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
Editorial Board
Brett Feldman
Executive Director
Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota
Vol. 29, No. 4 November 2024
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.
PHOTO: Forestview Middle School, Brainerd Jan Lasar photo
Erkki Harju Ski Trail
scenic forest in Two Harbors, MN. Jan Lasar photo
2024 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS
Parks & Trails Council’s annual photo contest highlights the incredible beauty and diversity protected within Minnesota State Parks. Thank you to the fantastic
PARKSANDTRAILS.ORG/EVENTS/2024-PHOTO-CONTEST
NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS
HAYES LAKE STATE PARK BY LORI WARNE
This photo was taken along a lookout on Moose Ridge Trail at Hayes Lake State Park, a trail on the park’s south side just across from the swimming beach. At the time, the autumn foliage perfectly framed the lake. Living only an hour away, I try to hike in this park, especially around fall time. I took this photo on September 16, 2023. The yellow colors are typically vibrant and this time of the year.
SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS
BLUE MOUNDS STATE PARK BY SHARYL ZENO
I grew up in southwestern Minnesota and I was back for an event when I took the opportunity to visit the park. This photo was taken at Eagle Rock
a calm summer morning on the prairie. In setting up the photo, I wanted to include the beautiful quartzite rocks that are unique to this area, as well
I took my time to wait for the perfect sunburst. If there is a message in the photo, it’s about sharing my love for the native prairie, clouds, and open spaces of this park while bringing a sense of calm to the viewer.
NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS
TETTEGOUCHE STATE PARK BY STEVE SIMMER
This photo was taken from the bridge on the road from the visitor center to the campground at Tettegouche—a park where I have camped many nights and hiked many miles. That fall morning, I arrived before sunrise and stood quietly, waiting and watching the light unfold—I was the only one present. When Earth, Sea, and Sky come together and each brings their best, the result is a sublime work of art that humans can only hope to experience. The opportunity to capture the moment and share it with others is why I am a photographer.
SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA STATE PARKS
WILD RIVER STATE PARK BY CHUCK KARTAK
I visit this park often, having worked there from 1986 to 2000. Every visit entails driving to the St. Croix River access and walking to the bridge over Spring Creek, where otters, beavers, and many songbirds have been observed over the years—especially Common Yellowthroats. Just after dawn in early July, I observed this male flying to different perches. I waited patiently near one that framed him especially nicely. While I enjoy photographing all wildlife, birds have a special appeal, listening to their calls/songs.
Did I just write a Christmas Letter
We still have a few months left to go, but so far 2024 has been full of new experiences for my wife, Jen, and I.
At the end of May, we took Stephanie, our newly completed travel trailer and mobile office, to Savanna Portage State Park for a shakedown trip. Stephanie did well, but because of a water main break at the campground, there were no showers. A battery powered hand-held shower wand was a decent stand-in, and we were able to check one item off our new experiences list, the deluxe bucket shower.
We called on Duluth in early June and parked Stephanie at a campground with a fantastic view of the harbor and the lift bridge. Unfortunately, local mountain bike trails closed on account of rain, but we did get in a wonderful ride on the Lakewalk when the sun made an appearance. Our other new experience on that trip was taking a boat 10 miles into Lake Superior in search of salmon. Unless something epic happens between now and Dec. 31, this will be our highlight of the year.
At the end of June, we revisited a stretch of the Paul Bunyan and Heartland State Trails we hadn’t been on in so many years that it was just like a new experience. We signed up for the Spring Bike Fling and rode from Walker to Hackensack with friends. This ride, sponsored by the Leech Lake Chamber, is now in its fifth year and draws a crowd. That’s no surprise, because there’s a brewery on each end.
July kicked off a series of trips to south-
western Minnesota that began with Murray, Lincoln, Cottonwood and Jackson counties, and will continue in 2025 with visits to Pipestone, Lyon, Redwood, Rock and Nobles counties. We’re proud to announce that Explore Southwest Minnesota has chosen Minnesota Trails Magazine to shine a light on its corner of the state and tell the world what there is to see and do in southwestern Minnesota. We’ve been blogging about it and sharing our experiences on social media for a few months now. Especially for these trips, we set up a mobile office in a screen tent and have the internet piped in via an antenna on a tripod. We’re now officially digital nomads, a first for us.
In September, we buried ourselves in work with back-to-back trips to Alexandria and Brainerd where we spent time riding bike, hiking and paddling in fantastic weather at the end of summer. Visiting Kensington Rune Stone Park, we had our first experience riding e-mountain bikes, and it was intense, to say the least, and a good workout, too.
We checked another state park off our shrinking list at McCarthy Beach State Park, and added yet another souvenir patch to our collection that will one day adorn Stephanie’s interior. The hike along Pickerel Lake with fall colors making their first, timid appearance was worth the trip alone. We also said hello to a new member of the family, a Toyota Tacoma pickup we named Bearcat. Being truck people is a new thing for us, but Stephanie and the mobile office have to be moved around the state somehow.
