasts that we learned our fellow guests classic tracks, snow-laden but were mystified by the were getting a ride to the far end of the trail, in pines pressing into our strange grooming. It all order to ski to a yurt where they would spend the space barely missing our became apparent when night near the midpoint – another venture of the shoulders as we pass. we were overtaken Youngs. It didn’t take much encouragement for us Animal tracks break by two snowmobiles to hitch a ride and ski back to the Guesthouse. up the uniformity setting the ski tracks.

The Banadad had not been groomed since a of the trail, from “Didn’t you find it recent snowfall, the tracks softened by the fresh delicate rabbit paths difficult to ski after the powder. It continued to snow lightly all day and to stealthy wolf prints dogs had come by?” we relished skiing through the fluff in intense and gigantic moose they asked. Turns out we silence. We didn’t notice most of the points of One of the yurts along craters. Only the swish of were following the tracks interest on our paper map, which gave us an the Banadad Trail. our skis breaks the intense of a local dog sled team! eerie sense of endless distance in the days before Ted Young photo stillness. Kilometers click by in Our first end-to-end ski GPS. Despite some uneasiness about finishing the muted repetition of the woods, came about by accident. By this before dark, we had no fear of getting lost and easing our minds into tranquility, letting time we had discovered the thoroughly enjoyed the seclusion. our bodies move on autopilot.

Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, On the Banadad one need only We’ve been here before. 25 years ago we situated at the eastern end follow the trail, the only trail. stumbled on this wilderness trail when skiing in of the Banadad, run by And before we knew it, the northeastern Minnesota on our annual ski trip. We Barbara and Ted Young, signpost loomed ahead veered off the wide, PistenBully groomed trails pioneers in Boundary leading us back to the of the Central Gunflint Trail System and entered a Waters adventure Guesthouse. different world when we were swallowed by the trips. We soaked We piloted forest and followed the intimate Banadad trail. We up their passion our skis toward the only had time for a short sample that day, but it for the outdoors warmth of the lodge. instantly claimed us. We would return again and and gleaned their Ted and Barbara again. role in establishing enfolded us in their Given the solitude of the trail, it came as and maintaining the hospitality, caretakers The Poplar Creek Guest House B&B. no surprise to learn that the Banadad Trail lies Banadad Trail. of their guests just as Ted Young photo completely within the Boundary Waters Canoe “We’ve been part of they are of the trail. We had Area Wilderness (BWCAW). it from day one,” Ted admits. conquered the Banadad, but not The 1964 Wilderness Act first enveloped the He’s handled grooming the trail from for the last time.

Boundary Waters in its coverage. Then, in 1978, its earliest years. The subsequent formation of the the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act provided far more specific terms for management and closed the logging roads that ultimately formed the route for the trail. It further refined the provisions for the US Forest Service to manage this area and they authorized construction of the trail in 1982. Grooming by snowmobile is allowed, but all other trail maintenance must be done by hand.

Originally conceived as a connector trail between the Central and Upper Gunflint Ski Trails, the Banadad remains a destination of its own, at least as far as Susan and I are concerned.

Our first few forays on the trail were outand-back ventures. Starting at the western end near Gunflint Lake we spent a cloudy, windless afternoon following the trail to its midpoint. The mostly flat, unthreatening terrain gave us our first taste of the Banadad’s backwoods nature. It was obvious when we reached our turning point at Banadad Lake, 12 kilometers into our ski.

The author on the Suddenly the trail plummeted steeply in front of Banadad Trail. us, dipping down to the bridge over the lake and Submitted photo rising just as sharply on the other side. The map

14 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

2019/20

SKI TRAIL GUIDE Northeast Ski Region: Miles of Trails

Along the North Shore of Lake Superior, throughout the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), to the Chippewa National Forest, northeastern Minnesota has some of the biggest snowfalls in Minnesota and many well-groomed trail systems. Area resorts offer winter ski packages and many state parks rent camper cabins in the winter.

MINNESOTA

SKI TRAIL GUIDE

Biwabik | Giants Ridge 60km - All levels, US Ski Team training center using the Superior National Forest with views and roller coaster rides. 3km lit for Nordic skiing and some of the trails can be reached by chairlift.

Carlton | Jay Cooke State Park 51km - Beginner to advanced with a wide variety of trails. White Pine Trail is an intermediate trail offering an overlook of the St. Louis River Valley. CCC Trail is the easiest trail running along the river.

Warming shelter with a woodstove and bathrooms is open seven days a week.

Groomed classic with multi-use trail at Oldenburg Point. Snowshoe rentals. MN ski pass required.

Chisholm | Sturgeon River Trails 35km - Excellent beginner trail in the Superior National Forest. Long stretches of solitary trails. Two Adirondack shelters, groomed, scenic views of Sturgeon river.

Northeastern Trails Cloquet | Pine Valley 10km - Intermediate to advanced, challenging with difficult climbs, yet gradual, rolling sections. Partially lit, adjacent to Cloquet recreational center.

2.5k lighted trail. The back of the 5K loop across Spring Lake Road is skate and classic groomed.

Coleraine | Itasca Trails (Mount Itasca) 10km - Beginner to expert, groomed for skate and classic skiing on flat to very hilly terrain. MN Ski Pass required on west public trails. Additional fee for east biathlon course with man-made snow.

Cohasset | MN Power Blackwater Trails 3.4km - Beginner trails groomed for skate and classic skiing. Lighted. MN Ski Pass required.

Cohasset | Portage Park 4km - Beginner classic trails near the Mississippi River. MN Ski Pass required.

Cook | Ashawa 40km - Beginner to advanced on the west side of Lake Vermilion. 5 miles north of Cook, new 3km trail around golf course. MN ski pass required.

Deer River | Blueberry Hills 12km - Beginner to expert with many loops. Classic and skate groomed trails.

5 miles northeast of Deer River. MN ski pass required.

Deer River | Simpson Creek 20km - Beginner to intermediate trail along Lake Winnibigoshish in the Chippewa National Forest.

trail time

When Old Man Winter comes knocking, we roll out our fat tire bikes and raise our lifts in an annual winter welcoming ritual. We head out to explore hundreds of miles of groomed Nordic ski trails, visit area attractions like Minnesota Discovery Center and feast on great dining options in every town across the Range. When winter comes, find the magic in Mesabi.

Minnesota Trails

Winter 2019-2020 15

Northeastern Trails Duluth | Bagley Nature Area 3km - Two intermediate classic loops on the UMD campus.

Duluth | Boulder Lake 21km - Beginner to advanced, 8km of skate ski with Wolfski’s Ski Den warming shack, open sunrise to sunset. Groomed daily for classic and skate ski, very well maintained by Minnesota Power.

Duluth | Chester Bowl Park 3km - Intermediate to advanced. MN ski pass required.

Duluth | Hartley Trail 5km - Beginner to intermediate with some gentle slopes. Classic only. MN ski pass required.

Duluth | Korkki Nordic 11km - Intermediate to advanced single track classic trails, groomed daily. Steep hills, designed for racing. MN ski pass required.

Duluth | Lester Amity Trail 15km - Beginner to advanced trail of varied terrain through pine, aspen, and birch forests. Additional 3km circles the Lester Park Golf Course and is accessible from the main Lester-Amity Trail. 5km trail lit mornings and evenings. MN ski pass required.

Duluth | Magney-Snively Trail 14km - Intermediate to advanced, beautiful hardwood forest with large hills.

A rugged trail not recommended for beginners. MN ski pass required.

SKI TRAIL GUIDE Duluth | Piedmont Trail 5km - Beginner to intermediate trail through aspen, birch and hardwood forest. Beautiful overlook of St. Louis River Valley. MN ski pass required.

Duluth | Snowflake Nordic Ski Center 15km - Intermediate classic and skate ski trails, groomed daily. Lessons and rentals available. Warming chalet with showers, sauna, changing rooms, lounge, and snacks.

Duluth | Spirit Mountain 22km - All skill levels. Beautifully wooded cross-country ski trails groomed daily.

Ely | Bear Head Lake State Park 14.5km - Beginner trails through boreal forest circling Norberg Lake, groomed for classic ski. Trail center with toilets, water and warming house. MN ski pass required.

Ely | Birch Lake Plantation Trail 8.5km - Beginner to intermediate groomed trail through Minnesota’s oldest red pine plantation crosses several bridges and edges Birch Lake. MN ski pass required.

