Reporter:Ely Chamber of Commerce/Explore MN Visitor Center
Trail Conditions: Poor
Snow Cover: 9-11″
Date of Report: January 24, 2025
Area Report:
Taconite State Trail, Arrowhead State Trail, Putnam/Fishing Lakes Trails, and Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park Trails
Trail conditions are similar to yesterday with a few additions/changes. Here is the updated message:
With the new snow we got this past weekend, we have been able to get groomer equipment out on the our 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.
The Tower area received 2″-6″ of new snow over the last few days. With that, we will be getting out on the trails with grooming equipment over the next few days and groom where we are able. This site will be updated daily as trail conditions change. We will be starting with the Taconite and Arrowhead State Trails and groom the Putnam/Fishing Lakes and Lake Vermilion State Park trails after that.
We still need more snow throughout our trail system, especially in the swamps and beaver ponds. Use caution 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, and watch for dry beaver dams have turned into large steep berms in the middle of the trail. Watch out for these conditions especially from Big Aspen to Pfeiffer Lake and from Black Bear trail to the Y Store Trail, and on the Arrowhead in the Frazier Bay shelter area and north of Elephant Lake from the Arrowhead link trail to the Sheep Ranch Rd.
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
Local Snowmobile Trail Updates
Until we have more snow pack, use caution on all the trails. Shagawa, Burntside, and Little Long Lakes have all been staked. The other area lakes will be staked as soon as possible. Trails closer to town are groomed rough, but rideable. Tomahawk and North Arm are not groomed yet. White Iron Lake to Hidden Bay on Birch Lake are groomed rough, but rideable.
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.