Next, we dropped south and visited Austin for a weekend. Riding the Shooting Star State Trail, the environs were familiar, although the section between Jay C. Hormel Nature Center and Rose Creek was not. We had not paddled the Cedar River State Water Trail or ridden the mountain bike system at Schindler’s Way, and added those two things to the list of new experiences. Crashing while mountain biking is not new to me, but crashing and breaking my camera was definitely a first.
As always, the pages of this magazine are meant to inspire you to make your own first experiences. Maybe the winter trails in Becker (page 27) will do it for you. Or, you could ski in Brainerd with your sweetheart and finish it off by writing I ♥ U on a cookie (page 10). If you’ve never snowshoed out to a remote cabin in the winter, turn to page 8 to get motivated, and give it a go.
Happy Trails,
MINNESOTA MILES BLOG: mntrails.com/mn-miles-blog INSTAGRAM: minnesota_trails_magazine FACEBOOK: MNTrails
Jan Lasar Trails Editor/Publisher
Minnesota Miles
Need a great gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life? Minnesota State Parks gift cards can be used for park vehicle permits, camping, lodging, tours, gear rentals, apparel, and more! with a Minnesota state parks gift card.
*This gift card was designed by Marlena Myles, a self-taught Native American (Spirit Lake Dakota) artist located in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Available at Minnesota state parks and online at mnDNR.gov/giftcard
David Thoreau once said his purpose for living alone in the woods was
“to acquire a better appreciation of nature nd an escape from the r surrounding world.”
Meet me at
This idea of getting away for a while struck a chord with my beau, Steve, and I. Unlike Thoreau’s twoyear stint at a remote shack in Massachusetts, we opted for a weekend at Cabin D at Tettegouche State Park. At about 16 feet square, this spartan cottage was roughly the same size as Thoreau’s on Walden Pond.
CAMP TETTEGOUCHE
S TO RY BY RO BERTA LAI D LAW
Tettegouche Camp inside the park contains four historic cabins near Mic Mac Lake. Reservations are notoriously hard to get, but we lucked out and scored a spot over Presidents Day weekend. The camp is located in a motor-free zone, and to get there, you move yourself and your stuff the old-fashioned way, by foot. It seems like a needless inconvenience, but if you could simply drive to your cabin’s doorstep, the experience would not be the same.
Steve tightened the straps on his pulk sled, and we began the snowshoe trek into Tettegouche Camp from the Lax Lake parking area. Leaning forward against the sled’s harness, he pulled hard to move the heavy load up the hills leading to camp on that 10-degree morning.
Before long, we had both worked up a sweat, despite the low temperatures. At the top of each hill, we rested and took in the surrounding forest. The descents were slippery and Steve strained to hold back the sled as we inched our way down to Tettegouche Camp, little by little.
After just over a mile and a half, we arrived at Cabin D’s doorstep. We turned the key and entered a one-room hut outfitted with rustic pine furniture and green gingham curtains. The flooring was made from fine quality Douglas fir. I especially loved the vintage screen door with its spindle dowels.
These cabins have no running water or bathroom facilities; however, there’s an outhouse and shower house nearby. A propane heater keeps the inside temperature at around 50 degrees and to make it any warmer, we needed to fire up the woodstove. Very soon, it was cozy and warm inside Cabin D.
Once unpacked, we toured the grounds of Tettegouche Camp: The picnic pavilion, the boat house and the other cabins. We wasted no time and started exploring the network of trails at our doorstep. The
Mount Baldy Overlook trail brought us to an impressive view of the Tettegouche backcountry. Shorter but steeper, the trail to the Conservancy Pines afforded a nice overlook of Mic Mac Lake. On these icy trails, we were thankful for the crampons on our snowshoes.
Inside the day-use pavilion, we discovered a gallery of historic photos, including one of Clement Quinn, the longest running private owner of Tettegouche Camp, which was created from a 1,000-acre parcel of formerly logged forest. It’s changed hands a few times since the early 1900s, and cabins were added over the years. The last private owners, the DeLaittre family, began negotiations to preserve Tettegouche Camp for public use. In 1979, the property was merged with Baptism River State Park and subsequently renamed Tettegouche State Park.
Come wintertime, the heartbeat of Cabin D is its wood stove. Our first day in Tettegouche Camp had been a long one and as the day transitioned into night, the stove’s flickering flames mesmerized us and sleep came early.
On our second day in Tettegouche Camp, we had a communal lunch in the picnic pavilion. Our friends, who were winter-camping in the Tettegouche cart-in site, planned to snowshoe over to join us, a one-
way trek of about 4 miles. Steve started a warming fire inside the picnic pavilion while I heated up a pot of chili on Cabin D’s wood stove. When our friends arrived, we feasted on the chili, cornbread with honey butter, cheese and crackers, brownies, apple cake, and hot chocolate with marshmallows. How appropriate that the word “Tettegouche” is a French-Canadian phrase meaning “meeting
e current picnic pavilion was once the main lodge of Tettegouche Camp. A historic photo in the pavilion shows how the lodge once looked under private ownership, quite fancy, with mounted animal heads and handcrafted pine furniture throughout.