Ely | Hegman Lake Trail 6km - Beginner, user-tracked trail on several lakes surrounded by rock and pine ridges. View unique Native American pictographs on west shore of North Hegman Lake. Need BWCAW day use permit available free at trailhead.

2019/20 Ely | Hidden Valley/Hidden Valley Extension Trails 15km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate trails. Rolling to hilly terrain, through birch and pine stands. Connects to 8km Hidden Valley Extension. MN ski pass required.

Ely | North Arm Trails 42km - User-tracked, beginner to advanced. Some trails go through BWCAW. Rocky hills, ridges, majestic pines and wilderness lakes are highlights of this trail system. Need BWCAW day use permit, available for free at trailhead.

Ely | North Junction Trail 13km - User-tracked, beginner to advanced, series of loops through meadows, spruce swamps, ridges and around beaver ponds.

Ely | South Farm Trail 8km - Beginner to intermediate, user tracked. Gently-rolling terrain through BWCAW with some lake travel. Ski around a muskeg swamp. Need BWCAW day use permit, available for free at trail head.

Ely | Trezona Ski Trail 6.5km - Beginner trail groomed for classic and skate ski. Relatively flat with some rolling terrain. Starts in town, circles Miner’s Lake with views of remains of Pioneer Mine.

Grand Marais | Banadad Trail 27km - The longest tracked ski trail through the BWCAW is a true wilderness experience on its own, but it also connects two major ski trail systems, the Central and Upper Gunflint Ski Trails. Eastern end: Here the Banadad connects to the Lace Lake Trail (5km), the Tim Knopp Trail (3 km) and the Tall Pines Trail (3 km). The Lace Lake Trail provides access to the Poplar Creek Trail and the Central Gunflint Trail system. Park at about 30 miles up the Gunflint Trail (County Rd. 12), from Grand Marais, just off Little Ollie Road. Western end: Parking is available just off County Rd. 12, at fire # 10045, about 10 miles from the eastern trail head. Currently, there is no direct connection to the Upper Gunflint Trail system, but it’s only about a mile away.

MN Ski Pass and BWCAW permit needed.

Open year round

For our guests hitting the trails a boxed breakfast is available.

2810 Meyers Bay Road, Grand Rapids, MN 218-999-5795 • www.greenheronbandb.com 16 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

2019/20 Grand Marais | Bally Creek Trails 25km - All skill levels, mostly classic.

Connects to Cascade River State Park.

MN ski pass required.

Grand Marais | Central Gunflint Trail System 77km - All skill levels. An extensive ski trail system 30 miles north of Grand Marais and close to BWCAW. Connects to the eastern end of the 27-mile Banadad Trail via Poplar Creek and Lace Lake trails.

Lighted sections at Bearskin & Golden Eagle lodges. Grooming is shared by local lodges, so skiers need to purchase a trail pass.

Grand Marais | Pincushion Mountain Trails 25km - Beginner to advanced, welldesigned classic and skate trail 2 miles north of Grand Marais with beautiful Lake Superior views and separate snowshoe trail. 1.6km lighted trail. MN ski pass required.

Grand Marais | Upper Gunflint Trail 45km - All levels, 45 miles north of Grand Marais. These trails near the Canadian border and BWCAW are mostly classic trails with some skate skiing. Grooming is done by local lodges, so skiers need to purchase a trail pass. The 27-mile Banadad Trail is close by.

Grand Rapids | Alder Pond Trail 10km - Beginner, groomed classic ski trail through aspen and coniferous forest. MN Ski Pass required.

Grand Rapids | Amen Lake Trail 7km - Intermediate, groomed, classic ski trail 13 miles north of Grand Rapids. Ski through hardwood forest with rolling hills.

Connects to south end of Suomi Hills ski trails. MN ski pass required.

Grand Rapids | Golden Anniversary State Forest – Cowhorn Lake 8km - Intermediate, classic ski trail with rolling hills through old growth aspen forest. MN ski pass required.

Grand Rapids | Golden Anniversary State Forest – Boomer-Blue Trail 7km - Beginner, classic ski trail, doubletracked. Connects with Cowhorn Trail.

MN ski pass required.

Grand Rapids | Golden Anniversary State Forest – River Road Trail 3km - Intermediate, classic ski trail with rolling hills through majestic pines. MN ski pass required.

Grand Rapids | Forest History Center 8km - Beginner, classic ski trail through 1900s logging camp and virgin timber forest. MN ski pass required on one main trail.

Grand Rapids | Legion Trails 3.5km - Intermediate trail, groomed for both classic and skate skiing. 3 km lit. MN ski pass required.

Grand Rapids | Sugar Hills 28km - Intermediate to expert trail, groomed for both classic and skate skiing on hilly terrain through hardwood forest. Thunder Peak provides excellent panoramic views. MN ski pass required.

Grand Rapids | Suomi Hills 35km - Intermediate to expert classic, groomed ski trail on rolling hills through the Chippewa National Forest. Connects with Amen Lake Trail.

Minnesota Trails

SKI TRAIL GUIDE Grand Rapids | Sylvan Point Trail 6km - Beginner classic trail. Connects Grand Itasca Hospital to Forest History Center.

Grand Rapids | Trout Lake Recreation Area 10km - Intermediate, double track, classic ski trail through the Chippewa National Forest. 3 miles from historic Joyce Estate, a 6,000-acre SNA with Adirondack buildings.

Grand Rapids | Wabana Trails 10km - Intermediate, classic trails wind through rolling hills. MN ski pass required.

Goodland | Big Ridge Trail 10km - Intermediate, groomed, classic ski trail with rolling hills through hardwood, evergreens and aspen. MN ski pass required.

Hibbing | Carey Lake 22km - Beginner to advanced groomed trails with 10km side-by-side classic and skate skiing with views of the lake, lowlands, bogs, and jack pine stands. 3.8 km Black Forest loop is lit from 5-10 pm daily.

Hinckley | St. Croix State Park 17km - Groomed, classic ski trail with many loops for all skill levels. MN ski pass required.

Hoyt Lakes | Bird Lake Trail 18km - Beginner to intermediate trail over birch and aspen hills with views of Bird and Lillian Lakes.

Hoyt Lakes | Colby Lake Trail 3.2km - Beautiful hilly terrain with birch and aspen forest and views of Colby Lake. Start at Birch Cove Beach parking lot.

International Falls | Tilson Creek Ski Trail 16.4km - Intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails in the Koochiching State Forest. MN ski pass required.

International Falls | Voyageurs National Park 53km - This National Park has three trail systems: Black Bay Trails-three loops totaling 13km with a 1km connector to Tilson Creek Trails. Access is at Rainy Lake Visitor Center via ice road. Echo Bay Trail-4km loop accessible through Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center. KabAsh Trail-A 35km system accessible near Ash River Visitor Center.

Isabella | Flathorn Gegoka Trail 30km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, single-tracked in the Superior National Forest. Some paths on old logging roads.

Accommodations available at National Forest Lodge. MN ski pass required.

Lutsen | Cascade River State Park 27km - Beginner to advanced, classic, single tracked, groomed weekly. Heavily forested trails along Cascade River and several little creeks. The only place in Cook County to ski along Lake Superior.

Spot moose and wolves down the river valley from Lookout Mountain. Woodheated warming house available.

Connects to Bally Creek and Sugarbush trail systems. MN ski pass required.

Northeastern Trails Lutsen | Lutsen Mountains to Spruce Creek 35km - Groomed for both classic and skate ski with resorts along the way.

Includes the Massie, Hall, Meadows, and Golf Course loops of the North Shore ski trails, loops around Solbakken Resort, and connections to Sugarbush and Cascade systems. MN ski pass required.

Nashwauk | Stoney Ridge Trail 10km - Intermediate trails, groomed for classic skiing. Mostly flat with a few rolling hills through woods. MN ski pass required.

Silver Bay | Northwoods Ski Trail 19km - Intermediate, groomed single track classic trail through flat woods.

Connects to Tettegouche State Park. Trail head is on west edge of Silver Bay with parking at Beaver Creek.

Silver Bay | Tettegouche State Park 25km - Intermediate to advanced, classic trails with many loops and good views of lakes and hills. About 6km of skate ski trail. Four historic ski-in cabins at Mic Mac Lake. Take a side trip to 70-foot High Falls on the Baptism River. Warming house is the lodge at Tettegouche Camp. MN ski pass required.

