Trail Conditions: Poor
Snow Cover: 3-6 inches
Date of Report: January 9, 2025
Area Report:
Ely Area Trail Conditions
January 9, 2025
Taconite State Trail, Arrowhead State Trail, Putnam/Fishing Lakes Trails, and Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park Tails: The rain and warm temps we got after Christmas further depleted our snowpack, and it also caused the snow surfaces to harden, especially in those areas without tree cover. With the following few days of colder temps and no additional snow, swamps were able to add ice, but they still need more to support grooming equipment. We continue to hope for cold temps to increase ice thickness in the swamps, followed by consistent snow to provide groomable trails and good riding!
The main message this week: use extreme caution when riding through swamps and beaver ponds. Swamps still have thin ice in places, and we are seeing more shelf ice than normal in beaver ponds. We are also seeing that many beaver ponds have substantially less water than usual, meaning more hummocks and stumps to watch out for. Also, the dams have turned into a large, steep berm in the middle of the trail. Watch out for these conditions, especially in the following areas: from Big Aspen to Pfeiffer Lake and from Black Bear Trail to the Y Store Trail on the Taconite State Trail and on the Arrowhead just south of the Hwy 1 crossing at the Frazier Bay shelter, and in the Elephant Creek/Blackduck grade segment north of Elephant Lake. There is active logging in a number of locations throughout the Grant-in-Aid and State Trail system. In those areas, slow down and give trucks and logging equipment space.
The trail corridors remain open, but the trails are not groomed, and there is not much snow on them, which means there are exposed rocks and ground in places with a lot of sun.
The main message to anyone riding trails this week is to use extreme caution when riding.
Snow: 6-14 inches with little to no base. Groomed: No Condition: Poor
Babbitt Golf Course Trail: There is not enough snow to groom.
Babbitt Birch Lake Plantation: As of January 2nd, 2025, the trails are unskiable due to lack of snow.
Bear Head Lake State Park: After the soaking rain and warm weather earlier in December, there was no snow, so the groomed ski tracks had melted.
You can snowshoe anywhere in Minnesota’s state parks and recreation areas, except on trails that are specifically groomed for another activity, such as skiing or snowmobiling.
Reminder: Activities such as walking or snowshoeing that damage any part of the groomed ski trail are unlawful.
You can snowshoe anywhere in Minnesota’s state parks and recreation areas, except on trails that are specifically groomed for another activity, such as skiing or snowmobiling.
Skiing Base: 1-2 Inches. Conditions: Poor Groomed: No
Snowmobiling conditions: Trail Base: 1-2 Inches Poor. Base: 2-3 inches
Along with the DNR trail conditions website (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html), continue to monitor these clubs’ websites (www.ridetheborders.com/trail-report.html & www.snowmobilevacation.org/trail-updates) for the most current Arrowhead State Trail conditions.
Snowmobiling Information
T
he Ely area is northern Minnesota’s premier snowmobile hub with numerous on-trail facilities, accommodations for both large and small groups, and with plenty of food, entertainment and service centers. The Taconite Trail is the main thoroughfare in and out of Ely in the winter. Stretching 170 miles between Ely and Grand Rapids to the southwest, many spur routes will take you just about anywhere you want to go. The Tomahawk Trail, heading to the east, has 86 miles of varied terrain which the avid snowmobiler can use to connect up with hundreds of miles more of groomed trails.
If good snowmobiling gets you excited about winter, then try out the 170 mile long Taconite Trail and the 80 mile Tomahawk Trail. The Taconite Trail, or the “Mighty Taconite” as the locals call it, runs from Ely to Grand Rapids. It stretches across three state forests and the Superior National Forest. Smooth rides along this famous route are loaded with history and the Taconite’s many spurs and loops make for some quality modern day pioneering.
The Tomahawk Trail runs from Ely to the North Shore and Yukon Trails. The trail works closely with natural terrain and is one of the most scenic trails in the state. The tree cover that surrounds the trail edges, the lack of traffic and development allows you to have an uninhabited experience.
Many riders return to the Ely area each winter to enjoy its sheer beauty and varied terrain. It’s a region where people clearly love snowmobiling and they know how to make you feel welcome. Find out for yourself!