Although the former lodge isn’t as lavish as it once was, these days it’s open for all to enjoy. Later that night, Steve and I snowshoed to the middle of Mic Mac Lake. We took off our snowshoes, laid down on the snow-covered lake and turned off our headlamps. Gradually, the stars began to reveal themselves as we became accustomed to the darkness. Out there, without light pollution, we were able to observe a multitude of glittering stars, including constellations such as the Big Dipper, Orion, and Polaris, the North Star. cent night sky!
We remained on the frozen lake until the cold began to seep into our bodies, then made a beeline back to Cabin D and its welcoming warmth. We slept through the snowstorm that blanketed the trails surrounding Tettegouche Camp during the night. Come morning, we locked Cabin D’s door and started the trek back to our car. ick globs of feathery snow fell on us and, soon, our coats were covered in a layer of white. As we snowshoed through the silent forest, we quietly gave thanks and gratitude to those who had the foresight to preserve this beautiful property for public use.
Beginning in 1991, Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota has worked to acquire and protect key lands for Tettegouche State Park, adding 300 acres to the park’s footprint.
ROBERTA LAIDLAW PHOTO
Cooking chili on Cabin D’s woodstove | ROBERTA LAIDLAW PHOTO
Cabin D | ROBERTA LAIDLAW PHOTO
Frozen Mic Mac Lake (in 2016) | ROBERTA LAIDLAW PHOTO
Picnic pavilion | ZACH JOHNS PHOTO
DateSki IN BRAINERD
BY JAN LASAR
The 400-acre grounds of the Northland Arboretum are home to 12km of classic and skate ski trails and several miles of snowshoe and hiking trails. The visitor center provides restrooms and a place to warm up between ski rounds. The Paul Bunyan State Trail is the western border of this preserve. We fashioned a nice loop out of the Ojibwe and Acorn trails, both of which make up the Arboretum’s lighted trail system for night skiing. It was a crisp 5 degrees when we started, but it didn’t feel cold. There was no wind, the sun was strong, and the skiing was wonderful. We glided along through the oaks and pines and enjoyed every minute of it.
After this invigorating ski, the next stop was Knotty Pine Bakery in downtown Brainerd. It was Valentine’s season, after all, and we came to do the most valentine-y thing we’ve ever done together, which is decorating cookies for each other. That time of the year, Knotty Pine hosts Saturday cookie workshops where they provide cookies, icing and sprinkles, and you provide the
imagination. Armed with the knowledge of several hours of YouTube videos, we started to mix, pipe and drizzle in the back workshop of the bakery. It turns out our hands weren’t as steady as we thought, and if you don’t think crooked letters and drippy icing really convey the depth of your love, you can always buy their professionally decorated cookies.
At the Brainerd Lakes Curling Club, we met Toni Czeczok, Ginny McDonald and Dusty Nelson, volunteers with the organization. Every Saturday evening, members of the club take turns introducing newbies to the sport during open curling. After a brief primer, we hit the ice. One hundred percent of my knowledge of curling comes from watching the Olympics, so my learning curve was steep. It began the moment I realized that the ice sheet is heavily textured, and not really that slippery until you put a shoe slider on one foot. Toni, Ginny and Dusty were wonderful, patient teachers with a passion for their sport, and they worked hard on us for about an hour and a half. Jen and I
learned that curling looks easy on TV, but the real thing is a different story.
I sum up curling like this: You balance on the handle of the stone (the thing you slide across the ice) and your broom, and with your rear in the air, push off the backstop, aka hack, with one foot while wearing an incredibly slippery piece of plastic on the other. If you manage this step, you will propel yourself forward and go into a very deep lunge, deeper than you ever thought possible, or medically advisable. During travel, you shift your weight off the stone, while still holding its handle. You’re now balancing on your big toe, a slippery foot and a broom. Before you reach the hog line, you need to let go of the stone, giving it a gentle twist in the direction the skip, or captain, on the other end of the ice sheet indicates by raising their left or right arm. If all goes well, the stone will reach its target, the inside of the red circle, called the house, on the other end and not go beyond it. If it’s not your turn to slide the stone, you use your broom to scrub the ice and melt it ahead of
STORY & PHOTOS
WHEN VALENTINE’S DAY ROLLS AROUND, my wife, Jen, and I like to pack up our things and disappear, find a little cabin in the woods and re-emerge only after the chocolate-fueled craze is truly over. It’s been our tradition to either ignore this holiday or run from it. Maybe we’re getting more romantic, maybe the cabin is getting old, but we decided to turn it around completely, jump right into it and explore wintry things to do in Brainerd, Minnesota, over a weekend during Valentine’s Day season.
the stone, thus guiding it and making it go farther. That’s less complicated, but it compresses about a week’s worth of cardio into 30 seconds. That’s Curling 101, and it was a blast.