Tofte | Sugarbush Trail System 65km - Extensive trail network for all skill levels. Groomed for both classic and skate skiing with spectacular views of Lake Superior. Trail heads at Britton Peak and Moose Fence on the western side.

Ski-through from Onion River Rd/Oberg Mountain trails and trailhead on the eastern edge. 5km connector hooks up with Superior National Golf Course Nordic Center trails. Club house trail head offers ski rentals. Trails maintained

by Sugarbush Trail Association. MN ski pass required.

Togo | Thistledew Trail 16km - Mostly expert trails for classic skiing only. Beautiful and remote trail in the George Washington State Forest. MN ski pass required.

Tower | Howard Wagoner Trail 10km - Beginner trails groomed for classic ski only. View big Norway pines, deer and wolves. Skiers can start in city of Tower at Civic Center. MN ski pass required.

Two Harbors | Gooseberry Falls State Park 19km - Groomed, classic ski trail with many loops on gradual hills and unique views of frozen waterfalls. Ski over the bridge at Fifth Falls. MN ski pass required.

Two Harbors | Erkki Harju Trail 10.5km - Intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trail through scenic city forest. 3km lit until 10 pm daily. MN ski pass required.

Virginia | Big Aspen Recreation Area 33km - Beginner to intermediate trail with shelters and a beautiful overlook on old logging roads and abandoned RR grades of the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Co. Virginia | Lookout Mountain Trail 24km - Classic, user-groomed trails run along the Laurentian Divide on the crest of low, rocky hills dividing the Red River and Rainy River basins from the Minnesota River and Lake Superior basins.

Winter 2019-2020 17

SKI TRAIL GUIDE

Central Trails Central Ski Region: A Variety of Trails

State parks, forests, wetlands and private resorts offer a ski experience ranging from remote to all-inclusive.

Aitkin | No Achen Trail 10.1km - Beginner to advanced, groomed classic and skate trails through rustic forest. MN ski pass required.

Alexandria | Spruce Hill Park 5km - 97 acre park with gentle wooded hills through tamarack. MN ski pass required.

Alexandria | Trollskogen Ski Trail 9km - Intermediate level loops around two lakes. MN ski pass required.

Battle Lake | Glendalough State Park 13km - Beginner to intermediate, classic trails on rolling hills over prairie and northern hardwoods that pass several lakes. Weekend shelter with fireplace, historic lodge rental, camper cabins. Ski and snowshoe rentals. MN ski pass required.

Brainerd | French Rapids 16km - Expert only. Well-groomed and challenging trails in glaciated area with great views of Mississippi River Valley. MN ski pass required.

Go Fat Biking, Ice Fishing and Snowshoeing in the heart of the Cuyuna Country Recreation Area.

Easy trail access!

Cozy Cabins on beautiful Manuel Mine Lake in Crosby, MN. 23457 County Road 31 | Crosby, MN 56441 218-838-6858

For reservations visit www.redriderresort.com

2019/20 Brainerd | Northland Arboretum 20km - Beginner to intermediate, classic and skate ski with nearly 5km lighted trail. MN ski pass required.

Brainerd | Pine Beach Trail 40km - Mostly beginner to intermediate with some advanced loops. Varied terrain through pine and hardwood forest around lakes. Trail links Kavanaugh’s and Cragun’s resorts. MN ski pass required.

Carlos | Lake Carlos State Park 9.5km - Intermediate, groomed classic only, rolling terrain through tamarack bog, marshes, woodland ponds and lakes. MN ski pass required.

Crosby | Wolf Lake Ski Trail 13km - Beginner to advanced, groomed classic with challenging hills through hardwood forest and mature pine.

Shelter along trail, maps at intersections.

Deerwood | Larson Lake Ski Trails 20km - Beginner, skate and classic, with some advanced loops, rolling hills, wooded area with oak trees, pines, wetlands and tamarack bogs in the Lansin R. Hamilton Memorial Forest.

Elk River | Woodland Trails 15km - Beginner to advanced, groomed skate and classic ski trails with many loops. Maintained by Elk River Nordic Ski Club. MN Ski Pass required.

Elk River | Otsego Regional Park 2.5km - Classic/skate trails through hardwood forest and prairie restoration area, adjacent to Mississippi River. MN Ski Pass required.

Fergus Falls | Spidahl Skigaard 30km - All levels. Groomed classic and skate through 340 acres of hardwoods and prairie near Maplewood State Park.

Privately owned. Fee applies. Ski and snowshoe rentals.

Kensington | Andes Tower Hills Ski Area 15km - All levels of classic and skate through forest and around lakes. Adjacent to downhill ski area with 1.5km lit trail. Ski rentals available.

Little Falls | Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge 5.6km - Beginner trail, groomed with two parallel tracks, with gentle hills. Trail follows Platte River.

McGregor|Remote Lake Trail 19km - Beginner to Intermediate classic ski trail within the Savanna State Forest.

Connects to trails in Savanna Portage State Park. MN Ski Pass required.

McGregor|Savanna Portage State Park 16km -Beginner to intermediate groomed classic trails on rolling hills within the park. Connects with Remote Lake Trail near Loon Lake. This connector trail has some steep sections. MN Ski Pass required.

Milaca | Milaca Trails 8km - City of Milaca trails are groomed single track.

Monticello | Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park 3.5km - Great beginner trail through pines next to the Mississippi River.

Groomed classic ski only. MN ski pass required.

18 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

2019/20 Monticello | Harry Larson County Forest 3.2km - Intermediate, classic ski only.

Close to Lake Maria State Park. MN ski pass required.

Monticello | Lake Maria State Park 10km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic trails through rolling terrain, wooded areas, old growth forest areas and past lakes and ponds. 3km skate skiing. MN ski pass required.

New London | Sibley State Park 13km - Intermediate to advanced with hills and curves. Ski to the top of Mt. Tom for the best view of the countryside. 4km skate ski trails. MN ski pass required.

Nisswa | Grand View Lodge 8km - All levels over three loops, groomed for classic, through 360 acres of pines, prairie and wetland. 1.1km skate loop.

Onamia | Mille Lacs Kathio State Park 32km - Beginner to advanced, several loops through wooded terrain. Ski rentals available. MN ski pass required.

Palisade | Long Lake Conservation Center 7.2km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic ski trails through rustic forest. MN ski pass required.

Pelican Rapids | Maplewood State Park 8km - Intermediate to advanced, four loops of classic ski through hardwood forest, over hills and around many lakes.

Additional 8km backcountry trail. MN ski pass required.

Pine River | Cut Lake Trail 16km - Beginner to advanced skiing around Deer and Cut Lake.

Rice | Mississippi River County Park 6km - All beginner trails, groomed for classic skiing right along the Mississippi River.

Saint Augusta | Warner Lake Park 6km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic through woods with some challenging hills. 41-acre site surrounding Warner Lake.

Saint Cloud | Graystone Trails 17km - Beginner to intermediate with a few challenging hills. Many loop through scenic woods, pastures and apple orchards. Maintained by the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota. MN Ski Pass required.

SKI TRAIL GUIDE

Central Trails

Skiing Lake Maria State Park on the Big Woods Loop. Jan Lasar photo

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Central Trails Saint Cloud | Riverside Park 5km - Beginner to intermediate trails with flat to rolling hills along the Mississippi River near downtown St. Cloud.

Saint Joseph | Kraemer Lake-Wildwood County Park 6km - Beginner to advanced. Six classic ski loops that wind through a wooded setting. MN ski pass required.

Sauk Centre | High School Trail 2.25km - Groomed classic and skate ski trails next to the Sauk River. Rated easy to moderate with cut-offs to avoid the few large hills.

Spicer | Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center 10km - Beginner to advanced, groomed classic and skate. Trails within 500-acre environmental learning center campus.

Wide trails suitable for skate ski, tracked for classic when snow is sufficient. Rentals available. MN ski pass required.

Wadena | Black’s Grove 9km - Beginner to advanced, classic ski trails that wind through a wooded setting.

Waite Park | Quarry Park & Nature Preserve 6.3km - Beginner to intermediate with a skating loop and classic loops. Ski past granite quarries on lighted trails.

Additional 5km of ungroomed rustic trail shared by snowshoers and hikers. Quarry Park parking pass required.

Willmar | Swan Lake Ski Trails 5km - Groomed, classic and skate for all levels on Eagle Creek Golf Course.

