Time to put away your rock skis and wax your good cross country skis. Despite some rain this past week a big dollop of snow fell over most of the area which has allowed groomers to set tracks for cross country skiers on many of the county’s 400-plus kilometers of cross country ski trails
. Sugarbush Trail: The groomer reports 6” of new snow. Groomers were out the evening of December 26 setting tracks on Britton and Oberg trailheads. Heavy winds have blown over some of the groomed sections. Grooming will continue into this week with Onion River Road, Oberg Loop, Britton loops, Connector Trail, and Hogback Loop as priority sections.
Temperatures are expected to be ideal for outdoor activities in the coming days, with more snow in the forecast.
Details on groomed sections are at sugarbushtrail.org/ski_ trails.php.
. Norpine trails: Tracks have been set on Deeryard, the Firetower, and the Short Loop as well as the Pioneer Loop. Avoid Ridge run and Lookout Mountain right now because the groomer said they are dangerous. These trails aren’t groomed, only packed, and there are still large rocks in the middle of the trail. On the west end of the trail system, the groomer reports the trails are the best they have been in the last three years over the Christmas holiday.
. Grand Marais area trails: Bally Creek Trails (25K), Pincushion Trails (25K) and George Washington Pines Ski Trail (3K) are packed and in some places groomed.
On Pincushion all trails have been preliminarily groomed with tracks for classic and a single pass for skating. West Overlook, Snowmen, and their connector have double tracks set. All other trails have a single pass for skating and classic tracks set. The interior short trails, Ole and Hilfiker, have not been groomed.
. Central Gunflint Trail system: All trails are open, groomed, and in great shape!
Trails will be grooming daily or as needed. Only a couple trails showing minor stubble remain. Call Bearskin Lodge (1-800-338-4170) or Golden Eagle Lodge (1-800-346-2203) for trail updates.
. Upper Gunflint Trail system: 70K of privately maintained trails. Big Pine, Little Pine, Overlook Lonely Lake, Highlands, Ham Lake trails have been groomed and tracked for single track. For more information call Gunflint Lodge ( 218-388-2294), Gunflint Pines Resort (218-388-4454), and Heston’s Lodge (218-388-2243).
. Banadad Trail System: 43 kilometers that wind through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCAW). The trails are publicly maintained, and the trails connect with the Central Gunflint Trail System. The trails are packed. No update on whether they have been groomed yet.
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