Reporter:Ely Chamber of Commerce/Explore MN Visitor Center
Trail Conditions: Good
Snow Cover: 8-18″
Date of Report: February 4, 2021
Area Report:
GENERAL INFORMATION: Trails continue to improve as the area continues to get more snow. Predicted extreme cold weather over the next few days will aid in grooming, and the trail should harden to create a good surface for riders over the end of the week and weekend.
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: The Fenske Lake and Grassy Lake loop have been groomed. White Iron to Birch Lake is groomed. Birch Lake to Babbitt Stony Spur has been groomed. Trail from Burntside Lake to Lake Vermilion has been groomed. Some short sections of the Tomahawk trail are a little rough with low snow conditions. Most of the trails are in fair to excellent condition.
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”
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 Arrowhead Ultra 135 foot/bike/ski race was cancelled this year, but there may be people doing this route on their own from International Falls to Fortune Bay over the next week. Remain especially cautious/vigilant while riding this week!
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 at that portion of trail and not enough snow. The entire trail will be fully groomed leading up to and during this coming weekend.
Bearhead Lake State Park Snowmobiling: Condition – Fair; Trails – Groomed; Base 2”
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The Taconite Trail in Bear Head Lake State Park was groomed on January 20 and is in fair condition with some areas of debris and thin base under the large pines.
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 – Fair; Trails – Groomed; Base – 1-4”
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Soudan Underground Mine and Lake Vermilion State Park trails are in fair condition. They 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.
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.
Putnam/Fishing Lakes – Bear Island State Forest Snowmobiling: Condition – Fair; Trails –Groomed; Base 1-4”
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 Putnam/Fishing Lake trail is in fair condition and will be groomed again before this coming weekend. This trail is particularly rocky in a few locations and needs more snow before the rocks will disappear.
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 Snowmobiling: Condition – Good; Trails –Groomed; Base 1-4”
Taconite State Trail stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely through many scenic vistas of rolling hillsides, lakes, rivers and forest.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The entire Taconite between Ely and Side Lake has been groomed and is in good condition. Trail base remains thin in occasional upland areas throughout the trail, but the trail base continues to improve with each snow we get. The trail will be fully groomed leading up to and during this coming weekend.
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