MN ski pass required.

SKI TRAIL GUIDE

2019/20

Peace and quiet in the Remote Lake Solitude Area near McGregor. Jan Lasar photo

20 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

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Winter 2019-2020 21 10/4/19 10:33 AM

Northwestern Trails

SKI TRAIL GUIDE

2019/20

Northwest Ski Region: Plenty of Choices From Lake of the Woods to the Headwaters of the Mississippi, northwestern Minnesota has the widest variety of cross country ski trails in the state. Ski resorts and lodging outlets offer packages that include meals and a hot sauna.

Bemidji | Buena Vista Ski Trail 25km - Intermediate to advanced loops through woods. Family resort since 1949 with downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, sleigh rides, replica logging village, large lodge, kitchen and shops.

Home of the Minnesota Finlandia and Snowjourn races. Also downhill skiing. MN ski pass required.

Bemidji | C.V. Hobson Forest Trail 7km - Beginner, groomed for classic. Red and white pine and tamarack bog along Lake Lyra. MN ski pass required.

Bemidji | High School Trail 7km - Easy beginner trail, groomed classic and skate. MN ski pass required.

Bemidji | Lake Bemidji State Park 15km - Beginner to advanced, four loops groomed classic, including 2km of skate ski. MN Ski Pass required.

Bemidji | Montebello Trail 4.5km - Beginner, gentle course in the city of Bemidji with 2km of lighted trail. MN ski pass required.

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Young skiers at the Soaring Eagle Trails near Park Rapids Jan Lasar photo Bemidji | Movil Maze Trail 14km - Intermediate to advanced, classic and skate. Steep and rolling hills through black spruce bog, red pines and hardwoods. MN ski pass required.

Bemidji | Three Island Park 28km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic and skate with beautiful views of Three Island Lake and Turtle River. MN ski pass required.

Bemidji | Fern Lake Trail 3.5km - Intermediate to advanced, groomed classic ski trail.

MN ski pass required.

Callaway | Maplelag Resort 66km - All levels, many well-groomed loops through maple forest with rolling hills. Mostly classic with some skate ski.

Privately-owned cross-country ski resort with lessons and rentals. Sauna and hot tub.

Detroit Lakes | Detroit Mountain 7km - Ski trails ranging from skate and classic to classic only. Beginner to advanced. No MN Ski Pass currently required.

Detroit Lakes | Dunton Locks 6.1km - Beginner with some hills, west of Detroit Lakes, groomed classic all levels.

Detroit Lakes | East Frazee Ski Trails 16km - Mostly beginner with loops for all levels, groomed single track through pines, lakeshore, forest and meadows.

Detroit Lakes | Mountain View Recreation Area 5k - All levels, both classic and skate skiing on wide, regularly groomed trails through hardwood forest.

Detroit Lakes | Pickerel Lake 9km - Narrow single track trails through hardwood forests. Groomed occasionally.

Detroit Lakes | Pine Lake 12km - Beginner to intermediate, even terrain with a few short hills. Occasionally groomed, plus 20 miles of ungroomed trails. Located in the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. MN ski pass required.

Hackensack | Deep Portage 18km - Beginner to advanced through rolling hills. 6km groomed for skate ski. Located in the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve. Interpretive center open all week. MN ski pass required.

Hackensack | Hiram Ski Trail 8km - Beginner to advanced, inside Foot Hills State Forest. MN ski pass required.

Longville | Goose Lake Recreation Area 15km - Beginner to intermediate trails through woods, over gently-rolling hills and around wetlands. MN ski pass required.

Moorhead | M.B. Johnson Park 4km - Scenic trail through woods and along the Red River of the North. Ski/ snowshoe rentals available weekends December through February.

Outing | Washburn Lake Solitude Area 11km - Beginner to advanced trail in the Land O’Lakes State Forest.

Park Rapids | Itasca State Park 20km - Beginner to advanced, groomed for classic and skate skiing. Ski to the headwaters of the Mississippi River amongst towering white pines on easy rolling hills. Visitor center with fireplace is open year round. MN ski pass required.

Park Rapids | Soaring Eagle Trail 10km - Beginner to advanced trails that wind through a varied forest with rolling hills. Skate and classic. MN ski pass required.

Thief River Falls | Greenwood Trails 1.5km - Beginner classic ski trails that wind through a wooded setting along the Red Lake River.

Thief River Falls | Golf Course Trail 12km - Beginner to intermediate classic trail. Ski on the frozen Thief River from Red Robe Park to the golf course. Monthly moonlight ski event.

Walker | Shingobee Recreation Area 9km - Beginner to expert trails on the slopes of the Shingobee River Valley.

Groomed for classic and skate skiing. MN Ski Pass required.

www.bestwestern.com/bemidji 22 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

2019/20

SKI TRAIL GUIDE

Southern Trails

Southern Ski Region: Skiing with a View Southern Minnesota has a wide variety of state parks, forests and recreational trails that offer fine cross country skiing.

The southern half of the state offers rolling bluff country in the east and wide-open prairies in the west with regions of old-growth forest in between.

Austin | Jay C. Hormel Nature Center 15km - Beginner to intermediate, classic and skate trails through woods and prairie. Interpretive building with rentals.

Faribault | River Bend Nature Center 10km - Beginner to advanced, groomed classic through flat prairie and woods with some challenging hills. MN ski pass required.

Frontenac | Frontenac State Park 11km - All levels, groomed classic with overlooks of Lake Pepin. MN ski pass required.

Lanesboro | Lanesboro Golf Course 4km - Beginner to advanced skate and classic loops on the Lanesboro bluffs.

Great views of the river valley.

Lanesboro | Root River State Trail 48km - Beginner to intermediate trail offering views of tall bluffs and abundant wildlife. Track set between Isinours Junction and Houston. MN ski pass required.

New Ulm | Flandrau State Park 9.5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic, flat trails on the bottom of the valley with more challenging routes on the oak shaded bluffs with several overlooks of Cottonwood River.

Ski and snowshoe rentals available. MN ski pass required.

Northfield | Carleton College Arboretum 18km - 6km are groomed for skating and classic skiing, the remainder are classic only.

Owatonna | Brooktree Golf Course 2km - Easy skate ski and classic loop.

Owatonna | Kaplan’s Woods 13km - Intermediate, ravine terrain provides challenging hills through forest.

Wide trails suitable for skate ski and tracked for classic when snow is sufficient with 3km lit trail. MN ski pass required.

Red Wing | Cannon Valley Trail 23km - The Cannon Valley Trail is open to a variety of uses in the winter. From Cannon Falls, Mile 1-15.5: Cross Country skiing only, mile 15.5-17.5: Side by side fat tire biking and skiing, mile 17.5-19.7: Trail is plowed and open to hiking and biking.

MN Ski Pass required for skiing only.

Red Wing | Mississippi National Ski Trails 11km - Beginner to advanced, groomed for classic and skate. 8km classic loop through wooded terrain offers extensive views of Mississippi River. MN ski pass required.

Rochester | Chester Woods Park 8km - All levels, groomed trails through a wooded and hilly county park with views of Chester Lake. Trails are well marked with maps at most intersections.

Minnesota Trails

Quarry Hill Nature Center is one of five ski areas in Rochester. Jan Lasar photo Rochester | Eastwood Golf Course 9km - All levels, groomed classic and skate ski with 1km lighted trail. Main training course in Rochester.

Rochester | Essex Park 8.5km - Groomed classic and skate ski through woods and restored prairie.

Rochester | Soldier’s Field Golf Course 5 km - Intermediate, groomed classic and skate ski. Quiet city trails with lights offer good night skiing.

Rochester | Quarry Hill Nature Center 13 km - Relatively flat, groomed trails through rolling hills around an old quarry.

Quarry Hill Nature Center is open all year and has equipment rentals. A trail fee applies.

Winona | Great River Bluffs State Park 5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic with overlooks of the Mississippi River Valley. MN ski pass required.

Winona | Holzinger Lodge 6.75km - Beginner to advanced trails on former logging trails along a bluff overlooking Lake Winona. Rustic cabin with fireplace available to rent.

Winona | Saint Mary’s University 14.5km - Mostly intermediate to advanced with some flat terrain for beginners. Groomed classic and skate ski, through hardwood forest. Some lit sections.

