Winter 2026/2027
Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 1
522 Sinclair Lewis Avenue Sauk Centre, MN 56378
www.MnTrails.com Minnesota Trails Staff Jan Lasar Editor/Publisher Joyce Frericks Accounting Karen Knoblach Page Layout & Design Graphic Design
Vol. 31, No. 4 November 2026
Crosby | Ironton Deerwood | Bay Lake Cuyuna | Emily SPECIALTY STORES EAT / DRINK CANA WINE BAR 64 1st Ave SW, Crosby (218) 772-0086 www.canawinebarmn.com Self-service wine bar Live music Saturdays
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. Continuing the
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LODGING
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SERVICES
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WINTER 2026/2027
Contents
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
8 Finding Minnesota:
4 Parks & Trails Council News
Rainbow Resort
Christina Smith
JAN LASAR
7 Trails Q & A
10 Ski Camping the Central
Conversations with Trail Users
Gunflint Trails
13 2026/27 Ski Trail Guide
CHRIS PASCONE
Minnesota’s 200+ Ski Trails
26 Follow the Dogs: Ski the
BWCAW’s Winter Use Trails
29 2026/27 Winter Events Fatbike & Ski Adventures
CHRIS PASCONE
COLUMNS
6 Minnesota Miles PHOTO: Rainbow Resort ski trails near Waubun, Minn. Jan Lasar photo
JAN LASAR
30 Minnesota Trails Map Minnesota’s Trails At-A-Glance
31 Trail Partners Find Trail-Friendly Businesses
THANK YOU: COVER: 24km of ski trails wind through the forests around Carey Lake in Hibbing, Minn. Jan Lasar photo
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A CAREER SPENT UNEARTHING MINNESOTA STATE PARKS’ PAST A R C H A EO L O G I S T DAV E R A D F O R D R EC E I V E S L I F E T I M E AC H I E V E M E N T AWA R D F R O M PA R KS & T R A I L S C O U N C I L What lies buried beneath the layers of history in Minnesota’s state parks? For 37 years, Dave 5DGRUG PDGH LW KLV OLIHȇV ZRUN WR ȴQG RXW $V WKH lead archaeologist for Minnesota State Parks, he unearthed discoveries that deepen our state’s XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI QDWXUDO DQG FXOWXUDO KLVWRU\ Dave’s archaeological journey began in the PLG V DW +DPOLQH 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ 6W 3DXO +H went on to study archaeology at the University of Southampton in England, with a focus on LGHQWLI\LQJ SODQW UHPDLQV (QWHULQJ WKH ZRUNIRUFH KH VSHQW ȴYH \HDUV ZLWK SULYDWH DUFKDHRORJLFDO FRQVXOWLQJ ȴUPV LQ :\Rming, North Dakota, Colorado, Iowa, and Minnesota, before landing a role with the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS), where he would spend \HDUV XQWLO UHWLULQJ LQ With the MHS he focused on state parks and made some incredible discoveries — one of his most exciting was at Lake Vermilion Soudan-UnGHUJURXQG 0LQH 6WDWH 3DUN +HUH KH XQHDUWKHG REVLGLDQ ȵDNHV WKDW KH VRXUFHG WR WKH IDPRXV DQFLHQW TXDUU\ DW 2EVLGLDQ &OL LQ <HOORZVWRQH 1DWLRQDO 3DUN 7KH VORZ XQHDUWKLQJ RI WKLV LQFUHGLEOH ȴQG VWDUWed with a humble shovel test — a small explor4 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
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But the discoveries are only SDUW RI WKH VWRU\ 7KURXJKRXW his career Dave has worked closely with tribal preservation RɝFHUV DQG LQGLJHQRXV FRPPXnity members to ensure Native nations’ interests are central to protecting natural and cultural ODQGVFDSHV ȊΖWȇV FRPPRQ SUDFWLFH QRZ RI EHing really conscious that there’s good consultation with Native $PHULFDQ 7ULEHV WKDW KDYH DQ LQWHUHVW LQ WKRVH DUHDV ȋ 'DYH VDLG He emphasizes that consultation with Native nations isn’t an afterthought — it happens before DQ\ ȴHOGZRUN EHJLQV &RQVWUXFtion plans are shared with the Tribal Historic Preservation 2ɝFH 7+32 ZHOO LQ DGYDQFH giving Tribal representatives the
One example is the Fort Ridgely State Park golf course renovaWLRQ IURP WKH HDUO\ V 7KH team uncovered an intact stone ȴUH ULQJ EHOLHYHG WR EH \HDUV ROG RU PRUH 7KH FRXUVH was redesigned to keep the stone ring undisturbed in the ground, preserving the cultural KLVWRU\ <RXȇG WKLQN ȴYH \HDUV RI UHWLUHment would slow anyone down ȃ QRW 'DYH +HȇV FKDQQHOHG KLV archaeology skills into volunteer work for the Minnesota Historical Society at Split Rock Lighthouse, keeping his passion IRU GLVFRYHU\ DOLYH %H\RQG WKDW Dave spends time with his new grandson Davin, cheering at Minnesota United soccer matches, or casting for trout, salmon, and walleye along the shores of /DNH 6XSHULRU
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Minnesota State Parks and Trails contain over a thousand documented archaeological sites. Cultural resources are not renewable. Once they are gone, they are lost forever. ›› Dave Radford’s remarks when accepting the Reuel Harmon Award
opportunity to review potential impacts to cultural and historiFDO UHVRXUFHV ΖI REMHFWLRQV ZHUH raised, they weren’t brushed aside — each concern was carefully weighed, often reshaping the project’s approach to ensure sacred sites and cultural history ZHUH UHVSHFWHG This commitment to consultation isn’t just policy — it plays RXW LQ WKH ȴHOG DV VHHQ LQ 'DYHȇV HRUWV WR SUHVHUYH FXOWXUDO IHDWXUHV WKURXJKRXW KLV SURMHFWV
$QG 'DYH LV QRZ D UHJXODU DW Minnesota State Parks campsites, where he can sit back and enjoy the cherished landscapes WKDW KH KHOSHG WR SURWHFW ȊΖ know the great campsites that I QRZ JHW WR UHOD[ LQ ȋ Dave spent a lifetime uncovering Minnesota’s history through KLV ZRUN ΖQ WKH HQG KH EHFDPH DQ LPSRUWDQW SDUW RI LW STORY BY CHRISTINA SMITH/P&TC
REUEL HARMON AWARDEES
Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota annually recognizes one individual for exemplary service on behalf of Minnesota’s parks and trails.
2026 Dave Radford 2025 Erika Rivers 2024 Sen. Foung Hawj 2023 Anthony Taylor 2022 Sen. Carrie Ruud 2021 Steve Thorne 2019 Sen. Keith Langseth 2018 Grant Merritt 2017 Rep. Alice Hausman 2016 Dave Lais 2015 Peggy Prowe 2014 Hon. David Minge 2013 Mary Lee Dayton 2012 Mark and Joan Strobel 2011 Peter Seed 2010 Terry McGaughey 2009 Eleanor Winston 2008 Sen. David Durenberger 2007 Henry N. Somsen 2006 Michael Prichard 2005 Bob Dunn 2004 Don Davison & Bill Morrissey 2003 Rollis Bishop 2001 Alden Lind 2000 Howard E. Olson 1999 Nadine Blacklock 1998 Rep. Willard Munger 1997 Gov. Elmer L. Andersen 1996 Martin N. Kellogg 1995 Samuel H. Morgan Visit the Award rmon r Reuel Hao no Hall f Ho A IL S .O R G PA R KS A N D T R
Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 5
Minnesota Miles
Sıgns Lıfe OF
Jan Lasar Trails Editor/Publisher
If you’ve read any of my editor’s columns over the last 12 years, you know I have no problem admitting that I can be a master couch-sitter when the temps turn cold. But, every time I can kick my own derrière and ditch the davenport, I’m glad I did when I get back. Getting out is exercise, of course, but I find I’m more motivated when I can find a reason beyond wanting my pants to still fit in the spring. If it was just about that, I could easily sit on the bike trainer and get sweaty in my living room while watching TV—without the ritual of putting on layers and windshield defrosting. I admire folks like Duluth writer Chris Pascone, for whom winter cold camping is bliss (See this issue: Gunflint Winter Camping, pg. 10, and Follow the Dogs, pg. 26). Reading his stories has piqued my interest, but I need to take baby steps. To help me find more reasons to head outside in the cold season, I turned to Greg Feinberg, my go-to guy for learning about the natural things we step on, squash, or otherwise ignore. He’s also my brother-in-law and family ties dictate that you help your kin when they come calling with yet another deadline crunch. After talking to him, my next winter hike is going to be much more interesting.
To most people, a snowbank is just a snowbank. For you, it’s an open book. What are the most common or exciting wildlife tracks and signs that tell a story of a busy winter night in Minnesota? I really enjoy seeing all the mouse and vole tracks after a fresh snow and if snow conditions are right, finding the entrances to their subnivean tunnels. Minnesota winters bring extreme freezes. What is one of the most mind-blowing adaptations a local insect, amphibian, or reptile uses to survive being literally frozen solid? My favorite example is how grey treefrogs promote a controlled freezing in some of their body tissues while protecting certain organs from freezing by producing an antifreeze. But in my mind, insects and other arthropods are the stars of surviving freezing temperatures with such a diversity of strategies. Many people think birdwatching ends in October. Which unique winter-only avian visitors should Minnesotans be looking out for this winter? The most common winter-only
bird in Minnesota is the dark-eyed junco. But what I enjoy most about winter birdwatching, is getting better acquainted with hardy yearround residents like chickadees, woodpeckers and nuthatches. Deciduous trees look completely dead in January. How can a winter hiker learn to identify them by their bark, buds, or silhouettes? There are plenty of great resources for identifying trees in the winter, but I think the best way to learn winter tree identification is to get to know the trees in your neighborhood or your favorite park in the summer when they have leaves. Come winter, you can examine these same trees and note the bark and branching patterns. Winter brings long, dark nights. What kind of nocturnal activity is happening right outside our backdoors while we’re asleep? The long nights of winter are an excellent time to get acquainted with the night sky — not only by learning the names of stars and constellations, but also by observing their movements during the night and across the season.
Winter has a reputation for being completely quiet. What are the unique, subtle sounds of a Minnesota winter forest that we miss if we don’t stop and listen? Woodpeckers are known for their loud sounds, but in the winter you can hear them at their quietest when they’re gently pecking and peeling bark in search of food. But more generally, notice how sound is just different in the winter. The lack of leaves and presence of snow changes how sound travels. But I also think learning how the sounds of the natural world change throughout the year is a very gratifying practice. Beyond physical exercise, what mental or spiritual benefits do you think Minnesotans miss out on when they choose to stay indoors from November to April? It’s going to be different for everyone. But ultimately, we all live on Earth and experience its changes throughout the year, despite the pervasive message in this country that we’re separate from nature and in control of it. I believe it’s in everyone’s interest to strengthen our relationships with the patterns and cycles that surround us. To fully appreciate them you have to experience them.
Participants of a winter nature walk at Wolsfeld Woods Scientific and Natural Area in Long Lake, Minnesota, study a decomposing log as Greg Feinberg looks on. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR
your next great ride.
Fresh Air, Wide-Open Landscapes and Miles of Trails to Discover:
BikeMankatoMN.com L E AG U E O F A M E R I C A N B I C YC L I S T S B RO N Z E B I C YC L E F R I E N D LY CO M M U N I T Y 6 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
2026/27
Trails Q & A
Trails
Snapshots of people we meet along the trail
David Alt
Guy Hinui
James Kerr
Marilyn Emerson
Shoreview, Minn.
Anoka, Minn.
Evansville, Minn.
Little Falls, Minn.
Occupation: Retired insurance advisor, part-time handyman, and scuba diving instructor. Seen: Fatbiking at Hidden Valley Rec Area in Ely, Minn. Gear: Norco Bigfoot 3 fatbike. How many miles do you bike per year? About 500-700 miles, fatbike and regular biking. What does being outdoors mean to you? I love it. The freedom, the beauty. It’s my happy place. Favorite Minnesota park or trail: Either Elm Creek Park Reserve, or the Cuyuna Rec Area. Best Minnesota experience: Sitting in my deer stand and watching two otters play in the snow below me. Worst Minnesota experience: Getting lost in the Superior National Forest for about 90 minutes. Advice for the novice fatbiker: Go to your local bike shop, try different models, and decide what fits you best. What’s on your Minnesota bucket list? More camping in the northern part of the state. What would you do with $1,000? I would probably buy more scuba gear. Trail Treat: A good amber or brown ale.