Next up were the ski trails at Forestview Middle School. The Brainerd Nordic Ski Club grooms about 4km of trails for classic and skate skiing in the
Dean Makey School Forest, adjacent to the school. There’s also a maze of snowshoe trails to explore. It was one of those perfect ski days when it’s cold from the snow below, warm from the sun above, and there’s no wind. We unzipped our coats and, eventually, the hats and gloves came off, too, and life was good. We made a large loop around the whole
system on a perfect winter day. There were a couple of hills with turns on the bottom, but even with our medium-duty ski skills they were no problem. Back at the car, we peeled off the steamy layers and made our way back home, slightly sore and with a box of sweet-smelling Valentine’s Day cookies in the back seat.
MINNESOTA
SKI TRAIL GUIDE TRAIL
SKI TR AIL GUIDE TRAIL GUIDE
Bemidji Area
Find more info and maps at www.mntrails.com/ski-trails
Find more
Ski Trail Guide Sources: Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Nordic Ski Association, Skinnyski and individual trails. Before traveling to a ski venue check local trail conditions. Find more info and maps at www.mntrails.com/ski-trails
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.
• 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.
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.
Callaway | Maplelag Resort
64km - 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 and 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 (4km) only. 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 fatbikes when conditions allow. This popular ski destination also offers lift-served downhill runs for skiers and snowboarders as well as snow tubing.
Hiram Ski Trail near Hackensack, MN. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR
• Dunton Locks County Park
6.1km - Beginner with some hills, west of Detroit Lakes, groomed classic all levels.
• East Frazee Ski Trails
10km - 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.
• 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.
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 trails to rolling and steeper slopes in the Fertile Sand Hills. A trail fee for non-Agassiz ELC members applies. No MN Ski Pass required. Ski and snowshoe rentals available when the Nature Center is open.
M.B. Johnson Park, Moorhead, MN. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR
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 Ten Mile 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.
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
• 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. Mississippi Headwaters Hostel is inside the park. 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 long.
Thief River Falls Area
• Golf Course Trail
12km - Beginner to intermediate classic trail. Starts at Red Robe Park, follows the frozen Thief River, and loops around the golf course area.
• Greenwood Trails
1.5km - Beginner classic ski trails that wind through a wooded setting along the Red Lake River.
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.
Lake Bemidji State Park. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR
Along the north shore of Lake Superior, throughout the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, to the Chippewa National Forest, northeastern Minnesota offers some of the biggest snowfalls in Minnesota 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 that are groomed for fat bikes in the winter.
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.
Cohasset Area
• 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.
• 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.
Cook | Ashawa Nordic Ski Trails
28km - The Ashawa Trail Ski Club maintains 28km of trails north of Cook. Trails are set for classic ski only and accessible from three separate trailheads and maps are available north of Cook, MN.
• Paddy’s Loop - Located 3.8 miles north of Cook on Olson Road, trails run primarily on flat terrain through a mature black spruce forest and on parts of the Vermilion Fairways golf course.
• Wood Loop - Located 6 miles north of Cook on Co. Rd. 24. Look for the signed parking lot on the west side of the road just before Pehrson Lodge Resort. The Wood Loop has moderate skiing through a mix of young and mature stands of aspen, ash, pine and spruce. One-way trails have two long, sloping downhill opportunities. A shelter on Beatty Hill offers a view of Cook and the surrounding area.
• Sunset Loop - 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 levels of skiing. A number of hills and a view of Sunset Lake make for exiting 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 a lot of cross-country, downhill and skate skiing, but you’re never far away 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.
• 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.
SKI TR AIL GUIDE TRAIL
• 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 cross-country ski trails. The Spirit Mountain Nordic Center on the bottom of the hill currently has 2.5km of Nordic trail, 1.5 of which have 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 ski. 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.
Grand Marais Area: The area around Grand Marais, between Lake Superior and the US-Canada border, has many miles of ski trails to explore, starting with the Bally Creek system just west of town, to the Upper Gunflint trails near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
• 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 2 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 6 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 on its own, but it also connects two major ski trail systems, the Central and Upper Gunflint
Ski Trails. Eastern end: Here the Banadad connects to the Lace Lake Trail (5km), the Tim Knopp Trail (3km) and the Tall Pines Trail (3km). The Lace Lake Trail provides access to the Poplar Creek Trail and the Central Gunflint Trail system. Park at about 30 miles up the Gunflint Trail (County Road 12), from Grand Marais, just off Little Ollie Road. Western end: Parking is available just off County Road 12, at fire no. 10045, about 10 miles from the eastern trailhead. Currently, there is no direct connection to the Upper Gunflint Ski Trail system, but it’s only about a mile away. MN Ski Pass and Boundary Waters permits needed.