Winona | Prairie Island 2.4km - Beginner trail through stands of pine offers a near-wilderness experience close to town.

Winona | Westfield Golf Club 1.6km - Beginner trail on gently-rolling golf course terrain.

LAKE. LAND. LIFE.

www.explorealbertlea.com Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau 102 W Clark Street | 507.373.2316 Winter 2019-2020 23

Metro Trails

SKI TRAIL GUIDE

Metro Ski Region: Urban Trails Wonderland

Anoka | Anoka Nature Preserve 5km - Flat and easy trail loops through stands of oak trees and open areas.

The many communities that make up the Bloomington | Hyland Lake Park Reserve metropolitan area of Minneapolis and 15km - Intermediate to expert, groomed, St. Paul provide an extensive network of classic and skate trails over rolling hills well-groomed cross-country ski trails. and prairie. 8km lighted trail. 5k manMany regional parks make snow and offer made snow. Ski Chalet serves as a skiing at night on lit trails. warming house and offers ski rentals.

Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.

Afton | Afton State Park Burnsville | Alimagnet Park 19km- A variety of groomed, classic 6km - Short and flat beginner trails. loops with trail shelters overlooking the Burnsville | Terrace Oaks Park St. Croix River near Afton Alps Ski Resort.

10.9km - Beginner to expert. Groomed, Heated Visitors center has parking and classic ski trails along lakes and ponds bathrooms. The park also has snowshoe through hills and woods. Chalet trails. MN ski pass required. available.

Annandale | Stanley Eddy Regional Cambridge | Spirit River Nature Area Park-South 5–8km - Beginner classic and skate ski 5.5km - Scenic, rolling hills, lakes and trails through prairie, deciduous forest, marshes in a densely wooded area. Trail and wetlands. Parking and restrooms at is groomed for skate and classic skiing. college.

Stanley Eddy Regional Park is made up Cokato | Collinwood Regional Park of three distinct parcels with separate 5.8km - Intermediate, groomed, classic entrances. Skiing is at the south unit only. trail on open fields with some wooded The north unit has snowshoe trails. MN Ski areas.

Pass required.

Coon Rapids | Bunker Hills Regional Park Anoka | Green Haven Golf Course 20km - Intermediate trail loops on flat to 5km - Skate and double-tracked, classic slightly hilly terrain. Rental skis available groomed trails through rolling golf course at Bunker Hills Campground Visitors hills and trees. Trails are only open when Center. Warm up inside the Bunker Hills groomed and posted as open. Golf Activity Center. MN ski pass required. course building and restroom is open 28 hours. miles of stunningCoon trails duringMore regularthan business Rapids | Coon Rapids Dam along the Mississippi River, Vermillion Regional Park Falls and other scenic byways. 10km - Beginner to intermediate trails on relatively flat terrain along Mississippi River. Rentals available at Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center. MN ski pass required.

Cottage Grove | Cottageor Grove Ravine For more information to request Regionala Park trail map, please call 8km - Intermediate to advanced skate 437-6775 and(651) classic trails with· (888) some 612-6122 steep slopes Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau visit www.HastingsMN.org andor heavily wooded ravines. MN ski pass required.

Eagan | Lebanon Hills Regional Park Just minutes 29.4km - Beginner to advanced trails, south groomed for classic and skate ski.

Trails wind through the hilly, wooded of the countryside and around scenic lakes Twin Cities and ponds. This large park is split into a in western section with 3.8km skate and 6.6 winter sports km classic skiing and an eastern section ! en v ea h with 19km classic only. Dakota County ski pass required.

Farmington | Whitetail Woods Regional Park 10km - Intermediate trails around Empire Lake. Connects with Lone Rock Trail in Rosemount. Camper cabins and fire rings available. Dakota County ski pass required.

Hastings | Spring Lake Park Reserve 8km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, (5.4km) and skate (2.6km) ski • Snowboarding classic trails. Schaar’s Bluff offers views of the • Downhill Skiing Mississippi River Valley. Dakota County ski • Snowshoeing pass required.

• Cross Country Skiing Hastings | St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park • Explore Afton Alps, 12.5km - Beginner to intermediate, Welch Village groomed, classic ski trails on the wild and St. Croix River. 1.5km skate loop. & Carpenter Nature Center scenic MN ski pass required.

Bike Hastings!

Hastings Area

For info: 651-437-6775 www.visithastingsmn.org

2019/20 Lake Elmo | Lake Elmo Park Reserve 19.5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails on gently rolling hills offering a variety of experiences and challenges. Some lighted trails. MN ski pass required.

Lake Elmo | Sunfish Lake Park 11km - All skill levels. Camel Back provides some fun hills, but Oak Run is particularly exciting. Morgan Lane offers beautiful view of a pond from a birchlined ridge.

Lakeville | Ritter Farm Park Ski Trail 9km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate ski with hills through the woods. MN ski pass required.

Lino Lakes | Chomonix Golf Club 10km - Beginner to intermediate trails on flat terrain. Rent skis at Chomonix Golf Course clubhouse. MN ski pass required.

Maple Grove | Elm Creek Park Reserve 18km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate trails. Some of the best ski trails in the metro area with fantastic night skiing on lighted trails and a 2.5 km loop with man-made snow. Elm Creek Chalet offers ski rentals, snack bar, and woodstove. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.

Maple Lake | Robert Ney Regional Park 16km - Intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails over small hills and flat areas. Nature Center offers rentals weekends January-March. MN Ski Pass required.

Maple Plain | Baker Park Reserve 14.5km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate trails through woods and meadows. Ski rentals, warming house, and snack bar at Chalet. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.

Maplewood | Battle Creek Regional Park - East 6km - Beginner to intermediate classic ski trail through mature woods. MN ski pass required.

Maplewood | Battle Creek Regional Park - West 10km - Beginner to advanced, classic and skate ski trails. 4 km lit trail. MN ski pass required.

Marine on St. Croix | Big Marine Park Reserve 1.9k - Easy beginner loop along Big Marine Lake. Classic only. MN ski pass required.

Marine on St. Croix | William O’Brien State Park 19km - Multi-trail system, for all skill levels of classic and skate skiers with views of St. Croix River. Wetland Trail for beginners and Prairie Overlook for the more advanced. Heated trail center has a wood stove. MN ski pass required.

Minneapolis | Chain of Lakes Regional Park 8km - Groomed, beginner-friendly flat trails around Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles. Connects with Theodore Wirth Park trails to the north.

MN ski pass required.

24 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

2019/20 Minneapolis | Columbia Golf Course 3.5km - Groomed, classic and skate trails on rolling golf course hills. MN ski pass required.

Minneapolis | Hiawatha Golf Course 4km - Groomed, classic and skate trails on rolling golf course hills with a view of the Minneapolis skyline. MN ski pass required.

Minneapolis | Theodore Wirth Regional Park 25km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate ski trails. 3km lighted trails. One of the largest venues with snowmaking capabilities in the Twin Cities features some incredible hills on the north while the south side is primarily flat. Connects to Chain of Lakes Regional Park trails to the south. Ski rentals available. MN ski pass required.

Minnetonka | Glen Lake Golf Center 2.4km - Groomed, classic and skate trails through rolling golf course hills.

Rentals and concessions available at the clubhouse. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.

North Branch | Wild River State Park 48km - Beginner (22km), intermediate (25km) and advanced (5km) trails along the St. Croix River. 27km are combined classic and skate ski. Heated trail center has rentals available. MN ski pass required.

Plymouth | Eagle Lake Regional Park 5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails through woods and meadows. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.

Plymouth | French Regional Park 8km - Variety of terrains from beginner to advanced. Groomed, classic and skate trails over rolling hills. Lighted trails attract many after-work skiers. Rentals and concessions available at visitor center.

Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.

Prior Lake | Cleary Lake Regional Park 9.5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails. Visitor center with ski rentals, vending machine, and fireplace. 4.5 km lighted trail. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.

Ramsey | Rum River Central Regional Park 8km - Mostly flat trail loops. MN ski pass required.

SKI TRAIL GUIDE Rosemount | Lone Rock Trail 17km - Intermediate trails groomed for both classic and skate ski on gently rolling terrain through woods, agricultural land and wetlands in UMore Park. MN ski pass required.

Saint Paul | Fort Snelling State Park 19km - The park offers flat multi-use trails which are shared by skiers, hikers and fat bikers. The Pike Island Loop with its views of the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers is the only trail groomed just for skiing. Visitor center serves as a warming house. MN ski pass required.