Occupation: Automation Equipment Designer. Seen: Fatbiking at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, Minn. Gear: Trek Farley Fatbike with studded Cake Eater tires. How many miles do you bike per year? Around 2,500. What does being outdoors mean to you? It’s my church, actually. Favorite Minnesota park or trail: I love Lake Rebecca Park Reserve in Rockford. It’s a beautiful park with lakes and forest. Best Minnesota experience: Finally talking my wife into riding and watching her grow into the great rider that she is now. Worst Minnesota experience: Letting a third place finish in the Cuyuna Whiteout go. Advice for the novice fatbiker: You don’t need to buy a new bike, but buy the best clothing you can get. What’s on your Minnesota bucket list? Explore the Great River Road in southern Minnesota. What would you do with $1,000? I’d buy a rooftop tent. Trail Treat: A big tablespoon of ricotta cheese.
Financial Analyst. Seen: Skijoring at Runestone County Park in Kensington, Minn. with his dogs, Bill and Charlie. Gear: Skijoring belt and towline. How many miles do you ski per year? About 20 miles. What does being outdoors mean to you? It’s a chance to mentally shut off and regroup. Favorite Minnesota Park/Trail: This one! Best Minnesota experience: Backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail between Gooseberry Falls State Park and Lutsen. Worst Minnesota experience: Being underdressed for winter camping at Bear Head Lake State Park. Advice for the novice: Bring a phone with you, in case you get injured. What’s on your Minnesota bucket list? I would like to try fat tire biking in the winter sometime. What would you do with $1,000? I’d get a nice, light canoe that I can portage by myself. Trail Treat: It’s usually a good excuse to crack open a beer at two in the afternoon.
Occupation: Retired from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Office. Seen: Hosting the annual birdhouse building event at Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Little Falls, Minn. How many people typically attend this event? We typically get between 100 and 120. What does being outdoors mean to you? I enjoy birdwatching, hiking and cross-country skiing. It’s all so relaxing. Favorite Minnesota Park/Trail? Charles A. Lindbergh State Park. Best Minnesota experience: Seeing unusual birds while birdwatching. Worst Minnesota experience: I’ve fallen while out skiing. Advice for the novice birdwatcher: Check out local birding clubs. What’s on your birding life list? I still haven’t seen a screech owl in Minnesota. What would you do with $1,000? I’d buy a new spotting scope. Trail Treat: Any kind of granola bar.
Minnesota’s M innesota’s P Playground layground VisitBrainerdBaxter.com V isitBrainerdBaxter.com Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 7
WE ALL KNOW THE DRILL. WE’RE KNEE-DEEP IN A MINNESOTA WINTER AND THE DAYTIME HIGHS AREN’T EVEN PRETENDING TO ATTEMPT TO REACH THE ZERO MARK FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR SO. TO SOME, THIS MEANS VENTURING OUTSIDE ONLY FOR THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES, LIKE GOING TO WORK OR STOCKING THE FRIDGE. WHEN OPENING THE FRONT DOOR AND STEPPING OUTSIDE MEANS STARTING THE COUNTDOWN ON YOUR SURVIVAL CLOCK, WE WEIGH OUR LEISURE TIME OPTIONS CAREFULLY. THE NATURAL INSTINCT IS TO STAY INSIDE AND CATCH UP ON NETFLIX SHOWS, BUT DURING A RECENT COLD SPELL, MY WIFE, JEN, AND I DECIDED TO DO WHAT WE KNOW IS BEST FOR US: SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE TO RECHARGE OUR BATTERIES.
Rainbow Resort near Waubun, Minnesota, sits squarely in northwestern Minnesota, within the White Earth Reservation, just 40 miles northeast of Fargo. We arrived just before dark on a stinging cold Friday night, after a drive on a deserted two-lane highway. The lodge building on the northwestern shore of Little Bemidji Lake was glowing with lights in the north woods dusk, and the neon open sign invited us in. It was a quintessential lodge: reddish wood siding, a huge porch, a Grain Belt beer sign on the roof. When we opened the car door to step outside, the air nipped our faces immediately, and we hurried toward safety through the squeaky snow. The main room of the lodge was the nerve center of the resort, with diner seating, some comfy chairs by the fireplace, a merchandise corner, and a little store of miscellaneous items. A menu board behind the counter said the soup of the day was chicken wild rice. Through the bank of huge windows, we could see the far side
of the frozen lake in the distance, ringed by woods that melted into the darkening skies. Close to the resort, a cluster of fish houses broke up the white expanse. Doug Schumann and his daughter, Leah Sand, were waiting for us, and we received a welcome like we had been there a million times and just popped in for another visit. Doug quickly rose from his chair in the makeshift office tucked into a corner behind the hot cocoa bar to offer a handshake. While Jen checked in with Leah, Doug had a phone call from someone in the resort’s rental fish house, and things got serious. A sizeable walleye had just been caught, and photos were on their way. Suddenly, we were in the middle of a fishing conversation and forgot about checking in for a while. And when a guy in a Paul Bunyan plaid shirt tells you a 39-inch Northern was caught in the same spot just the other day, you tend to listen. We decided on the spot to make Saturday a fishing day. Our chalet, a homey, wood-sided three-bedroom cabin with a porch and a bank of windows overlooking the lake, was ready. We spent the rest of the evening making plans for the next couple of days by the glow of the fireplace, but eventually, the long day caught up with us, and the beds were calling. We drifted off to sleep imagining the view from the couch in the morning.
We were up early and spent a couple of hours reading, talking, and sipping coffee while the skies gradually turned brighter. A glance at my weather app confirmed that it was cold as advertised, too many degrees below zero to convince anyone that living here is a good idea. We bundled up and shuffled over to the lodge, where we had breakfast sandwiches, and I splurged on a steaming hot cup of cocoa with a huge marshmallow. Even with overcast skies, Little Bemidji Lake was a blindingly bright spread of white. “It’s gonna be windy today,” Doug said from behind the hot cocoa bar. A look across the lake confirmed his forecast. The far shore was shrouded in great clouds of snow drifting across the ice. Everything was ready to go in the fish house. The heat was on, the minnows were lively, and there was even a bottle of Old Spice on a shelf. Doug introduced us to the Auto Jigger, a marvel of sports engineering that tugs on the line in preset intervals to let the fish know dinner is ready. What’s left to do when even the jigging is done automatically? Play Yahtzee, of course! Very unlike us, we had nothing on the agenda besides fishing and a
Sunrise at cabin 2.
One of the overlooks along the Rainbow Resort ski trails.
The resort fish house sits close to the shore, but appears miles away in a blizzard. 8 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
FINDING MINNESOTA
sauna at the end of the day, and that was the real point of this whole weekend. We played many rounds, heard the ice crack and moan, and listened for the sound of the rattle wheel. I scraped the frost off a corner of one of the fish house windows, but there wasn’t much to see outside. The temperatures dropped and the wind howled, and as usual, the fish had other plans. The evening sauna was the cherry on top of this relaxing day. Sunday morning, the trees across the lake were grayed out by a light but steady snow, and the rising sun did its best to pierce that veil. It was calm early on, but there was more high wind in the forecast, with a few inches of snow. Coupled with below-zero temperatures, it promised to be one of those days that called for a good book and a fireplace. We opted to give skiing a shot before the winds picked up. Why else did we own all of this winter gear? We stopped at the lodge for another hot cocoa, got the scoop on the trails, and were off. Rainbow Resort has its own system of ski trails, which add up to around 18 km. We started our trek on the other side of County Highway 35 at a new but unfinished
building. We later learned it will soon become the new trail center, with warming facilities and a waxing room. On that side of the resort, there’s a 6-km easy loop and a 9-km advanced loop, both with classic tracks and a skate lane, and both marked well. Both loops travel up and down rolling hills, with varying degrees of spiciness, through a mixed forest of birch and spruce. We passed a couple of viewing decks overlooking some tamarack bogs, but we didn’t stop for long. The wind was ridiculous, but for the most part, we were sheltered in the woods. The tracks were almost completely drifted over, but once we found them under the snow, our skis clicked into place, and we glided effortlessly on fresh powder. We were surprisingly comfortable, even in those brutal conditions, but after a two-hour cruise through the woods, we were happy to be back at the lodge, warming up with a wonderful bowl of soup and a brat. The rest of the day was a repeat of Saturday: fishing and sauna. The prize Northern I had on the line broke free and got away, but it didn’t matter. A souvenir stringer of fish would have been nice, but just being out on the ice in a near blizzard was an experience in itself. The gale-force winds tried their best to dislodge our little shanty and send us sailing to the other side of the lake, Rainbow Resort but Lodge at night.
Rainbow Resort Lodge as seen from Little Bemidji Lake.
we stayed put. Maybe it was the magic of the Old Spice bottle. Monday morning, we turned the fireplace on first, then the coffee maker. It was still dark outside, and the world was silent. The wind had been such a constant companion over the last couple of days that it took us a moment to realize it had died down. Coffee in hand, we indulged in the little pleasure of watching the sun rise in silence. It finally made an appearance and brought with it a huge sun dog, amplified by the sparkling ice crystals floating in the still air. It was minus 15 degrees, yet a flock of pine grosbeaks descended, unbothered by the cold, on the branches of the conifer outside our window. Before the sun was fully up, the open sign at the lodge flickered on, and that was our cue to get going and have one last breakfast sandwich. Over yet another hot cocoa, we learned a little of the backstory of the resort. It was founded in 1958 by Al and Gladys Schumann as a rustic hunters’ retreat. The 1970s saw a change in ownership, but the much-expanded resort went back to being family-owned in the 1990s. While we only met Doug and Leah, running the place is a real family affair. It’s an increasingly rare sight in an industry that has seen small outfits gobbled up by international conglomerates or their cabins razed and the land sold to eager real estate companies. Rainbow Resort is not a place where you find champagne on ice in your room or a towel swan on your bed. You will find people who care, a lodge to come home to, where you can swap fish stories, a hot sauna, and a good bowl of homemade soup. You will find Minnesota, and that makes a cold winter bearable.
Passing time in the fish house.
Y ll find pe o care, a lod c e h e , ere can ap fi s r s, a h sauna and a od b l h ema up.
RAINBOW RESORT | LITTLE BEMIDJI LAKE
STORY & PHOTOS BY JAN LASAR
Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 9
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STORY & PHOTOS BY CHRIS PASCONE
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DEEP WINTER CAMPING TAKES GUTS, PATIENCE, AND PERSISTENCE. IT’S YOU AGAINST THE COLD. NUMB FINGERS, CHILLING WINDS, LONG WINTER NIGHTS—ALL OF THESE CAN BREAK YOUR SPIRIT. SIMILARLY, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING IS ANOTHER FEAT OF WINTER WILL-POWER, PROPELLING YOURSELF ON SKINNY SKIS THROUGH AN ARCTIC LANDSCAPE. WHAT IF YOU COMBINED BOTH WINTER CAMPING AND CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, MARRYING LOW-TECH TENTING IN THE DEEP SNOW WITH A GROOMED SKI TRAIL NETWORK RIGHT OUTSIDE THE VESTIBULE? WINTER ENTHUSIASTS LIKE ME LIVE FOR THESE CHALLENGES. ROLL OUT OF YOUR SLEEPING BAG, STRAP ON YOUR SKIS, AND GO!