• Upper Gunflint Ski Trail System
76km - All levels, 45 miles north of Grand Marais. These trails near the Canadian border and BWCAW are mostly classic trails with some skate skiing. Grooming is done by local lodges, so skiers need to purchase a trail pass. Access to the 27km Banadad Trail is close by, but no direct connection exists.
Grand Rapids Area
• Alder Pond Trail
10km - Beginner, groomed classic ski trail through aspen and coniferous forest. MN Ski Pass required.
• Golden Anniversary State Forest
• 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.
• 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 60km trail system also accommodates fat tire bikes. Both fatbike riders and downhill skiers can access select runs via a high-speed chairlift.
• Chisholm | Sturgeon River Trail
35km - Excellent beginner trail for classic skiing in the Superior National Forest. Long stretches of solitary trails. Two Adirondack shelters, groomed, scenic views of Sturgeon River. Groomed occasionally.
• Hibbing | Carey Lake
22km - Beginner to advanced groomed trails with 10km side by side classic and skate skiing with views of the lake, lowlands, bogs and jack pine stands. 3.8km 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, the 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.
• Virginia | Big Aspen Recreation Area
33km - Beginner to intermediate classic trail with shelters and a beautiful overlook on old logging roads and abandoned RR grades of the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Co.
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.
International Falls Area
• Manka Trail
2km - Lighted beginner trail, groomed for skate and classic, in the woods behind the Elementary School.
• 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 to Black Bay Trails is 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.
• Trout Lake
17.7km - Easy classic ski trail through the Chippewa National Forest. 3 miles from historic Joyce Estate, a National Historic Site. Mora Area
• 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.
• Warman Public Ski Area (Northern Practice Loop)
7.6km - Appropriate for beginners, mostly flat with some nice, 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.
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.
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.
• Northwoods Ski Trail
19km - Intermediate, groomed singletrack, classic trail through an intimate wooded setting, following the contours of rolling hills. Trail travels past Bean and Bear Lakes.
SKI TR AIL GUIDE TRAIL
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, which form a huge network stretching up Minnesota’s North Shore. The Sugarbush Trail system offers 65km of regularly groomed ski trails near Tofte. Farther up the shore near Lutsen, the Norpine Trail system includes two clusters, the Hall and Massey loops and the Deer Yard Lake/Cascade River system which are tied together with connector trails. This system links to trails inside of Cascade State Park to the east, which in turn connect to the Bally Creek Trail System near Grand Marais.
• Sugarbush Trail System
forested trails along Cascade River and several little 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 or access the trail at the south lot about a mile south on County Road 135. MN Ski Pass required.
Two Harbors Area
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 trail heads. MN Ski Pass required.
• Norpine Trail System
• 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.
• Erkki Harju Ski Trail
10.5km - Intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trail through scenic city forest. 3km lit until 10 pm daily. MN Ski Pass required. Adjacent, groomed multi-use trails allow walking and fatbiking.
Open year round
year round
minutes from cross-country
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. MN Ski Pass required. Some trails are groomed for fatbiking.
• Cascade River State Park
27km - Beginner to advanced, classic, single-tracked, groomed weekly. Heavily
• 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.
SKI TR AIL GUIDE TRAIL GUIDE
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
11.3km - 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.
• 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. Trails are groomed flat with track set in the middle. Flat groomed area is open to walking, snowshoeing and fatbiking.
• 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.
• 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.
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 Abby Arboretum
16km - Beginner to advanced skate and classic loops through the wooded hills of the Saint John’s University campus. 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.
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.
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. Visitor center with restrooms is open as a warming house daily from 8 am to 10 p.m. This park also has groomed fatbike trails that can be snowshoed. MN Ski Pass required.
where begin lakes trails
Little Falls | Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
5.6km - Beginner trail, groomed with two parallel tracks, with gentle hills. Trail follows Platte River.
McGregor Area
• 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.
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.
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.
SKI TR AIL GUIDE TRAIL
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. Sk i rentals available. MN Ski Pass required.
Andes Tower Hills, Kensington, MN. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR
2024/25
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 Lake. 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.
• Riverside Park
5km - Beginner to intermediate trails with flat to rolling hills along the Mississippi River near downtown Saint Cloud.
SKI TR AIL GUIDE TRAIL Central
• 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 cut-offs 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
9km - Beginner to advanced, classic ski trails that wind through a wooded setting.
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. 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.
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.
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.
WONDERLAND
SKI TR AIL GUIDE TRAIL 2024/25
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 regardless of Mother Nature’s plans.
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. Skiing is at the south unit only. The north unit has snowshoe trails. MN Ski Pass required.
Anoka Area
• Green Haven Golf Course
5km - Skate and double-tracked, classic groomed trails through rolling golf course hills and trees. Trails are only open when groomed and posted as open. Golf course building and restroom is open during regular business hours.
