Reporter:Ely Chamber of Commerce/Explore MN Visitor Center
Trail Conditions: Fair
Snow Cover: 13 inches
Date of Report: January 31, 2018
Area Report:
Ely Area Trail Conditions – Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Snowfall Depth: 13 inches
Snowmobile Trails
Ely Area Lakes & Trails: All trails along the Echo Trail are groomed. Hidden Bay is closed due to active logging. There is logging between Birch Lake and White Iron, so please use caution and remember the trails are shared with logging equipment. Overall trail condition is fair. Please use caution traveling across lakes – stay on marked trails to avoid slush areas. Current areas (rivers, narrows and streams) may still have unsafe ice, please test before traveling across.
Taconite Trail: Snow – 8-20” depth Base – 1-3” Groomed – yes Condition – good The entire Taconite is in good to very good condition. Trail divots exist on some hilltops between Ely and Tower due to heavy use and cold weather early in the week. These will be repaired before the weekend. Use caution in the area between Pfeiffer Lake and Big Aspen as there is logging activity and also a small section of open water remaining. Additionally, the trail base from Side Lake east to Hwy 25 (Wooden Table spur trail) is thin, and there is bare ground in spots.
Arrowhead Trail: Snow – 12-24” depth Base –1-4” Groomed – yes Condition – Very Good The entire Arrowhead is groomed and in very good condition. Please be aware of and slow down for logging activity throughout the trail, especially a large section between Elephant Lake and the Elephant Lake Road to the south.
Putnam-Fishing Lakes Trail: Base – 1-3” Groomed – no Condition – fair The trail remains rough in spots due to rocks and low snow.
Lake Vermilion State Park and Soudan Underground Mine State Park: Snow 13-14”, Base – 4”, Condition – fair The trail is groomed.
Tomahawk Trail & Local Trail Sections: Snow 15-18” depth, Base – 1-4” Groomed – yes Condition – fair The Tomahawk is open and trails are groomed to the Knotted Pine in Isabella.
For all trails, the base is thin in places due to recent warm weather and lack of snowfall. Please use caution while riding. There are active logging operations on multiple sections of the trails. Please travel at appropriate speeds and stay to the right.
