Trail Conditions: Fair
Snow Cover: 16
Date of Report: January 12, 2018
Area Report:
Ely Area Lakes & Trails: Most lakes had 12″ to 24″ of good solid ice. Please continue to use caution, particularly in areas of current and in wetland/swamps as there could still be spots that have less ice. Lakes do have slushy areas and some pressure ridges. The following lakes are all staked: Burntside, Little Long, Shagawa, Fall, Cedar, Bass, Low, Grassy, Tee, Little Sletten, Sletten, Fenske, Everett, Twin and White Iron. Birch and Mud Lake will be staked by Sunday. Portage trails, along with Mud Lake, hare groomed. With the significant snowfall we received on Wednesday night and Thursday (about 10-12 inches), trail crews are rolling trails. The trails are in good condition.
Taconite Trail: Snow – 10-18” depth Base – 1-4” Groomed – partially Condition – poor to fair The Taconite State Trail was groomed from Ely to to just west of Hwy 53 prior to yesterday’s snowfall and is in fair condition. We are going to allow the trail to pack down and improve the base before resuming grooming early next week. Use caution in the area between Pfeiffer Lake and Big Aspen as there is logging activity and also a section of open water remaining. Check back frequently as trail conditions are changing rapidly. Please travel at appropriate speeds and stay to the right.
Arrowhead Trail: Snow – 10-16” depth Base –1-5” Groomed – yes Condition – fair The entire Arrowhead State Trail was groomed prior to yesterday’s snow fall and is in fair condition. We are going to allow the trail to pack down and improve the base before resuming grooming early next week. Be aware of rocks in the Ban Lake/Hoodoo Lake section of trail. Also please be aware of and slow down for logging activity throughout the trail. Check back frequently as trail conditions are changing rapidly. Please travel at appropriate speeds and stay to the right.
Putnam-Fishing Lakes Trail: Base – 0-1” Groomed – no Condition – fair The Putnam/Fishing Lakes trail remains ungroomed and rough due to low snow conditions. We anticipate having this trail groomed in the next week if conditions allow. Be aware of rocks and frozen ruts in sections throughout the trail. Please travel at appropriate speeds and stay to the right.
Lake Vermilion State Park and Soudan Underground Mine State Park: Snow 13-14”, Base – 4”, Condition – fair We received 9 inches of fresh snow on 1/11/18 and trail crews are in the process of grooming snowmobile corridors. The Lake Vermilion ice route for snowmobiles is signed out of Cable Bay. Snowmobile trailers can be parked at Armstrong Bay Day Use Area parking lot. Snowmobilers can follow the campground road corridor to access the lake at Cable Bay and the interior snowmobile trails. Ice fishing has been good with a lot of activity on Lake Vermilion. However ice thickness varies dramatically use caution when venturing out on the ice. You can access the lake by Stuntz Bay boat access as well as park in Armstrong Bay Day use parking lot and walk a portable down the hill to the lake. Cable Bay boat access is not open to vehicles for ice fishing.
Tomahawk Trail & Local Trail Sections: Snow 12-16” depth, Base – 1-4” Groomed – yes Condition – good The Tomahawk is open and trails are rolled to the Knotted Pine in Isabella.