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Minnesota Monthly

October 17, 2007

Gunflint Trail
North Shore
Iron Range
Ely Area
Grand Rapids- Voyageurs Area
Duluth
East Central
Northwest
Bemidji-Park Rapids Area
Leech Lake Area
Brainerd-Mille Lacs Area
St. Cloud-Monticello Area
Western Lakes
Southern Minnesota
Twin Cities Area

a map of Minnesota cross-country ski regions

For the chart below

EG = Easygoing: Level trails with few to no hills
INT = Intermediate: Moderately rolling trails with some hills
EX = Expert: Challenging, steep hills and turns
AL = All Levels: Variety of skill levels represented

Track-Set Kilometers: The number of trail kilometers groomed with a set track.

Skate-Ski Kilometers: The number of trail kilometers without a set track for gliding/skating type of cross-country skiing.

Signs Note Difficulty: Trail signs ensure that every skier will find the right trail for his/her ability.

Maps Along Trail: Maps are posted for your convenience.

Toilet: Facilities can be found on-site.

MN Ski Pass Required: State law requires ski-trail passes for use at designated trails.

MN Ski Pass Sold: You can purchase a ski pass at the trailhead.

Other Fees: Vehicle permits or entrance fees required at some parks or ski areas (including all state parks).

Note: A vehicle permit is required for entry into any Minnesota state park and can be purchased at a park or at the Department of Natural Resources in St. Paul.

1. Gunflint Trail
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Banadad Ski Trail Boundary Country Trekking 218-388-4487, 800-322-8327; boundarycountry.com	39.0		INT		X	X	X	X	X	30 miles NW of Grand Marais. BWCA’s longest tracked trail connects with Central & Upper Gunflint Nordic Trails System. Snowmobile groomed.
Central Gunflint Ski Trail System Bearskin Lodge and Golden Eagle Lodge 218-388-2292, 218-388-2203	77.0	50.0	AL	X	X	X		X		27 miles N of Grand Marais. Equipment rental. Lessons. 3 km lighted trails. Warming houses. Lake views and high bluffs in a pine forest with lots of wildlife. Trails running adjacent to BWCA.
Pincushion Mountain Ski Trail North Superior Ski and Run Club; pincushiontrails.org	25.0	25.0	AL	X	X	X	X			2 miles N of Grand Marais. Lighted trails. Warming houses. Views of river gorge and Lake Superior. Gentle to rolling terrain.
Upper Gunflint Ski Trails Gunflint Lodge, Gunflint Pines, Heston’s; 800-338-2294; gunflint-trail.com	90.0	17.0	AL	X	X				X	43 miles NW of Grand Marais. Equipment rental. Lessons. Warming houses. Scenic trails in Laurentian Highlands overlooking Canada.

2. North Shore
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Bally Creek Trails Bear Track Outfitting/Bally Creek Camp; 218-387-1162, 800-795-8068	25.0	5.0	AL	X	X		X			6 miles NW of Grand Marais. Equipment rental by reservation only. Lessons. Intimate trails through gently rolling hills covered with forest. Ski through to Cascade Park. 1 km skijorging.
Britton Peak/Moose Fence/Oberg Mt. Trails Sugar Bush Trail Association; 888-61-NORTH; americasnorthcoast.org	65.0	65.0	AL	X	X	X	X			Located in Lutsen and Tofte. Equipment rental. Custom designed by a trail-design expert.
Cascade River/Deer Yard Lake Cascade Lodge; 218-387-1112, 800-322-9543; cascadelodgemn.com	60.0	25.0	AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	9 miles N of Lutsen. Equipment rental. River and lake views within a pine and hardwood forest.
Cascade River State Park 218-387-3053; dnr.state.mn.us	27.5		AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	Located between Lutsen and Grand Marais. Spruce, birch, and aspen forest. Warming house.
Flathorn/Gegoka Trail National Forest Lodge; 651-351-0939; nationalforestlodge.com	37.6		AL	X	X	X	X			7 miles N of Isabella. Warming huts. Large white and red pine forests with river views.
Gooseberry Falls State Park 218-834-3855; dnr.state.mn.us	19.2		INT	X	X	X	X	X	X	13 miles N of Two Harbors. Rolling birch and conifer hills with views of Lake Superior and the Gooseberry River. Warming house in visitor center with fireplace.
Lutsen Nordic Center Lutsen Mountains; 218-663-7281; lutsen.com	27.0	27.0	AL	X	X	X			X	Located at Lutsen Mountain Ski Area. Lift access to mountaintop trailhead with spectacular Lake Superior and inland forest views. Full service base area offers rental center, dining and trailside lodging.
North Shore Ski Trail Lutsen Tofte Tourism Association; 218-663-7804, 888-61-NORTH; americasnorthcoast.org	196	102	AL	X	X		X			Several access points between Little Marais and Grand Marais. Equipment rental. Lessons. Views of Lake Superior.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park 218-226-6377; dnr.state.mn.us	12.8		INT	X	X	X	X	X	X	20 miles NE of Two Harbors. Lake Superior shoreline trail winds through birch forest. Warming house.
Tettegouche State Park 218-226-6365; dnr.state.mn.us	24.8		INT	X	X	X	X	X	X	5 miles NE of Silver Bay. Pine and hardwood forest cover.