Saint Paul | Phalen Regional Park and Golf Course 7km - Intermediate classic and skate trails, open and fairly flat.

Saint Paul | Como Park 5km - Intermediate to advanced classic and skate trails. 1.7k lighted trail.

Equipment rentals.

Saint Paul | Highland 9 Golf Course 3.5km - Beginner to intermediate classic and skate trail loop.

Savage | Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve 14.5km - Some of the most exciting and challenging trails in the metro. Groomed, classic and skate trails. Trailhead building serves as a warming area. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.

Shoreview | Grass Lake 3km - Beginner trails through woods and marshland, classic ski only. MN ski pass required.

Stillwater | Pine Point Regional Park 6.5km - Beginner to intermediate trails groomed for classic ski only. This small park near the end of the Gateway Trail has beautiful scenery with trails winding through large pine plantation, by small lakes and picturesque farms. MN ski pass required.

Stillwater | Brown’s Creek Nature Preserve 4.5km - Beginner classic and skate trails on moderate hills. MN ski pass required.

Vadnais Heights | Vadnais/Sucker Lakes 7.3km - Beginner to advanced, classiconly trail on moderate hills through woods. MN ski pass required.

Ski all season

Vasaloppet Nordic Center

l

Snowmaking

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12km of trails

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Mora, Minnesota www. vasaloppet. us Minnesota Trails

Victoria | Carver Park Reserve 18km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails through hardwood forests and marshlands. Lowry Nature Center offers a warming place and has ski rentals on weekends. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.

White Bear Lake | Tamarack Nature Center 8km - Beginner to intermediate, classiconly trails through prairie, woodland, and marsh. Ski rentals available. 1km practice loop. MN ski pass required.

Sources: Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Nordic Ski Association, Skinnyski & Individual Trails

Give the gift of Minnesota’s spectacular natural world.*

You, this gift card and your next day off.

* Use at Minnesota state parks for camping and lodging, vehicle permits, I Can! programs, park store merchandise and more!

Changing rooms

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Saunas

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Wax room

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Metro Trails

3km lighted trail

Purchase gift cards at mnDNR.gov/GiftCard

Open daily: 8am-9pm

Winter 2019-2020 25

Fat Bike Events Global Fat Bike Day December 7, 2019 Trailhead Cycling Champlin MN: Group ride starting at Coon Rapids Dam with a side trip to Alloy Brewing. www.trailheadcycling.com Global Fat Bike Day December 7, 2019 Northfield, MN: Group ride with snacks and craft beer. www.downtownbicyclesllc.com Global Fat Bike Day December 7, 2019 Poker Ride and Fundraiser Saint Cloud, MN: Collect playing cards at rest stops to make a poker hand and win prizes. www.midmncyclingclub.blogspot.com Freezer Burn Fat Bike Race January 11, 2020 Springvale County Park Cambridge, MN: 6,12 or 18 mile race on logging trails and single track.

Details on Facebook Frozen Feat 5k &10k January 11, 2020 Thief River Falls, MN: Bike, run, ski or snowshoe a distance of your choice.

Part of Thief River Falls’ Ice Fest.

More info on Facebook Norpine Fat Bike Classic January 11, 2020 Lutsen, MN: 15 or 24 mile race, part of the Great Lakes Fat Bike Series. www.norpinefatbikeclassic.com

Loppet Foundation Winter Events

FAT BIKE EVENT GUIDE St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra January 11-12, 2020 St. Croix State Park Hinckley, MN: 40km endurance race by foot, ski or fat bike. www.stcroixwinterultra.com Winter Trails Day January 11, 2020 Fort Snelling State Park Saint Paul, MN: Free winter activities including fat biking.

More info on Facebook QBP Fat Bike Rennet January 11, 2020 Hyland Lake Park Reserve Bloomington, MN: 10km or 25 km illuminated race on Hyland Lake Park’s ski trails. www.threeriversparks.org/fatbikerennet Arrowhead 135 January 27-29, 2020 International Falls, MN: 135-mile ski, bike and run endurance race on the Arrowhead State Trail. www.arrowheadultra.com 45NRTH Whiteout February 8, 2020 Cuyuna Country Recreation Area Ironton, MN: 10km, 20km or 30km race, part of the Great Lakes Fat Bike Series. www.cuyunalakesmtb.com/whiteout.html Fired Up! Fat Bike Tour February 1, 2020 The Jewel Golf Club Lake City, MN: Not a race, but a fun ride with options from 3-18 miles. www.lakecity.org

2019/20

Fat Bike Frozen 40 February 8, 2020 Elm Creek Park Reserve Champlin, MN: 20, 30 or 40 mile race, part of the Great Lakes Fat Bike Series. www.frozenforty.com Ham Lake Snow Bowl Fat Tire Race February 8, 2020 Ham Lake City Park Ham Lake, MN: Fat tire race as part of Ham Lake’s Snow Bowl event. www.pjwracing.com Fat Bike Vasaloppet February 9, 2020 Mora Lake Mora, MN: 40km race or 10km ride with checkpoints and prizes. www.vasaloppet.us Fat BikeFun Race February 15, 2020 Cleary Lake Regional Park Prior Lake, MN: 10km or 5km fun races on groomed trails.

More info on Facebook Fat Bike Blitz February 22, 2020 Pebble Creek Golf Course Becker, MN: 30-mile race on groomed golf course trails. www.fatbikeblitz.com Balsam Basher Fat Tire Bike Race March 14, 2020 Korkki Nordic Ski Trails Duluth, MN: 10km race on challenging, but gorgeous trails. www.korkkinordic.org/events

DETROITMOUNTAIN.COM

DETROIT LAKES, MINNESOTA

Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis, MN www.loppet.org Pre-Loppet January 5, 2020 A primer for the City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival with ski races from 1-17km and a 8km and 17km fat bike race.

City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival January 30-February 2, 2020 A family-friendly winter festival with numerous ski and fat bike events, skijoring snow sculpture contest and a nighttime luminary loppet.

24 Hours of Wirth February 28-29 Cross Country Ski and Fat Bike Race for individuals and relay teams over a 24-hour period.

D E T RO I T L A K E S , M N

Loppet Winter Triathlon March 1, 2020 Ski, bike and run triathlon.

Fastenall Parallel 45 Winter Festival March 14-17 A four-day festival of citizen races, live music and craft beer to celebrate the 2020 Coop FIS Cross Country Ski World Cup Sprint Finals on March 17.

26 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

2019/20

SKI EVENT GUIDE

Minnesota Nordic Ski Opener December 7, 2019 Elm Creek Park Reserve Maple Grove, MN: Kick off Minnesota’s ski season with free skiing, rental equipment and lessons for all ages. www.threeriversparks.org/ nordicskiopener Frozen Feat 5k &10k January 11, 2020 Thief River Falls, MN: Bike, run, ski or snowshoe a distance of your choice starting at LaFave Beach. Part of Thief River Falls’ Ice Fest.

More info on Facebook Twin Cities Orthopedics Ski Rennet January 11, 2020 Hyland Lake Park Reserve Bloomington, MN: Ski events including races, skijoring, ski pulk races, music and vendors. www.threeriversparks.org/skirennet Winter Trails Day January 11, 2020 Fort Snelling State Park Saint Paul, MN: Free winter activities including skiing.