10 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
When my buddy Brett invited a bunch of us wacky winter folk to his birthday bash on the Gunflint Trail last December, I got to test my hypothesis that winter camping alongside groomed ski trails can be bliss. Here’s how camping at Flour Lake Campground in the Superior National Forest, right alongside the expertly maintained Central Gunflint Ski Trails system, dealt us a royal flush of winter satisfaction. It starts with the right mindset, because embracing problem-solving is key to reaping winter camping’s snowy rewards. Keeping your drinking water from freezing solid, starting the day in ice cold boots, and cooking in the snow are all challenges that require grit and planning. To adapt, keep your water bottles in your sleeping bag overnight to prevent freezing. Take the
soles out of your boots and sleep with them, too. Bring a small shovel to carve a table in your snow-filled kitchen. These tricks are vital, but the biggest aid of all is going with friends. The more people you can gather to support each other and work as a team, the more fun you and everyone else will have. With this in mind, I packed my little car to the gills with skis and poles and waxes, plus a near-endless list of camping gear. I drove from Duluth up to Grand Marais, then turned north up the hilly Gunflint Trail. Twenty-seven miles later, I reached Clearwater Road—the gateway to paradise for winter enthusiasts. I drove around twisty corners, conquered some punchy hills, and finally reached winter dreamland at Flour Lake Campground. It was the last weekend before Christmas, and already the Central Gunflint area had two feet of snow on the ground. Brett had assembled an awesome team of camping friends for his birthday bash. There would be five couples—and me. I was psyched to be camping in a big group: the more minds and hands, the more fun (and warm!) the camp is. Brett did his scouting, and chose Flour Lake Campground for its relatively easy ski-in access from Clearwater Road. The campground access road isn’t plowed in winter, converting instead into a snowmobile trail that leads down to Flour Lake. You won’t be able to drive to the gated campground, but you can ski there. Winter camping is a gear-heavy pursuit, and I knew I would
and chopped a lot of wood to get settled in at camp. While all the couples had hot tents, meaning canvas tents with a woodstove inside, I slept in a cold tent without a woodstove. Temps were forecast to reach the teens below zero overnight, so I had to do some additional work to make myself comfortable. My solution was to bring two sleeping bags and two sleeping pads. On very cold nights like this, I put a down winter bag inside of a synthetic three-season bag. It makes a nice, warm cocoon, using just my body heat. Wrapped up like this, I sleep on an inflatable down mattress over a closed-cell foam mattress, doubling up to block the cold radiating from the ground. Camping in a group makes a huge difference in keeping spirits high in the cold, and the camaraderie around the campfire that evening was rich. We told stories and laughed as we celebrated Brett with toasts from our ice-cold glasses. The temperature kept dropping as we devoured Brett’s chicken wild rice soup and, because taking in extra calories is part of my winter camping adaptation, I ate four bowls. The next day we woke up to skiing bliss. The dream of taking off right outside the vestibule door came true: The groomed classic track was literally 10 feet away from our tent village. It was a green wax morning, and a blue wax afternoon, as temps climbed up to 20 degrees by midday. The ski tracks were immaculate, and it felt like they could take us anywhere we wanted
to go. All directions were possible. need to bring in my equipment on a pulk. Pulks are cargo sleds The groomed Old Logging Camp Trail took us along Flour that connect to your waist with poles attached to a harness, alLake to the Cabin Loop, Red Pine and Cross Fox Trails. Even lowing you to wear the harness and drag the sled behind you after skiing all of these trails, we had covered just a tiny portion while skiing or walking. It’s the best human-powered way to of all the options in the Central Gunflint system. There were transport a heavy load over deep snow. beautiful “mountain” views from the lean-to on the Moose Ridge It was only a 10-minute haul by ski to the campground. Trail, then I skied into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area WilderWhen I arrived, the beauty of Brett’s plan hit me. The campness on Old Logging Camp Trail. The mood was sunny and high ground loops had been transformed into a cross-country skiing all day, and all my thoughts were of the beauty of winter explorafantasyland by the folks at Golden Eagle Lodge, which is just tion. east of the campground. They, along with their teammates at Returning to our tent village on groomed trails was a Bearskin Lodge, groom over 70 km of trails in the Central unique Minnesota experience. I quickly fried up a shore lunch Gunflint Ski Trails system with top-of-the-line Pisten of fish from my freezer—still frozen—in a sizzling cast iron pan Bully groomers for both classic and skate skiing. It’s over an open fire to feed the crowd after a long day on the trails. Minnesota’s premier cross-country ski trail system. The cheer between friends, the expertly groomed trails, and even Golden Eagle Lodge is also the Superior Nathe dinner I managed not to burn made this ski camping experitional Forest concessionaire that runs the 37-site ment a success. Flour Lake Campground in summer. It’s a rustic Gliding down perfect tracks, hanging with friends around campground, even in the warm months, but the winter campfire, and drinking hot tea around the clock are come winter, it’s truly self-serve. Once they some of the rewards you can only get in the deep snow. The key shut the water off in late fall, you don’t need a camping permit. You just show up is to embrace snow’s unique properties, which make it perfect IF for digging in to a cozy camp, and harnessing it for winter transand camp for free. There are fire grates YOU and clean pit toilets in this beautifully portation. Sure, winter camping takes practice, but if you want to learn to camp and ski, you can’t do better than the humanlaid out campground, but you’ll GO need to pack in your water supply, sculpted dreamland of the Central Gunflint Ski Trails system. It’s all the infrastructure you need to turn the hardship of winter or be prepared to drill a hole Gunflint Trail Ski Pass camping into kick-and-glide perfection, and seeing the groomer’s through the ice of Flour Lake. is available at Golden handiwork outside your tent is great for morale after a cold We pitched our tents, Eagle Lodge and night. made a communal fire, Bearskin Lodge. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: “Hot tent” village at Flour Lake Campground. Each tent uses a small, portable woodstove inside for heat. • Check with both Old Logging Camp Trail, groomed to perfection along Flour Lake, in the Central Gunflint Ski Trails system. • Winter camping takes a businesses for other lot of calories! Cooking breakfast treats on an open fire gets the day started right. • Midday temps climbed to 20 degrees. • The lodging options if winter lean-to at the top of the Moose Ridge Trail has romantic views towards the Canadian border. camping isn’t for you. Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 11
12 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
2026/27
Northeast:
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
OFFERS DEEP SNOWS
MINNESOTA
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
Ski Trail Guide Sources: Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Nordic Ski Association, Skinnyski and individual trails. Before traveling to a ski venue check local trail conditions.
Headframe and buildings of the Pioneer Mine along the Trezona Trail in Ely, Minn. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR
Find moreinfo infoand andmaps mapsat at www.mntrails.com/ski-trails www.mntrails.com/ski-trails Find more
Along the North Shore of Lake Superior, throughout the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and into the Chippewa National Forest, northeastern Minnesota offers some of the biggest snowfalls in the state and many well-groomed trail systems. Brimson | Mother Bear Ski Trail 10km - Classic ski trail through jack pine forests, black spruce swamps and over glacial eskers, with lots of wildlife viewing opportunities. MN Ski Pass required.
Carlton | Jay Cooke State Park 51km - Beginner to advanced with a wide variety of trails, some along the St. Louis River. Warming shelter with a woodstove and bathrooms is open seven days a week. MN Ski Pass required.
Cloquet | Pine Valley Ski Trails 10km - Intermediate to advanced, groomed for skate and classic skiing. Challenging, with difficult climbs, but also gradual, rolling sections. Adjacent to the Cloquet hockey arena. 2.5km lighted trail. Part of a trail system with mountain bike trails groomed for fat bikes in the winter.
IT'S A MINNESOTA CYCLING ADVENTURE UNLIKE ANYWHERE ELSE. But don't take our word for it. Come see for yourself.
MesabiTrail.com
IronRange.org
Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 13
Northeast
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
Coleraine | Itasca Trails (Mount Itasca) 10km - Beginner to expert, groomed for skate and classic skiing on flat to very hilly terrain. Heated chalet available. MN Ski Pass required on west public trails. Additional fee for east biathlon course with snowmaking.
• Wood Loop - 10km - The Wood Loop is actually three separate trails. The Pines on the west side and the Figure 8 Loop on the east, each with their own parking lot, are connected by The Aspens trail. The system offers moderate skiing through a mix of young and mature stands of aspen, ash, pine, and spruce and offer two long, sloping downhills. A shelter on Beatty Hill offers a view of Cook and the surrounding area.
Cohasset Area • Minnesota Power/Blackwater Trails 5km - Beginner trails groomed for skate and classic skiing in a wooded area along the banks of the Mississippi River. Lighted. MN Ski Pass required. • Portage Park 4.5km - Beginner classic trails near the Mississippi River travel through the scenic, wooded Bass Brook Wildlife Management Area. A scenic overlook provides a wonderful river panorama. MN Ski Pass required. Cook | Ashawa Nordic Ski Trails 14km - The Ashawa Trail Ski Club maintains about 14km north of Cook. Trails are set for classic ski only and accessible from three separate trailheads. • Sunset Loop - 4.3km - Located 9 miles north of Cook on County Road 24, 1/2 mile north of Raps Road. Look for the parking lot on the west side of the road. Sunset Loop offers moderate to advanced trails, and hills with view of Sunset Lake make for exciting skiing on diverse terrain.
Deer River Area • Blueberry Hills Trail 10km - Beginner to expert with many loops, 5 miles northeast of Deer River. Heated chalet available. MN Ski Pass required. • Amen Lake Trail 5.5km - 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 near Marcell. MN Ski Pass required. Duluth Area: The greater Duluth area offers abundant cross-country, downhill, and skate skiing, and you’re never far from town. • Bagley Nature Area 2.7km - Two intermediate, classic loops on the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus. • Biskey Ponds Trails 12km - Beginner to advanced classic ski trails through a scenic landscape with a near-wilderness feel, just north of Fish Lake Reservoir. Five distinct loops.
2026/27 • Boulder Lake 23km - Beginner to advanced, 11km of skate ski. Groomed regularly for classic and skate ski, very well maintained by Minnesota Power. • Chester Bowl Park 3km -Intermediate to advanced crosscountry ski trails and downhill skiing. Chalet and ski rentals available. MN Ski Pass required. • Hartley Park 5km - Beginner to intermediate with some gentle slopes. Classic only. Equipment rentals available. Home to Hartley Nature Center. MN Ski Pass required. • Korkki Nordic Ski Center 11km - Intermediate to advanced single track classic trails, groomed daily. Steep hills, designed for racing. MN Ski Pass required. • Lester-Amity Trail 15km - Beginner to advanced trail of varied terrain through pine, aspen and birch forests. Additional 3km circles the former Lester Park Golf Course and 5km trail lit mornings and evenings. Chalet available. MN Ski Pass required. • Magney-Snively Park 14km - Intermediate to advanced, beautiful hardwood forest with large hills. A rugged trail not recommended for beginners. • Piedmont Trail 5km - Beginner to intermediate trail through aspen, birch and hardwood forest. Beautiful overlook of St. Louis River Valley. MN Ski Pass required. • 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. • Spirit Mountain 24.5km - Spirit Mountain has two crosscountry ski areas for all skill levels. The upper trail system consists of 22km of beautifully wooded trails. The Grand Ave. Nordic Center on the bottom of the hill currently has 2.5km of Nordic trail, 1.5km of which has snowmaking. All trails are groomed daily, and the Grand Ave. Chalet offers rentals, lessons and a restaurant. Ely Area • Bear Head Lake State Park 11km - Beginner trails through boreal forest circling Norberg Lake, groomed for classic skiing. Trail Center with toilets, water and warming house. MN Ski Pass required. • Hidden Valley Trails 25km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate trails. Rolling to hilly terrain, through birch and pine stands. Connects to Trezona Ski Trail. MN Ski Pass required. • 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. Connects to Hidden Valley Trails. Goodland | Big Ridge Trail 10km - Intermediate, groomed, classic ski trail near Goodland, about 23 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. Ski rolling hills through hardwood, evergreens and young aspen. MN Ski Pass required.
14 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
2026/27 Grand Marais Area • Bally Creek Trails 20km - A series of short to medium length, easy to intermediate loops in the Superior National Forest. A long connector trail to Cascade River State Park is groomed when conditions allow. MN Ski Pass required. • Pincushion Mountain Trails 25km - Beginner to advanced, well designed classic and skate trail two miles north of Grand Marais with beautiful Lake Superior views and separate snowshoe trail. 1.6km lighted trail. MN Ski Pass required. • George Washington Pines Winter Recreation Trail 3km - Groomed for classic and skate skiing. Skijorers and walkers may use the skate ski lane. Just six miles north of Grand Marais along the Gunflint Trail in the George Washington Memorial Forest. • 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 27km Banadad Trail via Poplar Creek and Lace Lake trails. Lighted sections at Bearskin and Golden Eagle Lodges. Grooming is shared by local lodges, so skiers need to purchase a trail pass. • Banadad Trail 27km - The longest tracked ski trail through the BWCAW is a true wilderness experience, but it also connects two major ski trail systems, the Central and Upper Gunflint Ski Trails. Eastern end: connects to the Lace Lake Trail (5km), the Tim Knopp Trail (3km) and Tall Pines Trail (3km). Lace Lake Trail provides access to the Poplar Creek Trail and the Central Gunflint Trail system. Park about 30 miles up the Gunflint Trail, from Grand Marais, just off Little Ollie Road. Western end: Parking off County Road 12, at Fire No. 10045, about 10 miles from the eastern trailhead. No direct connection to the Upper Gunflint Ski Trail system, about a mile away. MN Ski Pass and Boundary Waters permits needed. • Upper Gunflint Ski Trail System 70km - All levels, 45 miles north of Grand Marais. Mostly classic trails with some skate skiing. Grooming is done by local lodges; skiers need a trail pass. Access to Banadad Trail (27km) is nearby, but no direct connection exists.
