DNR announces best bets for weekend skiing and snowmobiling

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DNR announces best bets for weekend skiing and snowmobiling
(Released December 17, 2010)


With a solid base of snow on the ground before winter has even officially started, many people may be wondering where they can find groomed trails this weekend.

Latest trail conditions: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html

 
Statewide trail condition reports are updated by noon every Thursday.

Based on the most recent reports, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers the following trip-planning tips:

Best snowmobiling: Luce Line and Minnesota River Valley state trails
Despite frigid temperatures throughout the state this past week, snowmobiling on ice is not yet safe in many areas, according to the DNR. Substantial snowpack across much of the state has resulted in slushy conditions on many Minnesota lakes that are normally passable by mid-December. For now, the DNR advises sticking to state trails, because they are either paved or packed beneath the snow and have bridges in place wherever water must be crossed.

In the metro area, groomed trails with the best snow conditions this weekend include the Luce Line State Trail (between Stubbs Bay Road near Orono and McLeod County Line, west of Hutchinson) and the Minnesota River Valley State Trail, from Jordan to Shakopee. Frontenac State Park near Red Wing and Nerstrand Big Woods State Park near Northfield also report excellent snowmobile trail conditions.

Best skiing: Nerstrand Big Woods, Frontenac, and Sakatah Lake state parks
The best cross-country skiing within an hour’s drive of the Twin Cities is to the south, at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park near Northfield, Frontenac State Park near Red Wing, and Sakatah Lake State Park near Faribault. The following state parks, also within an hour’s drive of the Twin Cities, have groomed cross-country ski trails in good condition: Afton State Park (Hastings), Lake Maria State Park (Monticello), Wild River State Park (Center City), and William O’Brien State Park (Marine on St. Croix).

Before skiers age 16 and older hit the trails, they will also need a Minnesota Ski Pass. Daily ski passes ($6) can be purchased at park offices or from any of Minnesota’s nearly 1,500 electronic license system vendors. A vehicle permit ($5 for a one-day permit or $25 for a year-round permit) is required to enter all Minnesota state parks. Vehicle permits can be purchased from the parks or at Twin Cities REI stores.

For more information, call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 (Twin Cities) or toll- free at 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.