It is December, and we are just waiting for more snow to fall. Some of us are waiting pretty impatiently… it is winter in northern Minnesota, and we are supposed to have plenty of snow by this time.
Here at the Forest Service, we’ve been getting plenty of calls regarding cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and the answer is, yes, there are places where you can get out and do some skiing… but conditions are far from perfect in many locations.
One of the easiest ways to check for good conditions is to visit our website. The Recreation page has links to condition reports from our partner organizations who groom the trails.
While the skiing is okay in some places, it is harder going if you are either planning to use snowshoes or a snowmobile. You can use snowshoes on bare ground, of course, though you would look pretty silly. Snowshoes are really built for cross-country travel in deep snow, and there isn’t much of that around.
There are designated, though not groomed, snowshoe trails at George Washington Pines and in the Sugarbush Ski area, accessed from the trailhead at Oberg Mountain or at Britton Peak. Be very careful that you are not snowshoeing on the ski trails – one set of snowshoe tracks can wreck hours worth of ski trail grooming.
Most of our other trails are not designated for snowshoeing, but are open for anyone who wants to try. An exception is that snowshoeing is not allowed in the Pincushion Mountain recreation area due to the high number of skiers and ski trails.
Snowmobiling takes a bit more snow than we have now. For cross-country travel, 4 inches is required. Most snowmobile trails are either closed or in poor condition and not groomed. Your best source for information on snowmobile conditions is the state DNR website.
With low snow, some are looking to extend the ATV season. ATV rules still apply in the winter, and be aware that some trails may be closed in the mud seasons between winter and summer.
The lack of snow does mean that our roads are in pretty good shape for winter driving. Watch for logging trucks on the Dumbbell River Road, the Wanless Road, Perent Lake Road, The Grade, Ball Club Road, North Devil Track Road, Carlton Pit Road, and the Schroeder-Tote Road.
On the Gunflint District, log trucks will be hauling on the Greenwood Road, Firebox Road (dual-use with snowmobile trail), South Brule Road (signs are posted – no snowmobiling on plowed roads), Lima Grade (dual-use with snowmobile trail for less than a mile; signs are posted – no snowmobiling on plowed roads), Otter Trail, and the Caribou Trail.
The Schroeder-Tote, Firebox, South Brule, and Lima Grade roads are all shared with snowmobile trails, so be cautious in those area. Watch for posted signs showing when the dual designation stops and snowmobiles aren’t allowed further. Except those locations, snowmobiles are not allowed on plowed roads in the forest.
Your drive may be in search of a Christmas tree or other holiday greenery. Be sure to pick up a tag at a Forest Service office before you go out to cut one down. Along with your tag, you’ll get a sheet with the rules about where to cut and what species of tree to cut, and other considerations when choosing your tree.
See the link from our home page for more info on holiday greenery. Remember, if you have a fourth-grader in the family, they are eligible for a free tree tag.
Enjoy the forest, and let’s all keep wishing for more snow to play in!
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