Reporter:Ely Chamber of Commerce/Explore MN Visitor Center
Trail Conditions: Fair
Snow Cover: 8-18″
Date of Report: February 11, 2021
Area Report:
GENERAL INFORMATION: Trails are a mixed bag right now. On one hand, with the recent cold weather, trails are holding up well and in fair to very good condition with the relatively small amount of snow the area has received. Additional snowfall of four or so inches would turn most trails from good to amazing. With the lack of snowfall, there is a loss of a little bit of trail base every time crews groom, so upland and heavily wooded areas are fairly thin and getting thinner. Watch for rocks and rough trail especially in hilly sections and in upland trail portions with heavy tree cover.
Logging continues throughout the trails, especially further north on the Arrowhead trail. Please slow down and give trucks and logging equipment space. No Motorized Vehicles other than snowmobiles are allowed on State Trails or Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails.
There is also a section of the Arrowhead State Trail closed between Hwy 53 (SE of Ericsburg) and the Hagerman Grant-in-Aid trail while the Rat Root River bridge is being replaced, so watch for trail reroute.
Area Trails: All the Ely Area trails have been getting groomed. With the low temperatures, crews have been grooming during the day when it is a little warmer which is safer for operators in case of breakdowns. Please use caution with the groomers on the trail. The Tomahawk to the North Shore is also being groomed during the day.
Arrowhead State Trail: The Arrowhead State trail is the backbone to an extensive Grant-in-Aid trail system that travels through remote areas.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Snowmobiling: Condition- Fair to Good; Trail – Groomed; Base – 1-4”
TRAIL CLOSURE/REROUTE: Hwy 53 east to the Hagerman Grant-in-Aid trail is closed due to a trail bridge being replaced. This section of trail will remain closed until the project is completed. Please use the Hagerman and Slatinski Grant-in-Aid trails to route around the closed bridge. There is signage on both sides of the project directing riders on the reroute.
The entire Arrowhead State Trail has been groomed and is in fair to good condition. Conditions continue to be rougher in the Ban Lake area due to ledge rock on that portion of trail and not enough snow. The entire trail will be fully groomed leading up to and during the upcoming weekend.
Bearhead Lake State Park: 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.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Snowmobiling: Condition – Fair; Trails – Groomed; Base 2”
The Taconite Trail in Bear Head Lake State Park was groomed and is in fair condition with some areas of debris and thin base under the large pines.
Lake Vermilion – Soudan Underground Mine State Park: The park has six miles of snowmobile trails that connect 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.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Snowmobiling: Condition – Fair; Trails – Groomed; Base – 1-4”
Trails are in fair condition and will be groomed again before this coming weekend. No Motorized Vehicles other than snowmobiles are allowed on State Trails or Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails. Please use caution while riding, travel at appropriate speeds, and stay to the right.
Putnam/Fishing Lakes – Bear Island State Forest: 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: Snowmobiling: Condition – Fair; Trails –Groomed; Base 1-4”
Trail is in fair to good condition. Fishing Lakes Trail will be groomed again before this coming weekend. Putnam Lake trail remains very rough and will not be groomed again until we get more snow to cover the numerous spots with rocks and ruts.
Please use caution on the trails, travel at appropriate speeds, and stay to the right. There is active logging happening on a number of spots throughout the Grant-in-Aid and State Trail system. Please slow down and give trucks and logging equipment space. No Motorized Vehicles other than snowmobiles are allowed on State Trails or Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails.
Taconite State Trail: Taconite State Trail stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely through many scenic vistas of rolling hillsides, lakes, rivers and forest.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Snowmobiling: Condition – Fair to Good; Trails –Groomed; Base 1-4”
The entire Taconite between Ely and Side Lake has been groomed and is in fair to good condition. Trail base remains thin in occasional upland areas throughout the trail, especially in the first ten miles west of Ely and the trail portion going west from Hwy 53. The trail will be fully groomed leading up to and during this coming weekend.
News and Reports:
For more information on Ely area news and events please visit our homepage.