3. Iron Range
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Big Aspen Trail U.S. Forest Service; 218-229-8800; fs.fed/us/r9/superior	32.0		AL	X	X	X				12 miles N of Virginia. Trail runs through pine and hardwood forest in the process of regeneration.
Bird Lake Trail U.S. Forest Service; 218-229-8800; fs.fed/us/r9/superior	15.0		AL	X	X	X				East edge of Hoyt Lakes. Scenery includes bogs and forest.
Carey Lake Ski Trail Hibbing Parks and Recreation; 218-263-8851	22.4	12.0	AL	X	X	X			X	4 miles E of Hibbing. 4 km of lighted combination trails. Quad loop with pine and hardwood forest. Trail groomed with Yellow Stone Ginzugroomer.
Giants Ridge Cross-Country Ski Trails 218-865-3000, 800-688-7669; giantsridge.com	60.0	60.0	AL	X	X	X		X	X	5 miles E of Biwabik. Equipment rental. Lessons. Lighted trails. Diverse scenery and wildlife.
Lookout Mountain Trail U.S. Forest Service; 218-229-8800; fs.fed/us/r9/superior	16.0		AL	X	X	X				4 miles N of Virginia. Trail crosses the Laurentian Divide. Streams north of divide flow toward Hudson Bay; streams south flow toward Atlantic Ocean.
McCarthy Beach State Park 218-254-7979; dnr.state.mn.us	14.4		INT	X	X	X	X	X	X	Located N of Hibbing. Terrain with pine and birch woods.
Sturgeon River Trail U.S. Forest Service; 218-229-8800; fs.fed/us/r9/superior	30.8		AL	X	X					10 miles N of Chisholm. Solitary ski experience in a diverse forest setting.

4. Ely Area
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Bear Head Lake State Park 218-365-7229; dnr.state.mn.us	11.2		AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	Located S of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Red and white pines, birch, aspen, and fir trees along trail.
Bear Island Trail Northern Lights Lodge (218-827-2501 or 800-777-4406; northern-lights-lodge.com	10.0	15.0	AL	X	X	X				10 miles S of Ely. Opportunities to see deer, moose, and timberwolves.
Hidden Valley Cross-Country Ski Trails Ely Nordic Ski Club; 218-365-3077; elynordic.org	14.0	7.5	INT	X	X	X	X			1.5 miles E of Ely. Trail connects downtown Ely with the Hidden Valley Recreation Center.

