Trail Conditions: Fair
Snow Cover: 4-18"
Date of Report: January 28, 2021
Area Report:
GENERAL INFORMATION: Trails have improved over the last week. If the area receives forecasted snow, it will aid in building the trail base. There are still rocks here and there throughout the trails, especially in the uplands. Crews continue to transition to grooming fulltime nights as trail/snow conditions allow.
Logging is happening throughout the trails, especially further north on the Arrowhead trail. Please slow down and give trucks and logging equipment space. No Motorized Vehicles other than snowmobiles are allowed on State Trails or Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails. There is also a section of the Arrowhead State Trail closed between Hwy 53 (SE of Ericsburg) and the Hagerman Grant-in-Aid trail while the Rat Root River bridge is being replaced.
The Arrowhead, Taconite, Putnam/Fishing Lakes, and LVSUM State Park trails will all be getting at least one, possibly two, fresh grooms before the upcoming weekend.
Area Trails: All the local trails have been groomed and are in fair shape. The Tomahawk trail to Farm lake has been groomed but is still a little rough due to lack of snow there. The Tomahawk trail from Farm lake to the North Shore is in good shape. White Iron to Birch lake has been groomed along with Birch to the Babbitt spur. Lake riding is great with not much slush. Burntside to Lake Vermilion is fair considering there is not much snow.
Arrowhead State Trail The Arrowhead State trail is the backbone to an extensive Grant-in-Aid trail system that travels through remote areas.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Snowmobiling: Condition- Fair; Trail – Groomed; Base – 1-4”
CLOSURE/REROUTE: Hwy 53 east to the Hagerman Grant-in-Aid trail is closed due to a trail bridge being replaced. This section of trail will remain closed until the project is completed. Please use the Hagerman and Slatinski Grant-in-Aid trails to route around the closed bridge. There is signage on both sides of the project directing riders on the reroute.
The Arrowhead Ultra 135 foot/bike/ski race was cancelled this year, but there may be people doing this route on their own from International Falls to Fortune Bay over the next week. Remain especially cautious/vigilant while riding this week!
The entire Arrowhead State Trail has been groomed and is in fair condition. Conditions are rough in the Ban Lake area due to ledge rock outcrops throughout the trail. Crews will continue to groom throughout this week as trail/snow conditions allow.
Bearhead Lake State Park Snowmobiling: Condition – Fair; Trails – Groomed; Base 2”
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The Taconite Trail in Bear Head Lake State Park was groomed on January 20 and is in fair condition with some areas of debris and thin base under the large pines.
Bearhead State Park trails provide rolling topography through birch and pine stands. You may see a variety of wildlife ranging from deer, wolves, ruffed grouse, and pine martens. You can snowshoe anywhere in Minnesota’s state parks and recreation areas, except on trails that are specifically groomed for another activity, such as snowmobiling or skiing.
Lake Vermilion – Soudan Underground Mine State Park
Snowmobiling: Condition – Poor to Fair; Trails – Groomed; Base – 1-4”
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Soudan Underground Mine and Lake Vermilion State Park trails are in poor to fair condition. They will be getting another groom before this coming weekend. No Motorized Vehicles other than snowmobiles are allowed on State Trails or Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails. Please use caution while riding, travel at appropriate speeds, and stay to the right.
The park has six miles of snowmobile trails that connect from the Taconite State Trail to the Lake Vermilion ice trail. The ride takes you through old growth pines and young aspen forests with large wetland complexes to view along the way. You can snowshoe anywhere in Minnesota’s state parks and recreation areas, except on trails that are specifically groomed for another activity, such as snowmobiling or skiing.
Putnam/Fishing Lakes – Bear Island State Forest
Snowmobiling: Condition – Fair; Trails –Groomed; Base 1-4”
The Putnam and Fishing Lakes Trails traverse forested, rolling topography through birch, ash, and pine stands. Several small lakes dot the landscape along these scenic trails.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The trail got its initial groom last week, is in fair condition. It will be groomed again before this coming weekend. This trail is particularly rocky in a few locations and needs more snow before the rocks will disappear.
Please use caution on the trails, travel at appropriate speeds, and stay to the right. There is active logging happening on a number of spots throughout the Grant-in-Aid and State Trail system. Please slow down and give trucks and logging equipment space. No Motorized Vehicles other than snowmobiles are allowed on State Trails or Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails.
Taconite State Trail: Snowmobiling: Condition – Good; Trails –Groomed; Base 1-4”
Taconite State Trail stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely through many scenic vistas of rolling hillsides, lakes, rivers and forest.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The entire Taconite between Ely and Side Lake has been groomed and is in fair to good condition. Trail base remains thin in occasional upland areas throughout the trail, but the trail base continues to improve with each snow we get. We will continue grooming throughout this week as snow/trail conditions allow.
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