More info on Facebook Langlauf Nordic Ski Race January 26, 2020 Saint John’s University Collegeville, MN: A challenging race through the hills of the Saint John’s Arboretum. www.csbsju.edu/outdooru/events/ langlauf

Moraloppet Ski for the Cause February 1, 2020 Vasaloppet Nordic Ski Center Mora, MN: Fundraiser event for skiers of all capabilities ranging from beginners to elite athletes, plus a time of socializing and refreshments. www.vasaloppet.us Lumberjack Jaunt February 2, 2020 Northland Arboretum Brainerd, MN: One of the longest running Nordic ski races in Minnesota has skate and classic ski races of 16 km and 6 km and a 2km youth race. www.brainerdnordicskiclub.com Vasaloppet February 8-9, 2020 Vasaloppet Nordic Ski Center Mora, MN: Two-day ski festival with races of 13-52km, fat tire bike race, skijoring and Miniloppet for kids. www.vasaloppet.us Pepsi Challenge February 29, 2020 Giants Ridge Biwabik, MN: The Pepsi Challenge has a race for every level of racer: 8km, 25km and 50km. www.pepsichallengeskirace.com Eric Judeen 10k Classic Ski Race March 14, 2020 Korkki Nordic Ski Trails Two Harbors, MN: This race has been held since 1963 and proceeds go to trail maintenance. www.korkkinordic.org

Ski Events

2020 Candlelight Events IN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS

January 3 Candlelight Walk - Luce Line State Trail January 4 Candlelight snowshoe, ski, walk Lake Carlos State Park January 11 Lantern Lit snowshoe and ski Itasca State Park Candlelight ski and snowshoe Lake Bronson State Park Candlelight snowshoe, ski, walk Minneopa State Park Candlelight ski and snowshoe Zippel Bay State Park January 17 Candlelight snowshoe Hayes Lake State Park January 18 Candlelight snowshoe, ski, walk Rice Lake State Park January 24 Candlelight walk - Gateway State Trail January 25 Candlelight walk - Blue Mounds State Park www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/ candlelight_events.html

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Minnesota Trails

RedWing.org Winter 2019-2020 27

TRAILS Q & A

TrailsQ&A

Trails Q&A

Jill Schyma

Foley, MN Occupation: Teacher

Seen: Fall camping in a 1977 Jayco travel trailer at McCarthy Beach State Park.

Favorite spot at this park: The entire campground is spectacular, but next time I’ll get site number 13.

Snapshots of people we meet along the trail

Kari Patnode

South Haven, MN Occupation: Cardiovascular Technologist Seen: Skiing on the Big Woods Loop at Lake Maria State Park.

Gear: Salomon Snowscape skis and poles.

Best MN Experience: My first overnight bike camping trip on Advice for a new visitor: the Soo Line, Lake Wobegon Swim on either side of the park and Central Lakes Trails. at Sturgeon Lake or Side Lake. Worst MN Experience: Live the simple life.

Three flats in a row on the Favorite Minnesota park: This Headwaters 100 bike ride in one. Tettegouche is number Park Rapids. two.

Advice for the novice skier: Best experience in a park: Try renting skis before you buy Meeting other campers. them.

Worst experience: Giant slugs covered everything, I can’t remember where that was.

With $1000 I would: Buy my husband a fat bike and crosscountry skis.

Camp treat: Always morning coffee.

Favorite MN place: The North Shore of Minnesota. I love to go there to disconnect from day to day life and enjoy the beauty and ambiance.

With $1,000 I would: Get a bigger outboard motor for my boat with an electric start.

Q A

2019/20

How many miles do you ski per year? 5-50, depending on conditions.

Trail Treat: Reese’s peanut butter cups.

Future MN plans: Explore central Minnesota’s lake country more and do a multiday backpacking trip on the Superior Hiking Trail.

Patrick J. Moore Occupation: Communications Director at Pioneer Public Television, formerly Executive Director of Clean Up the River Environment (CURE.) Seen: Skiing at Lac qui Parle State Park Why this park? I love to cross country ski on the lower park trails and go ice fishing in the winter. In the summer there’s a great beach, native prairie at the upper campground and birds to watch.

Favorite spot at Lac qui Parle: The peninsula on the Lac qui Parle River delta. It’s only accessible by ski in the winter.

Favorite Minnesota Park: This one and Upper Sioux Agency. The Native American history there is so important.

Advice for park users: Get off the beaten path and explore.

Go to the overlook of Lac qui Parle at sunset in late October and watch the geese land below you.

Best experience in the park: Building a cedar strip canoe with John White.

Worst experience: Mosquitoes in late June.

Trail Treat: I am a romantic.

Baguette, cheddar cheese and red wine.

With $1,000 I would: Give it to the DNR non-game wildlife management program.

Wayne Johnson

May Township Washington County, MN Occupation: IT Consultant.

Seen: Skiing with daughter Madalyn at William O’Brien State Park.

Best Minnesota experience: Snowshoeing to Rose Lake in the BWCA. It’s both challenging and beautiful.

Worst Minnesota Experience: Same place, different year.

Trying to ski with almost no snow on Presidents Day weekend.

Advice to novice skiers: Don’t stay on the groomed trails.

Wander and discover.

With $1,000 I would: Stay at Lutsen Resort and ski at Lutsen Mountains alpine area.

Favorite Minnesota place: The Temperance River. Mine and nine other families reunite there every July.

Future Minnesota plans: Car camping at more parks, Itasca and Whitewater especially.

How many miles do you ski per year? I average only 30 miles per year but I’ve done the Birkie four times. I usually ski here at O’Brien and at Pine Point Regional Park.

Trail Treat: I always bring an orange or two.

28 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

Garden Island Rec. Area

Lake of the Woods

Zippel Bay Lake Bronson

Red River of the North

Rainy River

Hayes Lake

Franz Jevne

75

International Falls

Old Mill

Red Lake

59

Crookston

Lake Bemidji

2 La Salle Lake Rec. Area

Leech Lake Walker

Itasca

Glendalough Central Lakes

Lake Wobegon

Alexandria

75

Glacial Lakes

Sibley Chippewa

Monson Lake

Willmar

Lac qui Parle

Lake Maria

Father Hennepin

59 71

212

Lake Rec. Area

Split Rock Lighthouse Gitchi Gami Trail Two Harbors

Alex Laveau Segment

Sand Stone

Banning St. Croix

MAP LEGEND PRAIRIE DECIDUOUS FOREST CONIFEROUS FOREST TALLGRASS ASPEN PARKLAND

Snake

35

St. Croix River

STATE PARKS

Rum

North Branch Sunrise Prairie Hardwood Creek Grand Rounds

Minneapolis Luce Line Hutchinson Crow, Dakota LRT South Fork Greenleaf

212 Upper Sioux Agency

12

Moose Lake

Kettle

Mora

94 Mississippi

Crow, Glacial North Fork Lakes

Gooseberry Falls

Hinckley

169

George H. Crosby Manitou Silver Bay

Superior Hiking Trail Lake Superior Duluth

Munger

Mille Lacs Lake

Lake Superior

Tofte

Tettegouche

Cloquet

Jay Cooke Savanna Portage Willard

Soo Line Saint Cloud

ROCORI Paynesville

Pomme de Terre

Big Stone Lake 12

Charles A. Lindbergh

Sauk Sauk Centre Albany

St. Louis

Crosby

Soo Line Little Falls

Lake Carlos

OHV Rec. Area

Grand Portage National Monument

Grand Marais

Temperance Cascade River River

Hibbing Iron Range

Hill Annex Mine

2

Cuyuna Country Rec. Area

Mille Lacs Kathio

71 Long Prairie 10

Bear Head Lake

Grand Portage Judge C.R. Magney

Kekekabic Trail

Eveleth

169 Mississippi

North Country Trail

Crow Wing

Glendalough

Fergus Falls

Mesabi

Grand Rapids

Heartland Park Buffalo River Detroit Paul Rapids Lakes Bunyan North Country Pine Trail Crow 59 Wing Maplewood Otter Tail 94 Brainerd Wadena

Moorhead

McCarthy Beach

Lake Cass Winnibigoshish Lake Paul Bunyan Migizi Schoolcraft

Bemidji

75

BWCA

Lake Vermilion /Soudan Undergound Mine

Scenic

Erskine

Border Route Trail

53 Vermillion

Big Fork

71

Lower Red Lake

Red River Rec. Area

Voyageurs National Park

Little Fork

Big Bog Rec. Area

Upper Red Lake

Rainy Lake

Rainy Lake

Wild River Interstate William O’Brien

Hugo

Fort

Saint Paul

52

Marine on St. Croix Brown’s Creek Stillwater Gateway

Afton

STATE RECREATIONAL AREAS BIKE TRAILS ROADS STATE WATER TRAILS MAJOR CITIES LONG DISTANCE HIKING TRAILS

Hastings

Not for Navigation Jan. 2019

Snelling Cannon Red Wing Minnesota Valley 61 Redwood Fair Frontenac Valley Cannon Ridge Rec. Area 35 Falls Lake City Goodhue Fort Camden Marshall Cannon Mississippi Pioneer 63 Flandrau Ridgely Sakatah Camden New Ulm Nerstrand Great Zumbro Cottonwood Lake Mankato Big Woods River 14 Carley Faribault 75 Springfield Sleepy Straight Douglas Ridge John A. Latsch Sakatah Eye Lake Shetek Whitewater Pipestone Minneopa Singing Hills 14 Watonwan National Monument Winona Owatanna Rice Lake Pipestone Great River Bluffs Rochester Whitewater St. James Des Casey 52 Root Moines Cedar Root 59 Jones River Kilen Woods Myre Blue Blazing 90 Split Rock Lanesboro Big Island Blue Earth Star Creek Shooting Mounds Beaver Creek Valley Preston Star 63 90 Blue Blue Austin Shell Albert Harmony-Preston Valley Earth Mounds Worthington Rock Lea Lake Louise Harmony Forestville / Luverne Minnesota

Mystery Cave

VISITBRAINERD

Choose Your Winter Adventure in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Enjoy all the area has to offer from centrally located Brainerd and Baxter, MN. Maps, routes, lodging and visitor information available online.