• Anoka Nature Preserve
5km - Flat and easy trail loops through stands of oak trees and open areas. Trail is groomed flat and is open to walking, fat tire bikes and skate skiing. A good novice trail. Bloomington | Hyland Lake Park Reserve 15km - Intermediate to expert, groomed, classic and skate trails over rolling hills and prairie. 8km lighted trail. 5km trail with snowmaking. 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 ski trails through prairie, deciduous forest and wetlands. Parking and restrooms at Anoka Ramsey Community College.
• 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. Restrooms in the parking lot.
• 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. Restrooms in the parking lot.
Chanhassen | Lake Minnewashta Regional Park 8km - Classic ski trails through 340-acre park on the shores of 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 Cafe 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
10km - 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.
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 multiuse 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. 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. 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.
Falcon Heights | Les Bolstad Golf Course
6km - Three skate and classic loops starting and ending at the golf course club house. Trails groomed by University of Minnesota Outdoor Adventures. A trail fee applies.
Farmington | Whitetail Woods Regional Park
9km - Intermediate classic trails around Empire Lake. Connects with Lone Rock Trail in Rosemount. Camper cabins and fire rings available. 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 visitors 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.
Schaar’s Bluff offers views of the Mississippi River Valley. 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. Washington County Ski Pass required.
Isanti | Wayside Prairie County Park
3.2km - Classic ski trail in an 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 offering a variety of experiences and challenges. Some lighted trails. 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. Morgan Lane offers a beautiful view of a pond from a birch-lined ridge. Groomed occasionally by volunteers.
Lakeville | Ritter Farm Park Ski Trail
9km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate ski with hills through the woods. MN Ski Pass required.
Lino Lakes | Chomonix Golf Club
10km - Beginner to intermediate trails on flat terrain. Rent skis at Chomonix Golf Course clubhouse on weekends. MN Ski Pass required.
Maple Grove | Elm Creek Park Reserve
18km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate trails. Some of the best ski trails in the metro area with fantastic night skiing on 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-March.
Maple Plain | Baker Park Reserve
14.5km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate trails through woods and meadows. Ski rentals, warming house and snack bar at chalet. Three Rivers Park District Ski Pass required.
Maplewood | Battle Creek Regional ParkEast Section (West section is in St. Paul) 6km - Beginner to intermediate classic ski 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. An additional 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. Wetland Trail for beginners and Prairie Overlook for the more advanced. Heated trail center has a woodstove. 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 golf course hills. Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) Pass required.
• Hiawatha Regional Park
4km - Groomed, classic and skate trails on rolling golf course hills with a view of the Minneapolis skyline. Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) Pass required.
• Theodore Wirth Regional Park
23km - Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate ski trails. 3km lighted trails. One of the largest venues with snowmaking capabilities in the Twin Cities features some incredible hills on the north while the south side is primarily flat. Ski rentals available. Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) Pass required.
2024/25 SKI TR AIL GUIDE TRAIL
Minnetonka | Glen Lake Golf Center
2.4km - Groomed, classic and skate trails through rolling golf course hills. Rentals and concessions available at the clubhouse. Three Rivers Park District Ski Pass required.
Monticello Area
• Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park
3.5km - Great beginner trail through pines along Bertram, Long, Mud and First Lake. 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 ski from easy to difficult. Park at Irondale High School after 3:30 pm 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.
Otsego | Otsego Regional Park
3km - Beginner trails alongside paved park trails on the Mississippi River. Tracks are set when sufficient snow is available, otherwise they’re 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. 4.5km of lighted trails attract many after-work skiers. Rentals and concessions available at visitor center. Three Rivers Park District Ski Pass required.
Prior Lake | Cleary Lake Regional Park
9.5km - Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails. Visitor center with ski rentals, vending machine and fireplace. 4.5km 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-countr y sk i trails circling Wood Lake in a 150-acre nature preserve. The trails wind through three different habitats: cattail marsh, mixed lowland forest and restored prairie. Sk i and snowshoe rentals available.
Rosemount | Lone Rock Trail
18km - Intermediate trails groomed for both classic and skate ski on gently rolling terrain through woods, agricultural land and wetlands in UMore Park. Connects with trails at Whitewoods Regional Park
Saint Paul Area
• Battle Creek Regional Park West Section (East section is in Maplewood)
10km - Beginner to advanced, classic and skate ski trails. 4km lit trail. Saint Paul/ Ramsey County Mutual Ski Pass required
• Como Park
5km - Intermediate to advanced classic and sk ate trails. 1.7k m lighted trail. Equipment rentals are available. Saint Paul/Ramsey County Mutual Sk i Pass required.
• Fort Snelling State Park
19km - The park offers flat multi-use trails which are shared by sk iers, hikers and fatbikers. The Pike Island Loop with its views of the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers is the only trail groomed just for skiing. Visitor center serves as a warming house. MN Sk i Pass required.
• Highland 9-Hole Golf Course
3.5km - Beginner to intermediate classic and skate trail loop. There’s a fatbike trail around the perimeter of the golf course. Saint Paul/Ramsey County Mutual Sk i Pass required
• Phalen Regional Park
7km - Intermediate classic and sk ate trails, open and fairly flat. Saint Paul/Ramsey County Mutual Sk i Pass required.
