Reporter:Ely Chamber of Commerce/Explore MN Visitor Center
Trail Conditions: Poor
Snow Cover: 8-18″
Date of Report: March 12, 2020
Area Report:
GENERAL INFORMATION: It’s been a terrific season, but with the warmer weather of spring approaching, grooming operations on area trails have slowed considerably or have been discontinued for the season altogether. While there is still considerable snow in the forested areas, trails are reported as rideable, but icy and hard with numerous bare spots. Be sure to use caution if venturing onto the ice on foot or machine.
Area Trails: The Tomahawk trail is still being groomed once a week. Mud Lake is reported as iced and hard. Lakes are still reported to be okay for travel near staked areas.
Arrowhead State Trail Snowmobiling: Condition-Poor Trail – Not Groomed Base – 0-5”
The Arrowhead State trail is the backbone to an extensive Grant-in-Aid trail system that travels through remote areas.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The entire trail Arrowhead is in poor condition. The trail base is thin due to warm weather and heavy trail use, and there are many stretches of exposed rock and ground throughout the trail, especially on hills and corners. The last groom of the season took place on March 10, from Highway 53 east to Tower and from Tower east to Babbitt Spur.
Bearhead Lake State Park Snowmobiling: Condition – Good Trails – Groomed Base 1-5”
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The Taconite Trail and Cub Lake Spur to the Trail Center are in good condition.
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 Trails – Groomed Base – 0-6”
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Trails were groomed at the beginning of the week and are in poor condition.
The park has 5 miles of snowmobile trails that connects 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 – Poor Trails – Not Groomed Base – 0-6”
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 was last groomed on March 5 and is in poor condition.
Taconite State Trail Snowmobiling: Condition – Poor Trails – Not Groomed Base 0-5”
Taconite State Trail stretches one hundred sixty-five miles from Grand Rapids to Ely through many scenic vistas of rolling hillsides, lakes, rivers and forest.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The Taconite is in poor condition. The trail base is thin due to warm weather and heavy trail use. There are many areas of exposed rock and ground, especially on hills and corners. Grooming was attempted on March 10, but the groomer was breaking through in the swamps, so additional grooming has been suspended for the season.
Taconite Spur West – Last groomed 3/9/20
Taconite Spur North – Last groomed 3/9/20
Stony Spur East – Last groomed 3/10/20
All trails are reported to be in good spring condition with some bare spots.
News and Reports:
More information on area events can be found by visiting our website at http://www.ely.org/mn/events
The barrels have been removed from both Catfish Lake & Eagle Lake by the businesses on those lakes. Both lakes are very slushy with water on top. Best to stay off. 