5. Grand Rapids-Voyageurs Area
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Big Ridge Trail Itasca County; co.itasca.mn.us	10.4		AL		X	X	X			5 miles N of Goodland off Hwy. 65; .5 miles west on Co. Rd. 50. Beginner to advanced loops. Rolling terrain and timbered areas.
Black Bay/Echo Bay Ski Trails Voyageurs National Park; 218-283-9821; nps.gov/voya	25.0		AL	X	X	X				Black Bay: 11 miles E of International Falls. Echo Bay: 3.5 miles NW of Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center. Rolling hills through pines and aspens.
Blueberry Hills Trail Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club; 218-246-8195, 800-355-9740	12.0	12.0	INT	X	X	X	X			5.5 miles NE of Deer River. Pine and hardwood forest with challenging hills. Heated building.
Cowhorn Ski Trail DNR Trails and Waterways; 218-999-7922	11.0		INT		X	X				7.5 miles S of Grand Rapids. Pine and hardwood forest.
Kab-Ash Trail Voyageurs National Park; 218-283-9821; nps.gov/voya	32.2		AL							Near Ash River and Kabetogama 3 trail heads follow County Road 122 or 129. Trails wind through forest and wetland along Sullivan Bay. Not groomed.
Sugar Hills Cross-Country Ski Trail Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club; 218-326-5033, 800-355-9740	28.0	28.0	INT	X	X	X	X			7 miles S of Grand Rapids. Climb to Thunder Peak, surrounded by rolling hardwood forest.
Suomi Hills Ski Trail Chippewa National Forest; 218-246-2123; visitgrandrapids.com	34.3		INT	X	X	X				15 miles N of Grand Rapids off state Hwy 38. Birch and pine forest with rolling hills. 13 miles S off Hwy. 38. South trail connects to Amen Lake Trail.
Tilson Creek Ski Trail DNR Trails and Waterways; 888-MINNDNR; dnr.state.mn.us	16.4	12.0	AL	X	X		X		X	6.5 miles E of International Falls. Flat bog areas and steep rock ridges surrounded by pine and hardwood forest.
Trout Lake Recreation Area 218-832-3161	10.0		INT	X	X	X				13 miles N of Grand Rapids. Trail follows the forested shoreline of Trout Lake.
Wabana Trail Itasca County; 218-327-2850	10.4		INT		X	X	X			6 miles N of Grand Rapids on Highway 38, and 6 miles N on County Rd. 49. Winding trail along Clearwater Brook with diverse terrain.

6. Duluth
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Boulder Lake Management Area 218-721-4903; blma.org	21.0	8.0	AL	X	X	X				18 miles N of Duluth. Large pines with rolling hills. Ridges formed by glaciers. Travel and weather conditions available on website.
Fond Du Lac State Forest Ski Trail DNR Trails and Waterways; 218-327-4408; dnr.state.mn.us	29.5		AL	X	X		X			6 miles NE of Cromwell. Warming houses. Trails wind through mixed-age conifer/hardwood forest. Very limited grooming. Snowshoeing.
Jay Cooke State Park 218-384-4610; dnr.state.mn.us	32.0		AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	3 miles E of Carlton. Warming house located in park office. Diverse scenery and wildlife in a rugged river valley.
Lester-Amity Trail City of Duluth; 218-723-3586; ci.duluth.mn.us	15.0	15.0	AL	X	X		X			Located in eastern Duluth. Lighted trails. Trail winds between Lester and Amity Creeks.
Magney-Snively Trail City of Duluth; 218-723-3586; ci.duluth.mn.us	14.0	14.0	INT	X	X		X			Located in western Duluth. Hardwood forest overlooks St. Louis River.
Snowflake Nordic 218-726-1550; skiduluth.com	15.0	15.0	AL	X	X	X			X	Located in Duluth. Equipment rental. Lessons. Lighted trails. Warming house. Pine and hardwood forest with rolling hills.
Spirit Mountain 218-624-8544, 800-642-6377 ext.533; spiritmt.com	22.0	22.0	AL	X		X	X	X	X	5 minutes S of Duluth. Equipment rental. Lessons. Warming huts. Wooded scenery and diverse wildlife.

7. East Central
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Banning State Park 320-245-2668; dnr.state.mn.us	17.8		EG	X	X	X	X	X	X	4 miles N of Sandstone. Trail runs along the Kettle River through aspen, birch, maple, and pine forest.
No Achen Trail Aitkin County Land Dept.; 218-927-7364; co.aitkin.mn.us	10.3	10.3	AL	X	X	X	X			1 mile W of Aitkin on HWY 210, S on 422nd Place. Trail winds around several small lakes and through forest, bogs, and meadows.
Savanna Portage State Park 218-426-3271; dnr.state.mn.us	14.0		INT	X	X	X	X	X	X	17 miles N of McGregor. Shelter. Rolling hills through pines and hardwoods.
St. Croix State Park 320-384-6591; dnr.state.mn.us	17.6		EG	X	X	X	X	X	X	15 miles E of Hinckley. Warming house located in trail shelter. Level terrain through mixed pine forest.
Vasaloppet Public Ski Area Mora Vasaloppet; 320-679-2629, 800-368-6672; vasaloppet.org	22.0	22.0	EG		X	X				12 miles N of Mora. Portions of trails used for Mora Vasaloppet Ski Race in February.
Wild River State Park 651-583-2125; dnr.state.mn.us	56.0		INT	X	X	X	X	X	X	11 miles E of North Branch. Trail center with fireplace, stove, and restrooms. Trails wind through prairie and hardwood forest. Equipment rental.