• Highland National Golf Course
5km - 3k m beginner loop is double tracked for classic ski and groomed for skate skiing. 2km intermediate loop is single tracked for classic and groomed for skate skiing. Chalet serves as a warming house. Saint Paul/ Ramsey County Mutual Sk i Pass required.
Savage | Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve
14.5km - Some of the most exciting and challenging trails in the metro. Groomed, classic and sk ate trails. Trailhead building serves as a warming area on weekends. Three Rivers Park District Sk i 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.
Stanchfield | Vegsund Family County Park
3.2km - Classic ski trail in an 80-acre park with woods, prairie and wetlands. Ski trails are side by side with packed walking trails. Restrooms in the parking lot
Stillwater Area
• Brown’s Creek Nature Preserve
4.5km - Beginner classic and sk ate trails on moderate hills shared with hikers. MN Sk i Pass required
• Pine Point Regional Park
6.5km - Beginner to intermediate trails groomed for classic and skate skiing. This small park near the end of the Gateway State Trail has beautiful scenery with trails winding through large pine plantation, by small lakes and picturesque farms. Washington County Sk i Pass required.
Vadnais Heights | Vadnais/Sucker Lakes
8km - Beginner to intermediate, classic two-way trails on moderate hills through woods with lake views. Sucker Lake loop is north of County Road F, Vadnais Lake loop (double-tracked outand-back) is south. 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.
White Bear Lake | Tamarack Nature Center
8km - Beginner to intermediate, classic-only trails through prairie, woodland and marsh. Ski rentals and lessons available. 1km practice loop. Saint Paul/Ramsey County Mutual Ski Pass required.
South:
SKIING WITH A VIEW
SKI TR AIL GUIDE TRAIL 2024/25
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. Rentals available at the nature center. Equipment rentals available.
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 inner prairie loops are dedicated to groomed skiing, the outer prairie loops are open to snowshoeing and other uses. 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. Trail users are
Eastwood Golf Course ski trail, Rochester, MN. PHOTO BY JAN LASAR
2024/25 SKI TR AIL GUIDE TRAIL GUIDE
encouraged to park at the south entrance off of 680th Avenue. Note that tracks are set only 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 bottom of the valley with more challenging routes on the oak shaded bluffs with several overlooks of Cottonwood River. Ski and snowshoe rentals available. 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 suitable for skate ski and tracked for classic when snow is sufficient. Trail travels from Morehouse Park through Kaplan’s Woods Parkway and into the Owatonna Country Club grounds. MN Ski Pass required.
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 crosscountry 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 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. Quarry Hill 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 and visitors can expect to see deer, turkeys and other wildlife and see 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. Users are encouraged to park in the horse camp off of County Road 10. Use of trails and parking is free for day use. Note that tracks are set only 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.
Becker Ski Trails
STORY & PHOTOS BY JAN LASAR
If you’ve gone up north from the northern metro area, you’ve probably been through Becker, Minnesota. My wife Jen and I drive Highway 10 on a regular basis. Her family lives in Blaine and we make the trip often, but we just found out there’s more to Becker than the highway and a giant furniture store. A couple of years ago, Sherburne County Parks began grooming winter trails at Pebble Creek Golf Club, Becker City Park and adjacent Oak Savanna Park.
The day before our visit gale force winds had obliterated the nicely groomed trails at Pebble Creek, but we found the wooded areas of the city park and Oak Savanna Park were in good shape. The trails at 113-acre Becker city park meander through dense woods on gently rolling hills. Oak Savanna Park lives up to its name and consists of stands of oaks, sprinkled into 140 acres of open fields, just north of the Sherburne History Center.
We parked here and began our huge figure-eight loop through both systems. Despite high temperatures in the single digits and a slow breeze, we didn’t feel cold. The sun was out and our internal thermostats were solidly operating in the green. After a short jog on trails inside Oak Savanna Park we entered Becker City Park, going counterclockwise. In the woods, the going was easy. The little hills were no problem and the track was crisp. At times it felt like we were in a place far away from civilization, but we
were never more than a half a mile away from Highway 10. When we reached the parking lot and playground area, we circled back and soon re-entered Oak Savanna Park.
The trails here make one giant loop and we continued. The trails in this park are more open and at times we had to guess where the track was. The wind was more noticeable here, but we cinched up our hoods and soldiered on. The overblown tracks worked out to our advantage at one point when we were going down a long, naked hill toward Clitty Lake. The powdery snow slowed us down enough to take the edge off the descent. My younger self would have enjoyed the schuss, but my current self was content to gently glide without the watering eyes and risk of disfigurement. After passing through a stand of pines, we were on the final approach back to the parking lot.
