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Snow, lots of snow has blanketed Cook County which makes for great cross skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing and snowmobiling. Locally, we have quite a few groups who maintain cross country ski trails. Here is a trail grooming report from Wednesday, December 22. Cook County has more than 400 km of cross country ski trails for visitors and locals to enjoy
Pincushion trails
Dec. 22, 2021: Oh, what a beautiful morning! We got a welcome snowfall yesterday which set up nicely on the thin frozen base. Green trails have been groomed (Upper and Lower Snowman, West and East Overlook), and the rest of the system will be groomed tonight. Lower elevation trails (East Overlook) are thin, and the Stadium area is still icy, so use caution.
Sugarbush trails
We received 4” of new snow yesterday. Onion River Road and small Oberg Loop are groomed for skate and classic skiing. Rolling and packing is continuing the remainder of the system. Due to the 2” of rain last week, some areas of the trail have flowing water across the trail, and the base is thin. This new snow will help but is not enough in some areas. We will keep you updated.
Bally Creek trails
There wasn’t a grooming report available, but the Bally Creek Ski Trails feature multiple short loops for skiers of all levels. Please purchase your MN Ski Pass at any of the gas stations in town. The Bally Creek trails are located on FS Rd. 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
The most current trail conditions were reported on Dec. 6, 2021: What a storm! We received around a foot of snow! Work is underway to get ski trails groomed by the end of the evening. The temperature has dropped, and the lake is steaming, which means ice is on the way. We’re so excited that winter is finally here!
The 40 miles of the Upper Gunflint Ski Trail system is maintained by the Gunflint Lake Trails Group and requires an Upper Gunflint Trail Ski Pass for usage. Funds raised from these passes pay for land lease fees and grooming expenses. Daily, weekend, week, and seasonal passes are available.
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).
Central Gunflint Ski Trail report:
The Gunflint Trail has received several inches (or more) of snow this report was filed on Dec 18.
The weather has been interesting this December to say the least. We did receive significant rain from the storm earlier in the week. Fortunately, snow followed in the days after, not a lot, but it gave us the ability to re-groom several trails. Logging Camp, Red Pines, Cross Fox, and Deer Mouse as well as Summer Home Road, Campground Loop, Beaver Dam, Poplar Creek, and Bear Cub have all been re-groomed as of this morning. Moose Ridge has been closed until we receive more snow.
Conditions are pretty good considering; we were able to get a good classic track set on 95 percent of what we groomed. The skate deck is solid but not icy. Do expect to find debris and dirt in some places, churned up from the tillers. B-skis should be fine on many trails with rock skis for the few trails that traverse more rugged/rocky terrain. The base is still nice and solid so that will help with future snowfalls and grooming as we move closer to the holidays.
The snowshoe trails are beautiful too! Skiing is awesome right now.
For the most up-to-date grooming information, as well as specific trail conditions contact Golden Eagle Lodge (1-800-346-2203) or Bearskin Lodge (1-800- 338-4170). Central Gunflint Ski Pass Required.
Banadad trails
As of December 13, the groomed trails included Tall Pines, Lace Lake, Tim Knopp and first mile of Banadad. Still working to open main Banadad. 18-20” of snow; 6-8” base on trail, good conditions. (Andrew Jenks, Banadad Trail Association).
The Banadad is the BWCA longest tracked ski trail, and likely the longest wilderness tracked ski trail in the USA. For more info, 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 other 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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