8. Northwest
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Lake Bronson State Park 218-754-2200; dnr.state.mn.us	11.2		EG	X	X	X	X	X	X	2 miles E of Lake Bronson. Warming house located in picnic shelter. Level terrain through prairies, oak savannas, and woodlands.
Old Mill Trail Old Mill State Park; 218-437-8174; dnr.state.mn.us	11.2		AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	35 miles NW of Thief River Falls. Candlelit trails for special events. Warming house. Prairie and woods line rolling trails in historic Old Mill State Park.
Zippel Bay State Park 218-783-6252; dnr.state.mn.us	14.4	4.8	EG		X	X	X	X	X	18 miles NW of Baudette. Warming house. Level terrain in pine and hardwood forest.

9. Bemidji-Park Rapids Area
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Buena Vista Ski Trail Buena Vista Ski Area; 218-243-2231, 800-777-7958; bvskiarea.com	25.0	25.0	AL	X		X	X			12 miles N of Bemidji. Within nine lakes in a pine forest. Located on a continental divide. Home of the Finlandia Ski Marathon and Buena Vista Snowjourn.
Itasca State Park 218-266-2100; dnr.state.mn.us	51.0		AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	21 miles N of Park Rapids. Warming house with fireplace. Lakes and pine forest surround the source of the Mississippi River.
Lake Bemidji State Park 218-755-3843; dnr.state.mn.us	17.6		AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	7 miles N of Bemidji. Warming house in visitor center. Rolling trails through pine and hardwood forest.
Movil Maze Bemidji Area Cross-Country Ski Club; 218-444-3541, 800-458-2223; visitbemidji.com	14.0	14.0	EG	X	X	X	X			7 miles N of Bemidji. Equipment rental available in town. Lessons. Lighted trails. A favorite trail for ski racers who want to condition.
Rainbow Resort Trail 888-734-1140; rainbowresort.com	23.0	20.0	AL	X	X			X		20 miles W of Itasca State Park. Ski free with cabin rental. Heavily forested area. Equipment rental, including snowshoes and ice skates.
Soaring Eagles Trail Itasca Tour Ski Club; 218-652-2611, 800-247-0054	12.1	7.0	EX	X	X	X	X			8.5 miles N of Park Rapids. Scenic trails through pine and aspen forest. Rolling hills. Public chalet.
Three Island County Park Bemidji Area Cross-Country Ski Club; 218-444-3541, 800-458-2223; visitbemidji.com	32.0	32.0	AL	X	X	X	X			12 miles N of Bemidji. Equipment rental available in town. Lessons. Lighted trails. Trails frame the snowcapped, open-flowing Turtle River corridor.

10. Leech Lake Area
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Cut Lake Ski Trail Cass County Land Office; 218-947-3338	16.5		AL	X	X		X			11 miles W of Pine River. Varied terrain in Foothills State Park.
Deep Portage Ski Trail Deep Portage Environmental Learning Center; 218-682-2325; deep-portage.org	18.2	6.0	AL	X	X	X				12 miles E of Hackensack. Main lodge along trail. Rolling hills in Cass County/Deep Portage Conservation Reserve.
Goose Lake Ski Trail Cass County Land Office; 218-947-3338	15.0		EG		X	X	X			5 miles W of Longville. Gently rolling hills around wetlands.
Washburn Lake Solitude Area DNR Trails and Waterways; 218-833-8710	22.5		AL	X	X		X			2 miles N of Outing. Diverse lake and woodland trail in Land O’Lakes State Forest.

11. Brainerd-Mille Lacs Area
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Crow Wing State Park 218-825-3075; dnr.state.mn.us	10.0		EG	X	X	X	X	X	X	9 miles S of Brainerd. Warming shelter with wood stove. Nearly level trails along the Mississippi River through pine and oak forest.
French Rapids Ski Area Brainerd Nordic Ski Club; 218-963-4762; brainerdnordicskiclub.com	16.0	16.0	EX		X		X			5 miles E of Brainerd on State Hwy. 210. Very challenging trails in glaciated area next to the Mississippi River.
The Pines Ski Trail Grand View Lodge; 800-432-3788; grandviewlodge.com	20.0	10.0	AL		X				X	Located 13 miles N of Brainerd. Trails follows the scenic Pines Golf Course. Season/day passes available.
Larson Lake Ski Trail Crow Wing County Parks Department; 218-824-1057	20.0		AL	X	X	X	X			3 miles W of Deerwood. Rolling terrain in mature oak forest.
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park 320-532-3523; dnr.state.mn.us	32.0		AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	8 miles N of Onamia on US Highway 169. Warming house with fireplace. Equipment rental. Diversely forested trails.
Northland Arboretum Brainerd Nordic Ski Club; 218-829-8770	16.0	20.0	INT	X	X	X	X		X	2 blocks N of Westgate Mall, off Excelsior Road. Warming houses. Lighted trails. Jackpine and savanna with wetlands and dune-type hills.
Pine Beach Ski Trail Kavanaugh’s Resort; 218-829-5226, 800-562-7061; kavanaughs.com	48.0		AL	X	X					4 miles N and 7 miles W of Brainerd. Warming houses.
Wolf Lake Ski Trail Crow Wing County Parks Department; 218-824-1057	15.0		AL	X	X					10 minutes NE of Brainerd. Warming huts. Mixture of young and mature pines with hardwood.