Northland Arboretum • French Rapids • Pine Beach Trails • Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails

#LoveBrainerd

Minnesota Trails

MN_Trails_Winter2019_191004.indd 1

www.visitbrainerd.com

Lum Park Campground

Winter 2019-2020 29

10/4/2019 2:26:32 PM

Business Directory Online & In Print $250/annually

INFORMATION

CENTRAL LAKES TRAIL ASSOCIATION 320-763-0102

324 Broadway, Alexandria www.centrallakestrail.com

FERGUS FALLS CVB

112 Washington Ave. W, Fergus Falls www.visitfergusfalls.com

VISIT BRAINERD

14084 Baxter Drive, STE 12, Brainerd www.visitbrainerd.com

BIKE SHOPS CYCLE PATH AND PADDLE

218-545-4545

115 3rd Avenue SW, Crosby www.cyclepathpaddle.com

EASY RIDERS BICYCLE & SPORT

HUTCHINSON CHAMBER

2 Main St., Hutchinson www.explorehutchinson.com

VISIT DULUTH

415 Washington Street, Brainerd www.easyridersbikes.com

218-829-5516

225 West Superior Street, STE 110 www.visitduluth.com

FITZHARRIS BIKE & SPORT

320-251-2844

FUN

JAKE’S BIKES ALEXANDRIA

320-219-7433

9500 Spirit Mountain Place, Duluth www.spiritmt.com

105 7th Avenue S, St. Cloud www.fitzharrismn.com

419 N. Nokomis St., Alexandria www.jakesbikes.com

REVOLUTION CYCLE AND SKI 320-251-2453

160 29th Avenue South, St. Cloud www.revolutioncycleandski.com

TOURIGHT BICYCLE SHOP

320-639-2453

OUTDOOR MOTION

320-587-2453

NORTHERN CYCLE

218-732-5971

NORTHERN CYCLE

218-751-(BIKE) 2453

124 2nd Street NE, Little Falls www.tourightbicycleshop.com

141 Main Street South, Hutchinson www.outdoormotionbikes.com 100 Mill Road, Park Rapids www.northerncyclemn.com 117 3rd Street NW, Bemidji www.northerncyclemn.com

BIKE KING

651-457-7766

CARS BIKE SHOP

763-784-6966

GATEWAY CYCLE

651-777-0188

PIONEER CYCLE

763-755-8871

RAMSEY BICYCLE

763-323-6666

Minnesota Trails Directory Regions

Northwest Region

Northeast Region

2

Bemidji

218-332-5425

61

71

2

800-450-7247

320-587-5252

35

Central Region

94

Duluth

St. Cloud

Southern Region

Metro Region Mankato

71 35

90

90

800-438-5884

SPIRIT MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK 218-628-2891 800-642-6377

A quick and easy reference for planning your adventure!

Find your trail…

LODGING/CAMPING SINCLAIR LEWIS CAMPGROUND 320-352-2203

826 Park Road, Sauk Centre www.ci.sauk-centre.mn.us

B&Bs

COUNTRY BED AND BREAKFAST 651-257-4773

5 miles from Taylors Falls www.countrybedandbreakfast.us

GREEN HERON B&B

2810 Meyers Bay Road, Grand Rapids www.greenheronbandb.com

218-999-5795

...share the story We’re always looking for writers and photographers.

Contact jan@mntrails.com for more details.

6489 Cahill Avenue, Inver Grove Heights www.bike-king.com

2661 Co Road I & Old Hwy 10, Mounds View www.CarsBikeShop.com 6028 Hwy. 36 Blvd N, Oakdale www.gatewaycycle.com 12741 Central Ave., NE, Blaine www.pioneercycle.com 6825 Hwy. 10 NW, Ramsey www.ramseybicycles.com

STRAUSS SKATES AND BICYCLES 651-770-1344

1751 Cope Avenue E, Maplewood www.shopstrauss.com

TONKA CYCLE AND SKI

952-938-8336

TRAILHEAD CYCLING & FITNESS

763-712-0312

16 Shady Oak Road S, Hopkins www.tonkacycleandski.com

11350 Aquila Drive, Suite 505, Champlin www.trailheadcyclingandfitness.com

More information at www.mntrails.com 30 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails

SAVE

the

2020 BIKE RIDES

Date

June 13, 2020

Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour

www.caramelrollride.com

On the Mesabi Trail - NE MN

Caramel Roll Ride Albany, MN

22nd Annual

75K

GRINDER

Rail Trails 100

Crow River Winery, Hutchinson, MN

St. Joseph, MN

June 14, 2020

A Rotary Sponsored Ride for Water Carnival

HUTCHINSON, MN

th June 10 , 2017 16th Annual

12 MILES

www.mesabitrail.com/trail-activities/tour

Luce Line Loops Ride

50

MILES

GRAVEL

August 1, 2020

August 1, 2020

www.hutchinsonrotary.org

www.railtrails100.com

Lady Slipper Nature Ride

Gitchi-Gami North Shore Ride

16th Annual

RAIL TRAILS 100 BIKE TOUR

3rd Annual

3 Paved Bike Rides Plus NEW 75K Gravel Grinder Start & Finish at Crow River Winery

Supported Ride - TCBC Outreach Approved Ride registration available at HutchinsonRotary.org

June 20, 2020 Avon, MN

10th Annual

www.ladyslipperride.com

Loop the Lake Ride June 20, 2020 Bemidji, MN

7th Annual

23rd Annual

www.ggta.org

Sept. 12, 2020 Sauk Centre, MN

www.caramelappleride.com

Shooting Star Trail Bike Ride

Mora Bike Tour Vasaloppet Nordic Center, Mora, MN

Tour de Donut Minnesota

Ride The Ridges

Luverne, MN 507.283.4061

10th Annual

Sept. 19, 2020

June 20, 2020 Adams, MN

www.shootingstartrail.org

20th Annual

Caramel Apple Ride

www.bikebemidji.com

July 2020

3rd Annual

August 15, 2020

Gooseberry Falls State Park

www.morabiketour.org

40th Annual

Sept. 19, 2020 Winona, MN

www.ridetheridges.bike

8th Annual

Tour de Bun Bicycle Classic July 25, 2020

30th Annual

Montgomery, MN www.kolackydays.com

Mark your calendar now for these great 2020 rides.

Minnesota Trails

Winter 2019-2020 31

FREE HOT HOME-STYLE BREAKFAST

INVITING INDOOR POOL

UPDATED GUESTROOMS

ADVENTURE AWAITS AT

AMERICINN

[800] 634.3444 www.wyndhamhotels.com

See more about these locations at www.wyndhamhotels.com.

From Minnesota’s rugged north shore to its southwestern prairie, the northwestern tallgrass parklands, to the Minnesota River Valley, taking good care of people in this great state of ours is what we do best. We’ve earned our stripes when it comes to genuine hospitality, and you’ll feel it the moment you walk through our doors. From a friendly smile to a free, hot American breakfast, stop in and discover true AmericInn® hospitality.

Austin, MN Baudette, MN Cloquet, MN Hutchinson, MN Lake City, MN Pequot Lakes, MN Red Wing, MN Roseau, MN Silver Bay, MN St. Cloud, MN Tofte/Lutsen, MN Two Harbors, MN Virginia, MN

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©2019 AMERICINN INTERNATIONAL, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL HOTELS ARE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED EXCEPT CERTAIN HOTELS MANAGED BY A SUBSIDIARY OF WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS, INC.

32 Winter 2019-2020

Minnesota Trails