Northeast • Legion Park Trail 4km - Intermediate trail, groomed for both classic and skate skiing near Grand Rapids High School. 3km lit. MN Ski Pass required. • Sugar Hills 28km - Intermediate to expert trail, groomed for both classic and skate skiing on hilly terrain through hardwood forest. Thunder Mountain provides excellent panoramic views. MN Ski Pass required. • Sylvan Point Trail 6km - Beginner classic trail. Connects Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital to Forest History Center. • Wabana Trail 10km - Intermediate, classic trail, winds through scenic, rolling hills. MN Ski Pass required. Iron Range Area • Biwabik | Giants Ridge 63km - Skiers of all skill levels can enjoy these well-groomed trails in the Superior National Forest, originally designed for training the US Ski Team. 3km are lit for Nordic skiing at night. The Dratrail system also accommodates fat tire bikes. Both fatbike riders and downhill skiers can access select runs via a high-speed chairlift.
• Hibbing | Carey Lake 24km - 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. 3.8km Black Forest loop is lit from 5-10 pm daily. • Hoyt Lakes | Bird Lake Trail 19km - Beginner to advanced trail over birch and aspen hills with views of Bird and Lillian Lakes. One-way trail with some loops. • Side Lake | McCarthy Beach State Park 8km - Intermediate to expert trails, groomed for classic skiing. The two ski trails at the park, Big Hole Trail and Red Top Trail, are two interconnected loops through pine, birch, spruce and aspen. Both have challenging sections because of the park’s rolling hills and valleys which were formed by glaciers. MN Ski Pass required. • Side Lake | Sturgeon River Trail 35km - Excellent beginner trail for classic skiing in the Superior National Forest. Long stretches of solitary trails with scenic views of Sturgeon River. Jean Lake loop has an Adirondack shelter. Groomed occasionally. • Virginia | Big Aspen Recreation Area 33km - Beginner to intermediate classic trail with shelters and a beautiful overlook on old logging roads and abandoned railroad grades of the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Co.
Find more information at www.mntrails.com/ski-trails
Grand Rapids Area • Alder Pond Trail 10km - Beginner, groomed classic ski trail through aspen and coniferous forest. MN Ski Pass required. • Cowhorn Lake Trail 8km - Intermediate, classic ski trail with rolling hills through old growth aspen forest. Intersects Boomer-Blue Trail. MN Ski Pass required. • Boomer-Blue Trail 7km - Beginner, classic ski trail, doubletracked with snowshoe lane. Dogs are allowed. Intersects Cowhorn loop. MN Ski Pass required. • River Road Trail 3km - Intermediate, classic ski trail with rolling hills through majestic pines. MN Ski Pass required. • Forest History Center 4km - Beginner, classic ski trail through 1900s logging camp and virgin timber forest. MN Ski Pass required on one main trail. Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 15
Northeast
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
Hinckley | St. Croix State Park 17km - Groomed, classic ski trail with many loops for all skill levels. A warming house with fireplaces is available. MN Ski Pass required.
• Trout Lake 17.7km - Easy classic ski trail through the Chippewa National Forest. Three miles from historic Joyce Estate, a National Historic Site.
International Falls Area
Mora Area
• Manka Trail 2km - Lighted beginner trail, groomed for skate and classic, in the woods behind the Elementary School.
• Vasaloppet Nordic Center Trails 13km - Classic and skate ski trails and 5km lit trails start and end at Vasaloppet Nordic Ski Center which offers waxing room, showers, sauna, and is open daily throughout the season.
• Tilson Creek Ski Trail 20km - Intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails in the Koochiching State Forest. MN Ski Pass required. • Voyageurs National Park 53km - This national park has three trail systems: Black Bay Trails, three loops totaling 13km. A 1km trail connects to Tilson Creek Trails. Access at Rainy Lake Visitor Center via Rainy Lake Ice Road. Echo Bay Trail, a 4km loop. Access through Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center. Kab-Ash Trail, a 35km system. Access near Ash River Visitor Center. Isabella | Flathorn-Gegoka Trails 30km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, single tracked in the Superior National Forest near Isabella. Some paths on old logging roads. MN Ski Pass required. Marcell Area • Suomi Hills 35km - Intermediate to expert groomed ski trail on rolling hills through the Chippewa National Forest. Connects with Amen Lake Trail.
• Warman Public Ski Area (Northern Practice Loop) 7.6km - Appropriate for beginners, mostly flat with some rolling hills. Groomed at least weekly during the ski season for both skate and classic. Remote and primitive, but a lovely place to ski about 12 miles north of Mora. 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 Area • 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.
2026/27 • Northwoods Ski Trail 28km - Intermediate, groomed singletrack classic trail through an intimate wooded setting, following the contours of rolling hills. Trail travels past Bean and Bear Lakes. A connector trail to Tettegouche State Park is groomed when conditions allow. Trailhead is on the west edge of Silver Bay, past the Superior Hiking Trail trailhead on Penn Boulevard/County Road 11. Access is on the right at Beaver River. Tofte/Lutsen Area: The area between Schroeder and Cascade River State Park is home to three individual trail systems, forming a huge network stretching up Minnesota’s North Shore. • Sugarbush Trail System 65km - Extensive trail network for all skill levels. Groomed for both classic and skate skiing with spectacular views of Lake Superior. Some trails allow skijoring. Clubhouse trailhead offers ski rentals. Parking at Britton Peak, Onion River Road and Moose Fence trailheads. MN Ski Pass required. • Norpine Trail System 58km - Groomed for both classic and skate ski with resorts along the way. Includes the Massie and Hall loops and Deer Yard Lake and Cascade River trails. Connects to trails inside Cascade River State Park to the east. Some trails are groomed for fatbiking. MN Ski Pass required. • Cascade River State Park 27km - Beginner to advanced, classic, single-tracked, groomed weekly. Heavily forested trails along Cascade River and several small creeks. Spot moose and wolves down the river valley from Lookout Mountain. Wood-heated warming house available. Connects with Cascade trail system to the west and Bally Creek Trails to the east. MN Ski Pass required. Tower | Howard Wagoner Trail 11.5km - Four distinct loops. Beginner to intermediate trails through pine forest, groomed for classic ski only.1.3km lighted loop. The main trail system has some steep hills. The north trailhead is at the intersection of Enterprise Drive and County Road 135. Skiers can connect to the main system from here via a one-way trail or park at the south lot about a mile south on County Road 135. MN Ski Pass required. Two Harbors Area • Donald D. Ferguson Demonstration Forest 11km - Easy beginner trails through boreal woods in the Superior National Forest, that are groomed flat and allow snowshoeing, skiing and fatbiking. Trail system is set to expand, with the ultimate goal of 15-20 miles.
WANDER AND WONDER at the quiet magic of the forests and the ever-changing moods of Lake Superior. Take a journey by Nordic ski, snowshoe, or fat-tire bike: the trails are groomed and ready.
16 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
• Erkki Harju Ski Trail 10.5km - Intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trail through scenic city forest. 3km lit until 10 pm daily. Adjacent, groomed multi-use trails allow walking and fatbiking. MN Ski Pass required. • 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.
2026/27
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
Northwest:
PLENTY OF CHOICES
From the edge of Lake of the Woods to the headwaters of the Mississippi, northwestern Minnesota offers the widest variety of cross-country ski trails in the state. Bemidji Area • Buena Vista Ski Area 25km - Mostly advanced loops through woods. Family resort since 1949 with downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, sleigh rides, replica logging village, large lodge, kitchen and shops. MN Ski Pass required. • C.V. Hobson Forest Trail 7km - Beginner, groomed for classic. Red and white pine and tamarack bog along Lake Lyra. MN Ski Pass required. • Fern Lake Trail 7km - Intermediate to advanced, groomed classic ski trail. MN Ski Pass required. • High School Trail (Lumberjack Trail) 6.5km - Easy beginner trail, groomed classic and skate. MN Ski Pass required. • Lake Bemidji State Park 13km - Beginner to advanced, four loops, groomed double classic near Lake Bemidji. Warming shelter is in the lower level of the visitor center. MN Ski Pass required. • Montebello Trail 4km - Gentle beginner course in the city of Bemidji with 2km of lighted trail. MN Ski Pass required. • Movil Maze 14km - Intermediate to advanced, classic and skate. Steep and rolling hills through black spruce bog, red pines and hardwoods. Used by local racers for training. MN Ski Pass required. • Three Island Park 25km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic and skate with beautiful views of Three Island Lake and Turtle River. MN Ski Pass required.
Bemidji’s Fern Lake Trail is a true Northwoods experience. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR • Mountain View Recreation Area 4.9km - All levels, both classic and skate skiing on wide, regularly groomed trails through hardwood forest. • Pickerel Lake Ski Trails 6km - Narrow singletrack trails through hardwood forests. Groomed occasionally.
Erskine | Rydell National Wildlife Refuge 2.5km - Relatively flat with rolling hills, groomed for classic skiing. The refuge grooms the Golden Pond Trail, but will occasionally groom the Round Lake Trail as well. No MN Ski Pass required.
Callaway | Maplelag Resort 90km - All levels, many well-groomed loops through maple forest with rolling hills. Mostly classic trails with some skate ski, as well as snowshoe and fatbike trails. Privately owned cross-country ski resort with lessons, rentals and a sauna. A user fee applies. Detroit Lakes Area • Detroit Mountain 9.75km - Beginner to advanced ski trails ranging from skate and classic (5.75km) to classic only (4km). Trails connect to Mountain View Rec Area. Detroit Mountain’s lodge has bathrooms, changing rooms and a restaurant with a fireplace, and offers equipment rentals. Detroit Mountain also offers snowshoe trails, and some portions of the ski trails may be groomed for fat bikes when conditions allow. This popular ski destination also offers lift-served downhill runs for skiers and snowboarders, as well as snow tubing. • Dunton Locks County Park 6.1km - Beginner with some hills, west of Detroit Lakes, groomed classic all levels. • East Frazee Ski Trails 8km - Groomed beginner cross-country trails on the Ike Fischer Farm, just southeast of the Frazee golf course. This ski area on private property is open to the public. Two trailheads on County Road 118 provide access from the south near Albertson, Fischer and Murphy Lakes. Another trailhead on County Road 150 is the northern access point. Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 17
Northwest
2026/27
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
Moorhead | M.B. Johnson Park 4km - Scenic trails through woods and along the Red River of the North. Ski/snowshoe rentals available weekends, December through February. Other ski trails available at Gooseberry Mound Park and Viking Ship Park, which has some lit trails. Outing | Washburn Lake Solitude Area 22.4km - Beginner to advanced trail in the Land O’Lakes State Forest with a trail shelter. Park Rapids Area
Some of the trails at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge near Rochert travel around Pine Lake. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR
Fertile | Agassiz Environmental Learning Center 18km - Groomed ski trails traverse forests, oak savannas, prairies and sand dunes. Classical groomed trails from flat riverside and woodland paths to rolling and steeper slopes in the Fertile Sand Hills. A trail fee for non-Agassiz ELC members applies. MN Ski Pass not required. Ski and snowshoe rentals available when the Nature Center is open. Hackensack Area • Deep Portage Ski Trails 18km - Beginner to advanced classic trails through rolling hills. Located in the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve. Interpretive Center open all week, including weekends.
• Hiram Ski Trail 8km - Beginner to advanced classic trail loops inside the Foot Hills State Forest, just west of Tenmile Lake. Only about 1.5km of this system is rated advanced and can be avoided. If you travel the westernmost loop in a counterclockwise fashion, you can take advantage of a long, swooping downhill after passing the trail shelter. MN Ski Pass required. Longville | Goose Lake Ski Trail 17.3km - Beginner to intermediate classic trails through woods, over gently rolling hills and around wetlands. MN Ski Pass required.
• Itasca State Park 20km - Beginner to advanced, groomed with many loops. Ski to the headwaters of the Mississippi River among towering white pines on easy rolling hills. Visitor center with fireplace is open year-round. MN Ski Pass required. • Soaring Eagle Trail 10km - Beginner to advanced trails that wind through a varied forest ranging from baby aspen to mature balsam and pine with rolling hills. Skate and classic. Warming house available. MN Ski Pass required. Rochert | Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge 13km - Two loops exist at the refuge—the Tamarack Lake Loop (3km) and the Pine Lake Loop (9km). Ski through a mix of hardwood and coniferous forests as well as wetlands. Groomed occasionally. Visitor center has regular hours year-round. Thief River Falls Area • Golf Course Trails 5km - Beginner classic trail on undulating golf course grounds on the northern edge of town. Depending on ice conditions, a 3km ski on the Thief River can take you to the Northland Trails. • Greenwood Trails 3km - Beginner classic ski trails that wind through a wooded setting along the Red Lake River. • Northland Trails 2km - Beginner classic ski trails that wind through a wooded setting along the Thief River adjacent to Northland College. Depending on ice conditions, a 3 km ski on the Thief River can take you to the Golf Course Trails. Walker | Shingobee Recreation Area 9km - Beginner to expert trails on the slopes of the Shingobee River Valley. Groomed for classic and skate skiing. A warming chalet is available on weekends. Waubun | Rainbow Resort 23 km - Enjoy groomed trails winding through the big woods, offering both classic and skate skiing with convenient ski-in, ski-out access from lakeside lodging. The terrain spans easy, level stretches for newcomers and fast, twisting sections for advanced skiers. On-site amenities include a heated waxing room, a sauna, a recreation center and a lodge serving hot meals and beverages.