12. St. Cloud-Monticello Area
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Lake Maria State Park; 763-878-2325; dnr.state.mn.us	22.0	3.2	INT	X	X	X	X	X	X	8 miles W of Monticello. Trail winds through hardwood forest and around lakes and ponds.
Graystone Trails; Central Minnesota Nordic Ski Club; 320-252-7291	25.0	25.0	AL			X	X			South of St. Cloud on Hwy. 301 near St. Cloud Correctional Facility. Secluded trails through woods and an old farmstead. Skijoring on one loop.

13. Western Lakes
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Andes Tower Hills; 320-965-2455, 87-SKI-ANDES; andestowerhills.com	15.0	15.0	AL	X	X				X	15 miles W of Alexandria. Equipment rental. Lessons. Lighted trails. Trails cut through and around lakes and forest.
Maplelag Trails, Maplelag Cross-Country Ski Resort; 218-375-4466, 800-654-7711; maplelag.com	45.0	15.0	AL			X			X	20 miles N of Detroit Lakes. Equipment rental. Lessons. Maple forest with rolling hills. Destination cross-country ski resort.
Spidahl Ski Gaard; 218-736-5097; skigaard.com	20.0	12.0	AL	X		X			X	14 miles NE of Fergus Falls. Equipment rental. Trails through sugar maple hills.
Trollskogen Ski Trail, Douglas County Public Works Dept.; 320-762-2966; co.douglas.mn.us	12.8		AL	X	X	X	X			15 miles W of Alexandria on State Hwy. 27. Intermediate trails through wooded glacial hills in Kensington Runestone Park. Heated visitors center.

14. Southern Minnesota
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Cannon Valley Trail; 507-263-0508; cannonvalleytrail.com	31.7	31.7	INT			X	X			30 miles S of St. Paul/Minneapolis. Level terrain runs between Red Wing and Cannon Falls along Cannon River.
Douglas State Trail, DNR Trails and Waterways; 507-285-7176; dnr.state.mn.us	20.9	20.9	EG		X	X	X			Trailhead located in Rochester. Trail runs through bluffs and woods. Very limited grooming.
Flandrau State Park; 507-233-9800; dnr.state.mn.us	12.0		AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	Located in New Ulm. Warming house located in picnic shelter. Varied terrain through combination of hardwood forest and grasslands in Cottonwood River Valley.
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park; 507-352-5111	13.7		INT	X	X	X	X	X	X	6 miles S of Wykoff. Warming house. Heavily wooded blufflands.
Great River Bluffs State Park; 507-643-6849; dnr.state.mn.us	14.0	2.0	EG	X	X	X	X	X	X	17 miles SE of Winona. Varied landscape passes by river valley overlooks.
J.C. Hormel Nature Center; 507-437-7519; ci.austin.mn.us	15.0	3.0	EG			X	X		X	Located in Austin. Equipment rental. Lessons.
Kaplan Woods Trail, City of Owatonna; 507-444-4321; ci.owatonna.mn.us	10.0	10.0	INT		X	X	X	X		Located in Owatonna. Equipment rental. Lighted trails. Warming house. 225 acres of hardwood forest.
Mississippi National Trails, City of Red Wing/Aura Ski Club; 651-385-3674, 651-388-1874	16.0	6.0	AL	X	X	X	X			2 miles S of downtown Red Wing. Trail rolls across gentle hills. Occasional views of bald eagles.
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park; 507-333-4840; dnr.state.mn.us	10.0		AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	12 miles SE of Northfield. Warming house. Rolling river valley runs through hardwood forest.
Root River State Trail/Harmony-Preston Valley Trail, DNR Trails and Waterways; 507-285-7176	96.3		EG		X	X	X			45 miles SE of Rochester. River views from trail.
Sibley State Park; 320-354-2055; dnr.state.mn.us	13.0	3.2	AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	15 miles N of Willmar. Warming house. Rolling, wooded hills located near Lake Andrew.
Oakridge Wet Bark Trail—Richard J. Dorer State Forest, DNR Forestry; 507-724-5264; dnr.state.mn.us	14.2	14.2	INT	X		X	X			5 miles W of Houston. Warming houses. Very limited grooming. Picturesque landscape consists of hardwood forest and southern bluff lands.

