The Winter Tracks Festival will offer 10 days of the best a North Shore winter has to offer—downhill and Nordic ski events, snowmobiling, ice skating, live music, and many familyfriendly activities—like snowshoeing!
Hold on to your long johns because Cook County is about to introduce you to how the North Shore does winter. From Feb. 4-13, the Cook County Visitors Bureau will host the Winter Tracks Festival throughout the North Shore and Gunflint Trail. This 10-day celebration of the season highlights the best winter has to offer with downhill and Nordic ski events, snowmobiling, ice skating, live music and many more family-friendly activities scheduled throughout the week.
“From more than 100 inches of annual powder and the state’s highest peaks to North America’s longest network of cross-country ski trails, winter doesn’t get any better than it does up in Cook County. Winter Tracks is our way of introducing visitors to the excitement and adventure of a North Shore winter,” said Sally Nankivell, executive director of the Cook County Visitors Bureau. “Our events and activities let families and snow-lovers experience the season in a way that can’t be matched anywhere else in the state.”
The festival kicks off on Friday, Feb. 4 with the Lutsen Mountains Family Fun Fest, a chance for families to experience downhill skiing in a fun and affordable way. On Saturday, Feb. 5, snowmobilers can tour some of the area’s 450 miles of groomed trails with the Ridge Riders Snowmobile Fun Run beginning at the Devil Track Resort or Hungry Jack Lodge, or participate in the Easter Seals Snowarama at Grand Portage Lodge & Casino.
Joining the Winter Tracks schedule this year is the third-annual Volks Ski 400. Held on Saturday, Feb. 12, this non-competitive Nordic ski event will attempt to cover the county’s 400 km of professionally groomed ski trails – North America’s longest ski trail system – in a single day. Skiers will sign up to ski sections of the network and cumulatively cover the county’s trails. Like the European tradition of Volksmarching after which the event was modeled, the Volks Ski 400km is designed for first-timers, seasoned skiers or anyone who wants to get out and enjoy the beauty of a Cook County winter. Skiers also have Photo by Dennis Chick the option of participating in the individual Volks Ski challenge, a season-long effort to cover as much of the 400km system as possible.
In addition to skiing and snowmobiling, venues throughout the county will offer activities and events for the whole family throughout the 10 days of the festival. Guests can visit specially commissioned snow sculptures throughout the county, ice skate, follow luminary lit ski trails, participate in guided snowshoe tours, listen to live music, take dog sled or horse-drawn sleigh rides, and other scheduled activities.
More information on Winter Tracks and a full schedule of events can be found at: www.cookcountymnevents.com/wintertracks
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