When we were finished with both loops, we warmed up and dried out inside the Sherburne History Center with
some water and a snack. This trip was a fine Saturday diversion. We got some exercise, skied about 6km and soaked up some sun. Next time, we’ll try the trails at Pebble Creek and next time you’re looking for a place to ski, hike or bike near the metro area, take a day trip to Becker. Both trails are wellmarked with permanent, easy to read maps and you don’t need a MN Ski Pass to use them.
June 21, 2025 Walker, MN leech-lake.com/spring-bike- ing
Ride Across Wisconsin
July 12, 2025
Eau Claire, WI wisconsinbikefed.org/ ride-across-wisconsin-raw
Bike MS: Ride Across Minnesota
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Luverne Loop Tour
June 5, 2025
Luverne, MN luvernechamber.com
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June 7-8, 2025
White Bear Lake, Proctor, Hinckley, MN bikems.org
18TH
Tour de Pepin
June 7, 2025
Lake City, MN www.lakecity.org
Tour of Minnesota
June 14-20, 2025
MN Iron Range TourOfMinnesota.com
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Scenic Shore Bike Tour
July 26-27, 2025
Mequon-ManitowocSturgeon Bay, WI scenicshore150.org
Tour de Bun Bicycle Classic
July 26, 2025
Montgomery, MN KolackyDays.com
Tour de Tonka
August 2, 2025
Minnetonka, MN TourdeTonka.org
2024/25 FATBIKE AND SKI EVENTS Winter Events
Minnesota Nordic Ski Opener
December 7, 2024 | 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/minnesotanordic-ski-opener
Norpine Fat Bike Classic
January 10-12, 2025 | Lutsen, MN
Events include a fat bike race and a dark sky tour at night. See some of the best trails Cook County has to offer.
www.mntrails.com/event/norpine-fatbikeclassic
First Chance Ski Race
January 4, 2025 | Mora, MN
Celebrate your love of skiing with the first race of the year!
www.mntrails.com/event/first-chance-skirace
St Croix 40 Winter Ultra
January 11-12, 2025 | Hinckley, MN
St. Croix State Park
40km endurance race by foot, ski or fat bike. www.mntrails.com/event/st-croix-40winter-ultra
Fat Vasa
January 12, 2025 | Mora, MN
The event starts and finishes in downtown Mora, with beautiful trails winding through the Vasaloppet Nordic Ski Center complex. www.mntrails.com/event/fat-vasa
Low-Pet Law-Pet Challenge
January 12, 2025 | Minneapolis, MN
Theodore Wirth Regional Park
A primer for the City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival with ski races and a fatbike race. Get ready for a good time at Theodore Wirth! www.mntrails.com/event/low-pet-law-petchallenge
Lumberjack Jaunt
January 19, 2025 | Brainerd, MN
Northland Arboretum
This long-standing skin event at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025. www.mntrails.com/event/lumberjack-jaunt
Founders’ Classic
January 25, 2025 | Mora, MN
A fundraiser for the Mora Ski Club that’s only $1 per km! www.mntrails.com/event/founders-classic
Lantern Loppet
January 25, 2025 | Mora, MN
Ski classic-groomed trails by the glow of lanterns, following the Founders’ Classic. www.mntrails.com/event/lantern-loppet
Stillwater Fat Bike Rally
January 26, 2025 | Stillwater, MN
Cross the St. Croix River twice on this at-yourown-pace fatbike event. www.mntrails.com/event/stillwater-fatbike-rally
Arrowhead 135
January 27-29, 2025 | International Falls, MN
135-mile ski, bike and run endurance race on the Arrowhead State Trail. www.mntrails.com/event/arrowhead-135
City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival
February 1-2, 2025 | Minneapolis, MN
Theodore Wirth Regional Park
A family-friendly festival with numerous ski and fat bike events, skijoring and a nighttime luminary loppet. This is the can’t-miss event of the winter. mntrails.com/event/city-of-lakes-loppetwinter-festival
The Moraloppet
February 1, 2025 | 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
Vasaloppet
February 8-9, 2025 | Mora, MN
Vasaloppet Nordic Ski Center
This legendary ski event brings thousands to the ski trails in Mora, MN.
www.mntrails.com/event/vasaloppet
Minnesota Finlandia Ski Marathon
February 15, 2025 | Bemidji, MN
Buena Vista Ski Area
This iconic event draws citizen and elite skiers from around the world to Minnesota’s Buena Vista Ski Area.
TIMBER BUILDING SUPPLY 218-678-2063 14506 State Hwy. 6, Deerwood www.timberbuildingsupply.com
See more details at:
INFORMATION
GRANITE FALLS CONVENTION AND VISITORS
320-321-3202 761 Prentice Street S, Granite Falls www.visitgranitefalls.com HUTCHINSON CHAMBER 320-587-5252 2 Main Street, Hutchinson www.explorehutchinson.com
VISIT BRAINERD
800-450-7247 214 S 7th Street, Brainerd www.visitbrainerd.com
LOVIN’ LAKE COUNTY 218-595-2800 1330 MN-61, Two Harbors www.lovinlakecounty.com
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