15. Twin Cities Area
Location	Track-Set km	Skate-Ski km	Difficulty Rating	Signs Note Difficulty	Maps Along Trail	Toilet	MN Ski Pass Req’d	MN Ski Pass Sold	Other Fees	Description
Afton State Park; 651-436-5391; dnr.state.mn.us	29.2		AL	X	X	X	X	X	X	5 miles S of Afton. Warming house with wood stove. Views of the St. Croix Valley from trails.
Baker Park Reserve, Three Rivers Parks and Trails; 763-694-7660; ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org	12.9	12.9	AL	X	X	X			X	Medina. Equipment rental. Lessons. Hardwood forest with rolling hills.
Carver Park Reserve, Three Rivers Parks and Trails; 952-446-1801; ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org	21.6	7.6	INT	X	X	X			X	Victoria. Diverse scenery and wildlife.
Cleary Lake Regional Park, Three Rivers Parks and Trails; 763-694-7777; ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org	16.5	16.5	INT	X	X	X			X	Prior Lake. Equipment rental. Lessons. Lighted trails. Rolling hills and forests.
Elm Creek Park Reserve, Three Rivers Parks and Trails; 763-694-7894; ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org	17.9	12.6	INT	X	X	X			X	Maple Grove. Equipment rental. Lessons. Lighted trails. New lodge. Snowmaking. Diverse scenery and wildlife.
French Regional Park, Three Rivers Parks and Trails; 763-694-7750; ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org	10.2	8.6	AL	X	X	X			X	Plymouth. Ski rental. Concessions. Lighted Trails. Natural setting.
Fort Snelling State Park; 612-725-2389; dnr.state.mn.us	12.8		EG		X	X	X	X	X	Located near Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport on the Minnesota River. Warming house. Level terrain along the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers.
Gateway State Trail, DNR Trails and Waterways; 651-772-7937; dnr.state.mn.us	16.1	16.1	INT	X	X	X	X		X	Located in rural Washington County near Stillwater. Former railroad grade runs through woods, wetlands, lakes, and farms.
Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Three Rivers Parks and Trails; 763-694-7687; ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org	11.3	11.3	AL	X	X	X			X	Bloomington. Equipment rental. Lessons. Lighted trails. Rolling hills and prairie.
Lake Minnewashta Regional Park, Carver County Parks; 952-466-5250; co.carver.mn.us/parks	10.0	5.0	AL		X	X	X		X	Located S of Lake Minnetonka. Diverse scenery and wildlife.
Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Dakota County Parks, 952-891-7000; co.dakota.mn.us	20.4	3.8	AL	X	X	X				Located in Eagan. Hilly terrain winds through woods, meadows, and lakes. Rental equipment available.
Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve, Three Rivers Parks and Trails; 763-694-7777; ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org	19.4	19.4	EX	X	X	X			X	Burnsville. Downhill runs and uphill grades through thick oak woods. Reputation for challenge.
Ritter Farm Park, Lakeville Parks and Recreation; 952-985-4600, 952-985-4690	20.0	20.0	AL		X	X	X			3 miles S of Buck Hill Ski Area. Lessons. Rolling hills with diverse scenery.
UMore Park, Dakota County Parks; 952-891-7000; co.dakota.mn.us	17.7	17.7	AL		X	X			X	Located in Rosemount city limits. Gently rolling terrain over ridges, past agricultural land, along wetlands, and through heavily forested areas.
William O’Brien State Park; 651-433-0500; dnr.state.mn.us	19.2	19.2	INT	X	X	X	X	X	X	2 miles N of Marine on St. Croix. Warming house. Diverse scenery and wildlife.
Wirth Winter Recreation Area; 763-522-4584; minneapolisparks.org	11.7	11.7	AL	X				X	X	Located in Golden Valley. Equipment rental. Lessons. Lighted trails. Both level and hilly terrain. Snack bar. May increase to 30 km along lakes.

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