Find more information at www.mntrails.com/ ski-trails 18 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
2026/27
Central:
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
A VARIETY OF TRAILS
The state parks, forests, wetlands and private resorts in the heart of the state offer a ski experience ranging from remote to all-inclusive. Aitkin Area • No Achen Trail 9km - Beginner to advanced, groomed classic and skate trails through rustic forest. MN Ski Pass required. •
Vispo Ski Trail 3.5km - Four interconnected classic loops with a sledding hill about 13 miles southeast of Aitkin. MN Ski Pass required.
Alexandria | Lake Brophy County Park 5km - Intermediate, groomed skate ski trails (no classic tracks) that climb and descend through the hills of the park. Catch great views of Alexandria and the surrounding chain of lakes. Be aware that the park terrain consists of open prairie hills, so wind chill can be a factor. Expect lots of traffic on the trails in this very popular park. 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, camper cabins. Ski and snowshoe rentals. MN Ski Pass required. Becker Area • Pebble Creek Golf Club 7km - Two distinct loops of flat and open trails on a golf course, rated beginner to intermediate. Nordic and skate ski trails are side by side. Flat groomed area is also open to walking, snowshoeing and fatbiking. The east (4.4km) and west (2.6km) are separated by Sherburne Ave. SE, but connected via a tunnel under the road. Park at Becker Community Center or Pebble Creek Golf Club. Clubhouse restaurant and restrooms are accessible during business hours. Weather permitting, trails are groomed twice a week. No MN Ski Pass required. • Oak Savanna Park 3.8km - The trails at this park are rated beginner to intermediate and consist of a couple of very small loops and one large, main loop. The landscape is a mix of woods and prairie with flat areas and a few long hills. Trails are groomed flat with track set in the middle. The flat groomed area is open to walking, snowshoeing and fatbiking. This system connects to trails at Becker City Park, adjacent to Oak Savanna. Park at the Sherburne County History Center, where bathrooms are available during open hours. Weather permitting, trails are groomed twice a week. No MN Ski Pass required.
Brainerd Area • French Rapids 9.5km - Expert only. Well-groomed and challenging trails in glaciated area with great views of Mississippi River Valley. MN Ski Pass required. • Northland Arboretum 12km - Beginner to intermediate, classic and skate ski with nearly 5km lighted trail. A trail fee applies. • Pine Beach Trails 30km - Mostly beginner to intermediate with some advanced loops. Varied terrain through pine and hardwood forest around several scenic lakes. Trail links Kavanaugh’s, Madden’s and Cragun’s resorts. Ski rentals at Cragun’s. 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. The park has a rustic warming shelter with a wood burning stove. MN Ski Pass required. Clearwater | Warner Lake County Park 6km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic through woods with some challenging hills. 41-acre site surrounding Warner Lake.
Collegeville | Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum 16km - Beginner to advanced skate and classic loops through the wooded hills of the Saint John’s University campus. Stone Gate Loop (4.6km) and the Old Saint Joe Road (1.5km out and back) are classic only. Langlauf (0.7km) and Zicke-Zacke (1.8km) are skate only. The rest of the system is both side by side. One notable feature is one hill on the Pine Knob Trail loop. Nicknamed “Misere Nobis” (Latin for “Have mercy on us”). It presents a 100-foot climb over a short distance. Trails are free and open to the public. Cross Lake | Nordic Ridge Trail 22km - Easy to advanced series of interconnected loops starting at the Crosslake Community Center. Deerwood | Larson Lake Ski Trails 11.6km - Intermediate to advanced skate and classic in varied terrain with a mix of hardwood and mature pines. Passes by Larson Lake. 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.
Find more information at www.mntrails.com/ski-trails
MORE.
• Becker City Park 4.4km - Rated intermediate, these trails, made up of three loops, travel through a dense oak forest with a few steep hills. Trails are groomed flat with track set in the middle. Flat groomed area is open to walking, snowshoeing and fatbiking. This system connects to trails at Oak Savanna Park, adjacent to Becker City Park. Park in the lot just off Highway 23, north of Becker. Porta potties are available. Weather permitting, trails are groomed twice a week. No MN Ski Pass required. • Other Sherburne County multi-use trails suitable for skate skiing (no tracks) are located at Island View Regional Park in Clear Lake and Grams Regional Park in Zimmerman.
WillmarLakesArea.com | 320-235-3552 Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 19
Central
2026/27
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
Erhard | Spidahl’s Ski Gaard 24km - All levels. Groomed classic and skate through 340 acres of hardwoods and prairie near Maplewood State Park. Privately owned. Fee applies. Ironton | Wolf Lake Ski Trail 9km - Beginner to advanced, groomed classic with challenging hills through hardwood forest and mature pine. Shelter along trail, maps at intersections. Kensington Area • 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. A fee applies. • Kensington Rune Stone Park 12km - Intermediate loops around several lakes at Kensington Rune Stone Park, groomed for classic skiing. The Visitor Center with restrooms is open as a warming house daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. This park also has groomed fatbike trails that can be snowshoed. MN Ski Pass required. Little Falls | Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge 5.6km - Beginner trail, groomed with two parallel tracks and gentle hills. Trail follows Platte River, skirts several wetlands, winds through mixed hardwoods and crosses fields restored with prairie grasses. Waterfowl observation deck along trail overlooks Skunk Lake.
Ski trails at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa travel around the grounds of the resort. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR
McGregor Area
Milaca | Milaca Trails 8km - City of Milaca trails are groomed singletrack. Park at Recreation Park and take the pedestrian bridge over the Rum River to access the trails.
• Remote Lake Trail 19km - Beginner to intermediate classic ski trail within Savanna State Forest offers a wilderness-like experience. Connects to Savanna Portage State Park trails. MN Ski Pass required. • Savanna Portage State Park 16km - Beginner to intermediate groomed classic tracks on rolling hills throughout the park. Connects with Remote Lake Trail near Loon Lake. This connector trail has some steep sections.
Miltona | Spruce Hill Park 5km - 97-acre park with gentle wooded hills through tamarack. 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.
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SKI TRAIL GUIDE
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Nisswa | Grand View Lodge 8km - All levels over three loops, groomed for classic through 360 acres of pines, prairie and wetland at The Pines golf course. 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 5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic ski trails through rustic forest. The conservation center building is open weekdays during business hours. 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. Pierz | Golf Course Trail 4km - Two easy loops on the grounds of the municipal golf course. Pine River | Cut Lake Trail 16.5km - Beginner to advanced skiing around Deer and Cut Lakes. MN Ski Pass required. Rice | Mississippi River County Park 6km - All beginner trails, groomed for classic skiing right along the Mississippi River. Saint Cloud Area • Graystone Trails 17km - Beginner to intermediate with a few challenging hills. Many loops through scenic woods, pastures and apple orchards. Maintained by the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota. MN Ski Pass required.
The trails at Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center in Spicer offer a ski trip through dense woods and open prairie. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR Waite Park | Quarry Park and Nature Preserve 6.3km - Beginner to intermediate with a skating loop and classic loops. Ski past granite quarries and rock piles on lighted trails. The well-marked trail system has separate trails for skiing, hiking and fatbiking. A 323-acre State Scientific and Natural Area within the park offers an additional 5km of ungroomed, rustic trail. Quarry Park parking pass required.
Zimmerman | Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge 5km - Mahnomen Trail inside the refuge consists of several easy loops and is groomed when conditions allow. Trails are shared with hikers and snowshoers. Parking lot with vault toilet. Located off of Sherburne County Road 9, about 1.5 miles west of County Road 42.
Willmar | Swan Lake Ski Trails 5km - Groomed, classic and skate trails for beginners on Eagle Creek Golf Club. Restaurant and bathrooms available during business hours. MN Ski Pass required.
• Riverside Park 2.5km - Beginner to intermediate trails with flat to rolling hills along the Mississippi River near downtown Saint 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 3.25km - Groomed classic and skate ski trails next to the Sauk River. Rated easy to moderate with cutoffs to avoid the few hills. Spicer | Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center 10km - Beginner to advanced, groomed classic and skate. Trails within 500-acre environmental learning center campus with woodland and prairie scenery and abundant wildlife. Rentals available. MN Ski Pass required. Wadena | Black’s Grove 14km - Beginner to advanced, classic ski trails that wind through a wooded setting.
Find more information at www.mntrails.com/ ski-trails Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 21
Metro:
URBAN TRAILS WONDERLAND
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
2026/27
The many communities that make up the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul provide an extensive network of well-groomed cross-country ski trails. Many regional parks make snow and offer skiing whether it actually snows or not. Twin Cities area ski clubs meet regularly for fun, training and competition. Annandale | Stanley Eddy Regional Park-South 5km - Scenic, rolling hills, lakes and marshes in a densely wooded area. Trail is groomed for skate and classic skiing. Stanley Eddy Regional Park is made up of three distinct parcels with separate entrances. MN Ski Pass required. Anoka Area • Green Haven Golf Course 5km - Skate and classic trails through rolling golf course hills and trees. The golf course building and restrooms are open during regular business hours. • Anoka Nature Preserve 5km - Flat, easy loops through oak stands and open areas. Trail is groomed flat and open to walking, fat tire bikes and skate skiing. A good trail for the novice. Bloomington | Hyland Lake Park Reserve 15km - Intermediate to expert, groomed classic and skate trails over rolling hills and prairie. 8km lighted trail and 5km trail with snowmaking. The Ski Chalet serves as a warming house and offers ski rentals. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required. Burnsville Area • Alimagnet Park 6km - Short and flat beginner trails. All trails are multi-use and allow walking, snowshoeing, and skijoring. • Terrace Oaks West Park 10.9km - Beginner to expert, groomed classic ski trails through heavily wooded, hilly areas. Chalet available as a warming house on weekends. Cambridge Area • Spirit River Nature Area 5-8km - Beginner classic and skate trails through prairie, deciduous forest and wetlands. • Springvale County Park 4km - Classic ski trails on gently rolling hills through open fields and hardwood forests within a 200-acre park. There are also 3.5 miles of fatbike and 1 mile of walking trail. • Becklin Homestead Park 4.8km - Classic ski trails for beginners in a 294-acre park on the Rum River with mixed oak forest, prairie, wetlands and old-growth pines. Ski trails are side by side with packed walking trails. Chanhassen | Lake Minnewashta Regional Park 8km - Classic trails through a 340-acre park on Lake Minnewashta. Ski rentals available. Chaska | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum 13km - Six loops of classic-only ski trails through the 1,200-acre arboretum grounds. Snowshoeing trails are also available. Oswald Visitor Center has rentals, restrooms, snowshoe rentals and a gift store. The Arboretum Café is open all week. Cokato | Collinwood Regional Park 5.8km - Intermediate, groomed classic trail on open fields with some wooded areas. Coon Rapids Area • Bunker Hills Regional Park 20km - Intermediate trail loops on flat to slightly hilly terrain. Rental skis available. Warm up inside the Bunker Hills Activities Center on weekdays. MN Ski Pass required. • Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park 8km - Beginner to intermediate trails on relatively flat terrain along the Mississippi River. Rentals available at Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center on weekends. MN Ski Pass required. 22 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
