Trail Conditions: Poor
Snow Cover: 4-8 inches
Date of Report: January 16, 2025
Area Report:
Taconite State Trail, Arrowhead State Trail, Putnam/Fishing Lakes Trails, and Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park Trails
With the new snow we got this past weekend, we have been able to get groomer equipment out on the trail system in most places and get an initial groom in. Where the trails go through swamps and exposed areas, they are showing grass and ground after the first grooming pass. But overall trail conditions are much better than they were before grooming.
We will be grooming as much of the Arrowhead and Taconite State Trails as possible before this coming weekend. As mentioned in previous trail reports, the two segments of the Taconite from Big Aspen to Pfeiffer Lake and from the Blackbear trail to the junction with the Arrowhead are rough and have areas of shelf ice. These two segments may remain ungroomed until we get more snow, but stay tuned for further updates over the next couple days.
The Putnam-Fishing Lakes Trail and Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park trails remain ungroomed. Stay tuned for further updates over the next couple days.
We still need more snow throughout our trail system, especially in the swamps and beaver ponds. Use caution especially when riding through these areas as we are still finding shelf ice and even open water in places. Watch for hummocks and stumps in swamps and ponds.
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.
Trail conditions will be changing quite a bit over the next few days, so continue to monitor trail conditions online at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html
Snowmobiling conditions:0-3 inches. Conditions: Poor Groomed: No
Bear Head Lake State Park:
On Friday, January 17th, we hope to set track with the limited amount of snow we received this week. This trail provides rolling topography through birch and pine stands. You may see a variety of wildlife ranging from deer, wolves, ruffed grouse, and pine martens.
Snowmobiling conditions: Trail Base: 1-2 Inches Good. Base: 1-2 inches
News and Reports:
Join us on February 1, 2025, for our annual FunRun, which supports our local trails. For more details on the event, please visit www.snowmobilefunrun. com. Early registration is $25/person. Same-day registration is $30. Great prizes and the event happens snow or no.
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!
