Warm temperatures and lots of snow make for great cross country skiing. Dress appropriately and make sure to bring enough fluids to rehydrate while you are skiing. A change of shirt after a long ski is a good idea as well. Please get out and enjoy this beautiful winter weather while it lasts!
Pincushion trails
With a base of 20 plus inches and three to four inches of new snow on Monday, February 4 the groomers were out on Tuesday, setting the skate lanes and classic tracks. The classic tracks are still a little soft, noted the groomers report, but cooler temps will firm up those tracks in no time at all.
Sugarbush trails
There is a base of 14-18” of snow on the trails. On February 1 the groomer report stated, “We had two note-worthy skiers on the Sugarbush trails today. Deb and Clay Diggins skied the Picnic Loop from Britton Peak trailhead. Deb and Clay are parents to U.S. Winter Olympic Cross Country Ski Gold Medalist Jessie Diggins. According to Deb, the ski conditions today were “Excellent. Couldn’t ask for a better day or trail conditions”.
Bally Creek trails
Bally Creek Ski trails have been freshly groomed and tracked. The road has been winged and plowed to accept two cars…safety first, thanks to the US Forest Service. The animals have been out and about, and you may have the opportunity to see a moose, bobcat tracks, and plenty of rabbits on the trails. There is 24” of new snow on a solid 30” base. Please purchase your Minnesota Ski Pass at any of the gas stations in town. The Bally Creek trails are located on Forest Service Road 158 and are just 6 miles from downtown Grand Marais. Get out there while the snow is fresh, and the temps are perfect!
Upper Gunflint trails
Groomer’s Notes: February 3, 2020: Recent snowfall has covered the last grooming. Due to staffing, a fresh groom will take place throughout Tuesday/Wednesday, but beautiful skiing is on the horizon. Visit Gunflint Lodge and Outfitters, Gunflint Pines, or Heston’s Resort to purchase your ski pass! Proceeds of the passes go into taking care of our trail system and making them the best we can make them.
Passes are available at Gunflint Lodge (800-328-3325), Gunflint Pines (800-533-5814), or Heston’s Lodge (800- 338-7230).
Banadad trails
All of the 41K of trails are tracked on Sundays. The groomers’ report says, “Skiing remains excellent with lots of great snow.” The Banadad is the BWCA longest tracked ski trail, and likely the longest wilderness tracked ski trail in the USA. For more information, call 218-388-4487.
George Washington Pines trail
The George Washington Pines winter recreation trail is a relatively short 3.3 km trail located fairly close to Grand Marais, only six miles up the Gunflint Trail. It passes through a beautiful grove of pines, the George Washington Memorial Pine Plantation.
Mushing/ Skijoring:
While traditional dogsleds do not work well on the short George Washington Pines Trail, it is open for skijoring where a harnessed dog pulls a person on cross country skis. If you are skijoring, please remove all dog droppings from the trail and repair holes melted in the trail from dog leavings. If you are skiing, alert skijorers to your presence to avoid spooking dogs. Regardless of what you are participating in, if you find dog leavings or other litter left by careless people, do your part and clean it up.
Skiing/Snowshoeing:
Both skiers and snowshoers are welcome on the George Washington Pines Trail. The trail is groomed for classic skiing on one side and snowshoeing or skate skiing on the other. Please respect other users by not snowshoeing on groomed ski tracks.
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