Cottage Grove | Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park 8km - Intermediate to advanced skate and classic trails with some steep slopes and heavily wooded ravines. An additional 9km of trails are multi-use and open to winter biking, snowshoeing, walking and skijoring. Washington County Ski Pass required. Dalbo | Dalbo County Park 1.6km - Classic ski trails in a 40-acre park with stands of white pine. Four sections of boardwalk complete a loop around wetlands. Ski trails are side by side with packed walking trails. Eagan | Lebanon Hills Regional Park 29km - Beginner to advanced trails, groomed for classic skiing. Trails wind through the hilly, wooded countryside and around scenic lakes and ponds. This large park is split into a western section with 3.8km skate and 6.6km classic skiing and an eastern section with 19km classic only. Ski rentals available. Dakota County Ski Pass required. Eden Prairie | Staring Lake Park 4km - Classic trail on the south side of Staring Lake. Warming house with bathrooms is available when the adjacent sledding hill is open. Farmington | Whitetail Woods Regional Park 9km - Intermediate classic trails around Empire Lake. Connects to Lone Rock Trail in Rosemount. Dakota County Ski Pass required. Hastings Area • Afton State Park 19km - A variety of groomed classic loops with trail shelters overlooking the St. Croix River near Afton Alps Ski Resort. Heated visitor center has parking and bathrooms. The park also has snowshoe trails. MN Ski Pass required. • Spring Lake Park Reserve 8km - Beginner to advanced, groomed classic (5.4km) and skate (2.6km) ski trails. Dakota County Ski Pass required. • St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park 10.5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed trails on the wild and scenic St. Croix River. The east and south loops offer a combined 10km of double-tracked classic skiing, while the west loop has 2.5km of side-by-side skate and classic single track. Washington County Ski Pass required. Isanti | Wayside Prairie County Park 3.2km - Classic trail in 80-acre park with woods, prairie and marshes. A scenic overlook allows views of a fen and a lake. Ski trails are side by side with packed walking trails. Restrooms in the parking lot. Lake Elmo Area • Lake Elmo Park Reserve 19.5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic and skate trails on gently rolling hills offer a variety of experiences and challenges. Fourteen km are groomed for skate and classic skiing only, and of these, 8.5km are lighted. An additional 11km are groomed flat and open to skiing, skijoring and fatbiking. Nordic Center has bathrooms and vending machines. Washington County Ski Pass required. • Sunfish Lake Park 7 to 9km - All skill levels. Camel Back provides some fun hills, but Oak Run is particularly exciting. Groomed occasionally by volunteers. Lakeville | Ritter Farm Park Ski Trail 9km - Beginner to intermediate groomed classic and skate trails with hills through 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 on weekends. MN Ski Pass required. Lindstrom | Ki Chi Saga County Park 1.6km - Beginner to intermediate trails on flat terrain in a park tucked between South Center and Linn Lake. 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 over 5km of lighted trails and a 2.5km loop with snowmaking. Elm Creek Chalet offers ski rentals, snack bar and woodstove. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required. Maple Lake | Robert Ney Memorial Park Reserve 16.5km - Intermediate, groomed classic and skate trails over small hills and flat areas. Nature Center offers rentals weekends, January through March. Maple Plain | Baker Park Reserve 14.5km - Beginner to advanced groomed classic and skate trails through woods and meadows. Chalet offers ski rentals, warming house and snack bar. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required. Maplewood | Battle Creek Regional Park East Section (West section is in St. Paul) 6km - Beginner to intermediate classic trail through mature woods. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required. Marine on St. Croix Area • Big Marine Park Reserve 1.9km - Two classic, groomed easy loops along Big Marine Lake. A 2.5km loop is open to winter biking, walking and skijoring. Washington County Ski Pass required. • William O’Brien State Park 19km - Multi-trail system for all skill levels of classic and skate skiers with views of the St. Croix River. Heated trail center has a wood stove. MN Ski Pass required. Minneapolis Area • Chain of Lakes Regional Park 10.7km - Groomed, beginner-friendly flat trails around Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles. Connects with Theodore Wirth Park trails to the north. Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) Pass required. • Columbia Golf Club 4km - Groomed classic and skate trails on rolling hills. MPRB Pass required. • Hiawatha Regional Park 4km - Groomed classic and skate trails with a view of the Minneapolis skyline. MPRB Pass required. • Theodore Wirth Regional Park 23km - Beginner to advanced groomed classic and skate trails. 3km lighted trails. One of the largest venues with snowmaking capabilities in the Twin Cities. North side features incredible hills while the south side is primarily flat. Connects to Chain of Lakes Regional Park trails to the south. Ski rentals available. MPRB Pass required. Minnetonka | Glen Lake Golf Center 2.4km - Groomed classic and skate trails through rolling hills. Rentals and concessions available at the clubhouse. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
2026/27 Monticello Area • Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park 3.5km - Great beginner trail through pines along Bertram, Long, Mud and First Lakes. Groomed classic ski only. • Harry Larson County Forest 3.2km - Intermediate classic ski only. Close to Lake Maria State Park. • 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. MN Ski Pass required. Moundsview | Rice Creek Regional Trail 4.7km - Groomed trails for classic and skate skiing from easy to difficult. Park at Irondale High School after 3:30 p.m. weekdays and daylight hours all other days. Saint Paul/Ramsey County Mutual ski pass required. North Branch Area • 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. • Irving and John Anderson County Park 6.4km - Easy classic ski trails in a 400-acre park with hardwoods, prairie and wetlands. Trails skirt both Horseshoe and Horseleg Lakes. Ski trails are side by side with packed walking trails, and there’s 3.2km of skijoring trail. Restrooms in the parking lot. Norwood Young America | Baylor Regional Park 5km - Classic ski trails around marshes along the shores of Eagle Lake in a 200-acre park. Includes a 1/4-mile boardwalk. Ski rentals available.
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
Metro
Saint Paul Area • Battle Creek Regional Park West Section (East section is in Maplewood) 10km - Beginner to advanced classic and skate ski trails. 4km lighted trail. Saint Paul/ Ramsey County mutual ski pass required. • Como Park 5km - Intermediate to advanced classic and skate trails. 1.7km lighted trail. Equipment rentals available. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required. • Fort Snelling State Park 19km - Flat multi-use trails shared by skiers, hikers, and fat bikers. The Pike Island Loop, with 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. • Highland 9-Hole Golf Course 3.5km - Beginner to intermediate classic and skate loop. Fatbike trail circles golf course. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required. • Phalen Regional Park 7km - Intermediate classic and skate trails, open and fairly flat. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required. • Highland National Golf Course 5km - 3km beginner loop double-tracked for classic and groomed for skate skiing; 2km intermediate loop single-tracked classic and groomed for skate skiing. Chalet serves as a warming house. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required.
Shoreview | Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park - Grass Lake section 3km -Beginner classic two-way trails through woods and marshes. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required.
Savage | Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve 14.5km - Groomed classic and skate trails. Trailhead building serves as a warming area on weekends. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
White Bear Lake | Tamarack Nature Center 8km - Beginner to intermediate, classic-only trails through prairie, woodland and marsh. Ski rentals and lessons available. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required.
Stanchfield | Vegsund Family County Park 3.2km - Classic trail in 80-acre park with woods, prairie and wetlands. Scenic overlooks allow views of Lake Seventeen. Side by side with packed walking trails. Restrooms in parking lot. Stillwater Area • Brown’s Creek Nature Preserve 4.5km - Beginner classic and skate trails on moderate hills shared with hikers. MN Ski Pass required. • Pine Point Regional Park 6.5km - Beginner to intermediate trails groomed for classic and skate skiing. Trails wind through a large pine plantation, small lakes and picturesque farms. Washington County Ski Pass required. Vadnais Heights | Snail Lakes Regional Park (Vadnais and Sucker Lake Sections) 8km - Beginner to intermediate classic two-way trails on moderate hills through woods with lake views. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required. Waconia | 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.
Otsego | Otsego Regional Park 3km - Beginner trails alongside paved park trails on Mississippi River. Tracks set when snow allows; otherwise groomed flat. Plymouth Area • Eagle Lake Regional Park 5km - Beginner to intermediate groomed classic and skate trails through woods and meadows. Fatbiking and skijoring allowed on skate lanes. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required. • French Regional Park 8km - Variety of terrains from beginner to advanced. Groomed classic and skate trails over rolling hills with 4.5km of lighted trails. 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. 4.5km lighted trail. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required. Ramsey | Rum River Central Regional Park 8km - Beginner to intermediate skate and classic trail loops. MN Ski Pass required. Richfield | Wood Lake Nature Center 3.2km - Groomed cross-country ski trails circling Wood Lake in a 150-acre nature preserve. The trails wind through three different habitats. Ski and snowshoe rentals available. Rosemount | Lone Rock Trail 18km - Intermediate groomed classic and skate trails on gently rolling terrain through woods, agricultural land and wetlands in UMore Park. Connects to Whitetail Woods Regional Park trails. Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 23
South:
SKIING WITH A VIEW
SKI TRAIL GUIDE
2026/27
The southern half of Minnesota offers rolling bluff country in the east and wide-open prairies in the west with regions of old-growth forest in between. A wide variety of state parks, forests and recreational trails offer fine cross-country skiing. Austin | Jay C. Hormel Nature Center 10km - Beginner to intermediate classic and skate trails through woods and prairie. Interpretive building with rentals serves as a warming house. Byron | Oxbow Park 3km - Groomed classic and skate trail loops winding through undeveloped prairie and wooded hills. Oxbow Park also offers fat tire bike trails seasonally. Eyota | Chester Woods Park 8km - All levels, groomed trails through a wooded and hilly county park with views of Chester Lake, usually groomed for both classic and skate skiing. Trails are well marked with maps at most intersections. Chester Woods Park also offers fat tire bike trails seasonally. Skis, snowshoes and kicksleds are for rent. Faribault | River Bend Nature Center 11km - Beginner to advanced, groomed classic through flat prairie and woods with some challenging hills. MN Ski Pass required. Frontenac | Frontenac State Park 15km - All levels, groomed classic with overlooks of Lake Pepin. Two warming shelters available. MN Ski Pass required. Henderson | Ney Nature Center 10km - Groomed classic ski trails through the 446-acre Ney Wildlife Preserve. Equipment rentals available at the nature center. Kasota | Lake Washington Regional Park 5km - Groomed, classic ski trails in a 164-acre park near Mankato. Terrain features flat areas and gentle inclines as the trail traverses native prairie and hardwoods. The trail crosses over Shanaska Creek on a historic 1875 bridge.
Morton | Beaver Falls County Park 3.2km - Groomed, double-track classic trail with multiple hills and turns. There are open and wooded areas and terrain ranges from easy to difficult. Trails are shared and open to skiing, hiking, snowshoeing and fatbiking. A vault-style bathroom is available in the park’s recreation area, along with an open shelter. The trail follows Beaver Creek. Tracks are set when snow cover is sufficient; otherwise, they’re groomed flat. New Ulm | Flandrau State Park 9.5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic. Flat trails on the valley bottom with more challenging routes on the oak-shaded bluffs offering several overlooks of Cottonwood River. Ski and snowshoe rentals available. The beach house serves as a warming shelter. MN Ski Pass required. Northfield | Cowling Arboretum - Carleton College 18km - Trails in the upper arboretum (6km) are groomed for skating and classic skiing; the remainder are classic only. Trails are shared with walkers. Owatonna Area • Brooktree Golf Course 3km - Easy skate ski and classic loop. • Kaplan’s Woods Parkway 13km - Intermediate, ravine terrain provides challenging hills through hardwood forest near a lake and river. Wide trails are suitable for skate skiing and tracked for classic when snow is sufficient. The trail travels from Morehouse Park through Kaplan’s Woods Parkway and into the Owatonna Country Club grounds. MN Ski Pass required.
Ex E xplore the
Red Wing Area • Cannon Valley Trail 26km - 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 (23km). Mile 15.5-17.5: Side-by-side fatbiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing (3km). About 1.5 miles of trail are plowed and open to hiking and biking in Cannon Falls. Trail offers views of overhanging cliffs and stunning scenery. Connects the communities of Cannon Falls, Welch and Red Wing. MN Ski Pass required for skiing only. • Mississippi National Ski Trails 8km - Beginner to advanced, groomed for classic skiing at Memorial Park. The classic loop through wooded terrain offers extensive views of the Mississippi River, considered one of the most spectacular in the state. Flatter and easier trails groomed for both classic and skate skiing are on the golf course to the south, where the trailhead is. MN Ski Pass required. Rochester Area • Eastwood Golf Course 6km - All levels, groomed classic and skate ski loops with 2.5km lighted trails. • Essex Park 8.5km - Groomed classic and skate ski through woods and restored prairie. Rolling terrain. • Gamehaven Reservoir 11.5km - Trails of varied difficulty include a beginner’s loop and a 3.5km wide, out-andback two-way trail with snowmaking. Most trails are out in the open. • Quarry Hill Park 12km - Relatively flat, groomed trails through rolling hills around an old quarry. The north end of the system reaches into Parkwood Hills Park and is rated expert. Nature center is open all year and has equipment rentals. Root River/ Harmony Preston Valley State Trails 67km - Root River Trail: 48km beginner to intermediate trail offering views of tall bluffs and abundant wildlife. Track set between Isinours Forest Management Unit north of Preston and the bridge outside of Houston. MN Ski Pass required. Harmony-Preston Valley Trail: 19km tracked between Isinours Junction, where the two trails meet, and County Road 16. Sacred Heart | Skalbekken County Park 2.4km - Groomed, double-track classic trail rated easy to moderate. The wooded trail follows the Minnesota River showcasing wildlife and the 1868 Skalbeck log cabin. Trails are shared and open to skiing, hiking, snowshoeing and fatbiking. There is a vault-style bathroom near the park entrance, along with an open shelter. Parking at horse camp off of County Road 10 is encouraged. Trail use and parking is free for day use. Tracks are set when snow cover is sufficient; otherwise, they’re groomed flat. Winona Area • Great River Bluffs State Park 5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic with overlooks of the Mississippi River Valley. MN Ski Pass required. • Saint Mary’s University 14.5km - Mostly intermediate to advanced with some flat terrain for beginners. Groomed classic and skate ski through hardwood forest, an old apple orchard and near Gilmore Creek. Some lit sections.
