Trail Conditions: Good
Snow Cover: 18"-30"
Date of Report: February 27, 2020
Area Report:
Trail Report for 2/27/2020
Snow Depth 18-30 inches
GENERAL INFORMATION: Trails are holding up and are hard and flat. Warm weather and heavy use have caused the trail base to get thinner, but groomers are working to smooth bumps and berms to keep trails in good riding condition. Several area lakes are now staked, and riders are asked to please ride in staked areas to ensure best conditions. As always, even when conditions are their best, it’s still wise to use caution when venturing onto the ice on foot or machine.
Area Trails:
All trails are groomed and in good shape for the upcoming weekend. Birch Lake is staked for snowmobile trails to Hidden Bay. Cedar Lake is not staked; snowmobilers should use Cloquet Line instead. Everything else is staked. As always, please stay on staked trails.
Arrowhead State Trail
Snowmobiling: Condition-Fair to Good Trail – Groomed Base – 1-6”
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 is groomed and in fair to good condition from the Taconite State Trail junction north to the Blue Ox trail. The trail is base is getting thin from warm weather and heavy use, but the groomers are continuing to work hard to keep bumps and berms cut down. The entire trail will be groomed another time before the weekend.
Bearhead Lake State Park
Snowmobiling: Condition – Very good Trails – Groomed Base 1-5”
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The Taconite Trail and Cub Lake Spur to the Trail Center are both in very 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 – Very Good Trails – Groomed Base – 1-6”
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Trails are in very good condition and will be groomed again before the weekend. For all trails use caution at all times. Please travel at appropriate speeds and stay to the right No motorized vehicles other than snowmobiles are allowed on State Trails or Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails.
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 – Very Good Trails – Groomed Base – 1-6”
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 entire trail will be groomed before the weekend. Please use caution when riding, travel at appropriate speeds, and stay to the right. Trails are hard and very fast right now. No Motorized Vehicles other than snowmobiles are allowed on State Trails or Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails.
Taconite State Trail
Snowmobiling: Condition – Good to Very Good Trails – Groomed Base 1-6”
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 entire Taconite has been groomed from Ely to Highway 73. The groomer operators have been double passing multiple times over the heavily used sections of the trail to cut out the bumps and corner berms. The trail will be groomed again before the weekend. Please use caution when riding, travel at appropriate speeds, and stay to the right. No Motorized Vehicles other than snowmobiles are allowed on State Trails or Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails.
Taconite Spur West – Last groomed 2/25/20
Taconite Spur North – Last groomed 2/24/20
Stony Spur East – Last groomed 2/25/20
News and Reports:
More information on area events can be found by visiting our website at http://www.ely.org/mn/events