24 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
CONQUER THE COLD DAYS Snow-covered trails bring a whole new kind of fun. Gear up with the right bike and cold-weather essentials to keep the good times rolling all winter long. Adventure Cycle & Ski Winona | advcycle.bike
All Seasons Sports Delano | allseasonssports.net
DL Bike Shop Detroit Lakes | dlbikeshop.com
Northfield and Lakeville | downtownbicyclesllc.com
Gateway Cycle Oakdale | gatewaycycle.com
Jake’s Bikes Alexandria | jakesbikes.com
Outdoor Motion Hutchinson | outdoormotionbikes.com
Ramsey Bicycle Ramsey | ramseybicycle.com
Revolution Cycle and Ski St. Cloud | revolutioncycleandski.com
Rick’s Cycling and Sports Center Willmar | rickscycling.com
Rydjor Bike Shop Austin | rydjor.com
Touright Bicycle Shop Little Falls | tourightbicycleshop.com
Downtown Bicycles
Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 25
A SLED DOG TEAM GRACEFULLY CHARGING THROUGH DEEP SNOW IS AN ICONIC MINNESOTA WINTER SIGHT. THE DOGS’ POWER AND BOUNDLESS ENERGY, COMBINED WITH THEIR LOVE OF SNOW, TURNS A HARSH WINTER DAY INTO A ROMANTIC PAINTING, BUT WITNESSING THEM BREAK TRAIL IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS (BWCAW) INTENSIFIES THIS ROMANTIC EFFECT. AND WHERE DOGS HAVE BROKEN TRAIL, SKIERS MAY FOLLOW BECAUSE THE WORK OF DOZENS OF PAWS AND A HEAVY SLED LEAVES NICELY PACKED TRAILS—PERFECT FOR HUMANS ON BACKCOUNTRY SKIS. HERE’S HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS “WINTER USE TRAILS”—DOG SLED PATHS THAT CRISS-CROSS THE WILDERNESS WHEN SWAMPS FREEZE AND THE SNOW FLIES.
FOLLOW the dogs IF YOU GO
1 Skiing on Winter Use
Stella Pascone watches as mushers glide across Snowbank Lake. / PHOTO BY VANESSA PASCONE
26 MINNESOTA 26 MIN MI M INNE IN NES N EESSO OTA TA TTR TA TRAILS RA AIL AI IILLS | Winter Wiin W Win intter te err 2026/2027 e 20 2 026 26 26/ 6//202 20 2 02 0 27
Trails reduces your likelihood of getting lost in the BWCAW in winter—the dog teams have already done the route finding for you. Stay on their track. 2 Compacted snow from the dogs and sleds means you can actually glide on your skis on Winter Use Trails, rather than trudging through deep powder. 3 Winter Use Trails in the Boundary Waters provide access to unique terrain that summer paddlers never get to see.
Ski the BWCAW’s Winter Use Trails
STORY BY CHRIS PASCONE
My family and I aren’t mushers. Heck, we don’t even own a dog. But we know how to read a map, and McKenzie maps are the gold standard for navigating the Boundary Waters. On these maps, you’ll notice occasional purple lines, mostly in the Ely area, marked as “Winter Use Trails.” In a million-acre wilderness, this label seems odd at first, but it makes perfect sense once you find out they’re not trails until the lakes freeze and the dog sledders come and turn them into winter highways. Impassable in any other season, these routes generally run through swamps or endless chains of beaver ponds, but when the mushy bog surface freezes over, all that muck and vegetation turns into a hard surface. A little snow on top transforms these soggy waterways into highly accessible terrain for dogs and people alike. The mosquitos are gone, too. Last March, the forecast called for perfect conditions to take my daughters, Stella (6) and Vanessa (15) on an overnight winter camping expedition on the Thomas Lake Winter Use Trail. Winter is my favorite time of the year in the wilderness, and I’m encouraging the girls to learn cold-weather coping skills too. We had done many winter camping trips to the Boundary Waters before, and this one would turn out to be one of our best yet. Map in hand hand, d we started our journey about 20 miles east wbank Lake at BWCAW Entry Point 27. w of Ely at Snow Snowbank We arrivedd late on a clear, cold Friday evening. We tested the ice andd found 30 inches, with plenty of snow on top. Along with w weekend overnight temps in the single digits and M March’s lengthening days, we had ideal March ski camping conditions in the forecast. We filled out our self-issuee BWCAW entry permit, dropped it in the brown box, aand set off across Snowbank by ski as the sun was setting, settiin pulling lli our gear in i pulk lk sleds. ld Once we sstarted traversing the open lake, we noticed an odd flicke ickering e in the sky to the northwest. With the sunset still playing pll out, and Ely’s city lights coming
PHOTOS FROM LEFT: The author pulls his daughter, Stella, across Snowbank Lake with a ski pulk. / PHOTO BY VANESSA PASCONE • The author and his daughter, Stella, watch the aurora borealis on Snowbank Lake. / PHOTO BY VANESSA PASCONE • Stella Pascone inside the base camp tent. / PHOTO BY CHRIS PASCONE • Vanessa Pascone on the Thomas Lake Winter Use Trail. / PHOTO BY CHRIS PASCONE
from the same dire direction, we didn’t pay much attention to it, but it was intensifyFinally, just a ing as the sky got darker. d half hour into our ski, we figured out we seeing the Aurora Borealis. were actually seein The sky glowed in a fluorescent green, and purple vertical bars danced across the northern sky. This superb show captivated and mesmerized uus while we kept swishing our skis towards toward Disappointment Lake. We crossed Snowbank Lake in about an hour, h set up camp right on the ice, ic and made dinner below the green and purple pillars in the sky. It was a magical experience. I was very thankful the it; their excitement girls got to experience experie palpable. and awe were palp morning dawned clear and The next morni cold. I knew another anoth miracle was about to unfold when I heard hea yipping sounds coming across the lake. lake It could mean only one thing—sled dog do teams. We had set location, behind a up camp in a strategic strat point of land that became like a funnel for any dogsleds heading headi for the Thomas Lake Winter Use Trail. SSure enough, I could see them approach across acr the expanse of ice, started with and our Saturday morning m three teams of 8 to 10 dogs and 2 mushthe point, right ers each coming around ar past our tent. I rallied rall the girls out into the cold to watch the t energetic dog teams charge by. It was yyet another unforgettable experience. Minnesota experie The dogs’ quiet, calm, driving force always inspires me to follow suit and go These three explore some wilderness. wilde teams were cutting a trail that was easy for us to follow the rest of the day. I made hot cinnamon rolls roll for breakfast, poured steaming drinks into in a thermos, and soon back on. We filled day we had our skis ba our camp packs with picnic ingredients, i water and extra clothing, stove, and lots of w then strapped the day’s gear into our pulk tent and sleeping bags set sled. We left the te up as base camp on Snowbank Lake. If you look at a McKenzie map of the the Thomas Lake Winter Snowbank area, th technically starts at the eastern Use Trail technical tip of Disappointment Disappointm Lake. Both are summer portage connected by a regular reg trail—which the dogs d traverse in winter, too. A series i off seemingly endless beaver ponds and bogs flows into Disappointment Lake here, and sled teams use it for dog-powered travel come deep winter.
From Disappointment, the winter use trail heads east to Muzzle Lake, then into Kobe Lake and further east to sprawling Thomas Lake. The first mushers to travel this route each year undoubtedly have to clear blowdowns, beaver chews, and other fallen trees. That’s because Winter Use Trails in the BWCAW are not maintained by the National Forest Service. Skiers will do best to reach out to local mushers for information about which winter trails have already been opened. We skied all day on the Thomas Lake Winter Use Trail, but never got close to the lake itself. It’s a long haul from Snowbank to Thomas on trails that really only exist a few months out of the year, and it’s hard to say just how far we had gone. Still, the girls and I experienced a dream wetland landscape in its winter coat. We turned around at 4:00 pm, close to Muzzle Lake, and arrived at our base camp at dusk. There was no northern lights show that night, but my pride and satisfaction
knew no bounds. We had fulfilled my plans and dreams to perfection. To top it off, the three sled dog teams passed our peninsula “funnel” on their way back out after dark. Both our family and the dog teams had taken a day trip to a section of the BWCAW that few visitors to the wilderness ever see, and the girls handled the 8-hour ski trip with ease. Some of the time Stella skied on her own; other times I pulled her in the pulk. Vanessa, who’s on her high school’s cross-country ski team, enjoyed the long-distance trek. Sunny skies and low wind contributed to our peaceful day in the deep wilderness. The Thomas Lake Trail isn’t the only Winter Use Trail in the Boundary Waters by far. Any of these dog-sledding routes, broken through deep snow and maintained by local dog-sledding operations, allow for easy access to the BWCAW’s interior in winter. Find the dogs, and your path is primed for adventures to come.
SCAN TO O LEARN MORE
SNOW-DUSTED P PINES. INE ES. BOUNDLESS TRA TRAILS. AILS. Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 27
2027 BIKE RIDES Tour of Minnesota June 19-25, 2027 St. Croix Falls, WI; Hinckley, Duluth, MN tourofminnesota.com
Orange City Tulip Festival Tour de Tulips May 15, 2027 Orange City, IA
4TH ANNUAL
5TH ANNUAL / 2 "
Tour de Bun Bicycle Classic
May 29, 2027
July 24, 2027
Rochester, MN
Montgomery, MN
bikemn.org/rides-events
kolackydays.com
Tour de Loop
Tour de Tonka
June 3, 2027
August 7, 2027
Luverne, MN
Minnetonka, MN
luvernechamber.com
tourdetonka.org
Tour de Pepin
Bridge the Valley Bike Rally
June 5, 2027
August 8, 2027
Lake City, MN
Stillwater, MN
lakecity.org
bridgethevalley.org
Tour of Lakes
CaNDak
June 5, 2027
August 8-15, 2027
Nisswa, MN
Northwestern ND
2$3/ , , "£ $!
20TH ANNUAL
paulbunyancyclists.com
candak.net
Caramel Roll Ride
Gitchi-Gami North Shore Ride
June 12, 2027
August 21, 2027
Albany, MN
Gooseberry Falls State Park, MN
caramelrollride.com
ggta.org
Swiss Cheese & SpottedCow Bike Tour
Caramel Apple Ride
June 15-19, 2027 Sauk City, WI scscbiketour.com
14TH ANNUAL
Mickelson Summer Trail Trek June 18–20, 2027 Custer, SD 6TH ANNUAL
16TH ANNUAL
Eau Claire, WI
Med City Meander
28TH ANNUAL
July 10-11, 2027
bit.ly/467vjOL
; /0 "
36TH ANNUAL 46TH 4 6TH A 6T ANN NNUAL
Ride Across Wisconsin rideacrosswisconsin.com
7TH ANNUAL
12TH ANNUAL
22ND ANNUAL
7TH ANNUAL CaNDak Williston
Minot
Devil’s Lake Grand Forks
Bismarck Dickinson
Mandan
Fargo Jamestown
tour
10TH ANNUAL
26TH ANNUAL
Sauk Centre, MN caramelappleride.com
16TH ANNUAL
Northfield Rotary Bike Tour September 11, 2027 Northfield, MN
mickelsontrail.com
Lady Slipper Ride
Saint Paul Classic
June 19, 2027
September 12, 2027
Avon, MN
Saint Paul, MN
28 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027
12TH ANNUAL
September 11, 2027
northÄeldrotary.org/page/northÄeldrotary-bike-tour
ladyslipperride.com
53RD ANNUAL
bikeclassic.org
33RD ANNUAL
2026/27
Minnesota Nordic Ski Opener S December 12, 2026 | Maple Grove, MN Elm Creek Park Reserve Kick off Minnesota’s ski season with free skiing, rental equipment and lessons for all ages. www.mntrails.com/event/minnesota-nordic-skiopener First Chance Ski Race S January 2, 2027 | Mora, MN Celebrate your love of skiing with the first race of the year! www.mntrails.com/event/first-chance-ski-race Norpine Fat Bike Classic B January 8-10, 2027 | Lutsen, MN The race happens at Cascade Lodge, featuring a course that winds through the beautiful and challenging Norpine Trails. www.superiorcycling.org/norpine St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra S B January 9-10, 2027 | Hinckley, MN St. Croix State Park 40km endurance race by foot, ski or fat bike. www.mntrails.com/event/st-croix-40-winter-ultra The Fat Vasa B January 10, 2027 | Mora, MN The event starts and finishes in downtown Mora, with beautiful trails winding through the Vasaloppet Nordic Ski Center complex. www.moraskiclub.org/community-events/fat-tirebikes Founders’ Classic S January 23, 2027 | Mora, MN A fundraiser for the Mora Ski Club that’s only $1 per km! www.moraskiclub.org/community-events/foundersclassic
S = SKI EVENT
Winter Events
FATBIKE AND SKI EVENTS Arrowhead 135 S B January 25-27, 2027 | International Falls, MN 135-mile ski, bike and run endurance race on the Arrowhead State Trail. www.mntrails.com/event/arrowhead-135
Vasaloppet S February 13-14, 2027 | Mora, MN Vasaloppet Nordic Ski Center This legendary ski event brings thousands to the ski trails in Mora, MN. www.mntrails.com/event/vasaloppet
Lantern Loppet S January 30, 2027 | Mora, MN Ski classic-groomed trails by the glow of lanterns, following the Founders’ Classic. www.moraskiclub.org/community-events/lanternloppet
Minnesota Finlandia Ski Marathon S February 20, 2027 | Bemidji, MN This iconic event draws citizen and elite skiers from around the world to Minnesota’s Buena Vista Ski Area. www.mntrails.com/event/minnesota-finlandia-skimarathon
City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival S B February 6-7, 2027 | Minneapolis, MN Theodore Wirth Regional Park A family-friendly festival with numerous ski and fat bike events, skijoring and more. www.mntrails.com/event/city-of-lakes-loppet-winterfestival
Lotvola Cup S March 6, 2027 | Callaway, MN Maplelag Resort The Lotvola Cup is a cross country ski race where only the traditional technique is allowed, and the emphasis is on fun. www.maplelag.com/events
The Moraloppet S February 6, 2027 | Mora, MN Vasaloppet Nordic Ski Center Fundraiser event for skiers of all capabilities, and a time for socializing and refreshments. www.mntrails.com/event/the-moraloppet
Pepsi Challenge Ski Race S March 6, 2027 | Biwabik, MN 8k, 25k, 50k—this event at Giants Ridge has races for every level. www.pepsichallengeskirace.com
Eric Judeen 10k Classic Ski Race S February 7, 2027 | Duluth, MN This traditional ski race has been held on the grounds of the Korkki Nordic Center since 1963. mntrails.com/event/eric-judeen-10k-classic-ski-race Luminary Loppet S February 13, 2027 | Minneapolis, MN Lake of the Isles The Luminary Loppet features a candlelit trail around Lake of the Isles, and many more family fun events. www.mntrails.com/event/luminary-loppet
Ski North Ultra S March 6, 2027 | Lutsen, MN Cascade River State Park The Ski North Ultra is an ultra-distance, classiconly cross-country skiing event on the North Shore of Lake Superior with 38km and 100km race routes. www.runsignup.com/Race/MN/Lutsen/SkiNorthUltra Lumis Løype B March 7, 2027 | Callaway, MN Lumi’s Løype is a 15km fat bike event on groomed ski and singletrack fat bike trails at scenic Maplelag Resort. www.maplelag.com/events
B = FATBIKE EVENT As of deadline, the information in this calendar was accurate.
For Up-To-Date Information & Details Check WWW.MNTRAILS.COM/EVENTS
2027 BIKE RIDES Mora Bike Tour September 18, 2027 Vasaloppet Nordic Center, Mora, MN vasaloppet.us/mora-bike-tour
Mickelson Fall Trail Trek
Wheelin’ to Wall
September 17-19, 2027
September 25, 2027
Custer, SD 6TH ANNUAL
14TH ANNUAL
46TH ANNUAL
Wall, SD
mickelsontrail.com
wheelintowall.com
Ride The Ridges
Twin Cities Bike Tour
September 18, 2027
October 9, 2027
Winona, MN
Minneapolis, MN
ridetheridges.bike
bikemn.org/rides-events
11TH ANNUAL
4TH ANNUAL
Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 29
Garden Island Rec. Area
Minnesota’s bike trails, long distance hiking trails, water trails, state parks, state recreation areas and biomes
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 Lake Cass Winnibigoshish Lake Paul Bunyan Migizi Schoolcraft
Bemidji
La Salle Lake Rec. Area
75
Moorhead
Heartland Park Buffalo River Detroit Rapids Lakes North Heart Country 59 of the Trail Crow Pelican Lakes Wing Perham Rapids
North Paul Country Bunyan Trail
Brainerd Glendalough
Fergus Falls
Glendalough
Alexandria
75
Glacial Lakes Pomme de Terre
Big Stone Lake 12
Chippewa
59 71
Lake Rec. Area
Minnesota
Fair Ridge
Fort Marshall Ridgely Camden Cottonwood
14
75
Lake Shetek Pipestone National Monument
Split Rock Creek
Pipestone Casey Jones
Blue Mounds
Blue Mounds Luverne
59
Des Moines
90 Worthington
Watonwan St. James
Kilen Woods
DECIDUOUS FOREST
Banning
35
North Branch Sunrise Prairie Hardwood Creek
CONIFEROUS FOREST
St. Croix River
STATE PARKS
Grand Rounds Hugo Saint Paul
STATE RECREATION AREAS
Wild River
BIKE TRAILS Interstate
ROADS
William O’Brien Marine on St. Croix Brown’s Creek Stillwater Gateway
Afton
Hastings Fort 52 Snelling Cannon Red Wing Minnesota Valley 61 Frontenac Valley Cannon
New Ulm Mankato
Sakatah Lake
MAP LEGEND PRAIRIE
Rum
Rec. Area
Flandrau
Moose Lake
Alex Laveau Segment
TALLGRASS ASPEN PARKLAND
Minneapolis
212
Gitchi Gami Trail Two Harbors
St. Croix Snake
Luce Line Hutchinson Crow, Dakota LRT South Fork Greenleaf Rail
212
Camden
12
Split Rock Lighthouse
Gooseberry Falls
Hinckley
Lake Maria
George H. Crosby Manitou Silver Bay
Sandstone
Father Hennepin
Charles A.
Willmar
Lac qui Parle
Kettle
Mora
169 Lindbergh Sauk Sauk Centre Soo Line Albany Saint Cloud St. Joseph ROCORI 94 Mississippi Paynesville Sibley Crow, Glacial North Fork Lakes
Monson Lake
Redwood
Mille Lacs
Soo Line Little Falls
Lake Carlos Lake Wobegon
Munger
Mille Lacs Lake Kathio
71 Long Prairie 10
Central Lakes
Jay Cooke Savanna Portage Willard
Crosby
Crow Wing
Lake Superior
Superior Hiking Trail Lake Superior Duluth
2
Cuyuna Country Rec. Area
Monument
Tofte
Tettegouche
Cloquet
169 Mississippi
Maplewood
Otter 94 Tail
St. Louis
Grand Marais
Temperance Cascade River River
Chisholm Iron Range
Grand Rapids
Pine
Bear Head Lake
OHV Rec. Area
Leech Lake Walker
Itasca
Judge C.R. Portage Magney Grand National
Kekekabic Trail
Eveleth
Mesabi
Grand Portage
BWCA
Ely
Lake Vermilion /Soudan Undergound Mine 169
McCarthy Beach
Scenic
Erskine
2
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
35 Falls Cannon
Goodhue
STATE WATER TRAILS CITIES LONG DISTANCE HIKING TRAILS Not for Navigation April 202
Lake City
Mississippi Pioneer 63 Nerstrand Great Zumbro Big Woods River Carley
Faribault Straight Douglas Ridge John A. Latsch Sakatah Singing Hills Whitewater 14 Winona Owatanna Rice Lake Great River Bluffs Rochester Whitewater Root 52 Cedar Root River Myre Blue Blazing 90 Lanesboro Big Island Earth Star Shooting Beaver Creek Valley Preston Star 63 Blue Austin Shell Albert Harmony-Preston Valley Earth Rock Lea Lake Louise Harmony Forestville /
Minneopa
Mystery Cave
18 HOLE C COURSE O MANY ACTIVITIES
MILES OF TRAILS
ExplorePaynesville.com 3 MINNESOTA 30 MI NES MIN NE OTA TR TRAIL TRAILS A S | Winter t 2026/2027 20 026/ 2 2027 7
LAKE KORONIS
TRAIL PARTNERS Need a place to eat, stay, play and upgrade your gear? Our Trail Partners are here to help!
Minnesota Trails Directory Regions
Northwest Region
Northeast Region
2
BIKE SHOPS FITZHARRIS BIKE & SPORT
Bemidji
SPORTS 320-251-2844
105 7th Avenue S, St. Cloud www.fitzharrismn.com
61
71 2
CUYUNA ROLLING HILLS GOLF COURSE 218-534-3489
24410 MN-210, Deerwood www.cuyunarollinghillsgolf.com
35
Central Region
94
Duluth
St. Cloud
JAKE’S BIKES
320-219-7433
419 N. Nokomis Street, Alexandria www.jakesbikes.com
REVOLUTION CYCLE AND SKI
320-251-2453
320-639-2453
651-457-7766
763-784-6966
2661 Co Road I & Old Hwy. 10, Mounds View www.carsbikeshop.com
RAMSEY BICYCLE
SPECIALTY STORES COMMON GOODS
90
90
218-772-2999
27 W Main Street, Crosby www.commongoodsmn.org
6489 Cahill Avenue, Inver Grove Heights www.bike-king.com
CARS BIKE SHOP
Mankato 35
124 2nd Street NE, Little Falls www.tourightbicycleshop.com
BIKE KING
Metro Region
71
160 29th Avenue S, St. Cloud www.revolutioncycleandski.com
TOURIGHT BICYCLE SHOP
Southern Region
763-323-6666
6825 Hwy. 10 NW, Ramsey www.ramseybicycles.com
LITTLE ROCKS DESIGN STICKERS 320-333-2520
Sauk Centre www.littlerocksdesign.com
NORD HUS SCANDINAVIAN GIFTS 218-545-0110
28 W Main Street, Crosby www.nordhusmn.com
VICTUAL
218-545-1000
124 West Main Street, Crosby www.shopvictual.com
LODGING/B&Bs/ CAMPING BIG RIVER RESORT
651-565-9932
1110 Hiawatha Drive E, Wabasha www.bigriverresort.com
BATTLE LAKE INN
218-862-2500
102 Glenhaven Drive, Battle Lake www.battlelakeinn.com
www.cuyunarangecampground.com
218-622-0321
22640 MN-6, Crosby www.oarsnmine.com
OARS-N-MINE
EAT & DRINK THE DEERSTAND RESTAURANT AND BAR 218-534-9253
24188 Mohs Street, Deerwood www.deerstandrestaurant.com
CANA WINE BAR
MID MINNESOTA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 218-546-5428
117 W Main Street, Crosby www.mmfcu.org
222 2nd Street NW, Crosby www.thesanctuarycrosby.com
218-772-0086
64 1st Ave SW, Crosby www.canawinebarmn.com
GALLOPING GOOSE RENTALS 218-731-7181 Glendalough State Park and Battle Lake MN www.gallopinggooserentals.net
218-546-6912
INFORMATION EXPLORE ALEX
320-763-0102
203 Broadway Street, Alexandria www.explorealex.com
HUTCHINSON CHAMBER
320-587-5252
2 Main Street, Hutchinson www.explorehutchinson.com
VISIT BRAINERD
GEAR RENTALS
218-534-3111
21236 Archibald Road, Deerwood www.deerwoodbank.com
218-838-6858
23457 Co. Rd. 31, Crosby www.redriderresort.com
THE SANCTUARY
CUYUNA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 218-546-7000
320 E Main Street, Crosby www.cuyunamed.org
DEERWOOD BANK
CUYUNA RANGE CAMPGROUND 21704 Dewing Road, Crosby 218-228-2991 RED RIDER RESORT
SERVICES
800-450-7247
214 S 7th Street, Brainerd www.visitbrainerdbaxter.com
LOVIN’ LAKE COUNTY
218-595-2800
1330 MN-61, Two Harbors www.lovinlakecounty.com
See more details at: www.mntrails.com/trail-partners Winter 2026/2027 | MINNESOTA TRAILS 31
PICTURED: HIDDEN VALLEY RECREATION AREA MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS
Your Winter Adventure Starts Here Plan your trip at Ely.org
32 MINNESOTA TRAILS | Winter 2026/2027