Trail Conditions: Fair
Snow Cover: 16"
Date of Report: January 24, 2019
Area Report:
Taconite/David Dill State Trail
Snow: 14-24”
Base: 2-4”
Groomed: Yes
Condition: Fair to Good
The entire Taconite is groomed and in fair to good condition. A few miles toward Ely from the Wolf Track GIA trail is a small area of open water on one side of the trail. Caution signs are up. Use caution in general in swamps and areas with moving water as ice is still thin in spots. Also, the trail base between Tower and Ely is relatively thin, and logging is happening just west of Hwy 1, south of Ely.
The spur trail leading from the Taconite to the Oasis Bar and Grill in Britt has been rerouted due to landowner issues. The reroute goes from the Taconite east of Hwy 53 (opposite side from the Oasis) to Peppard Rd, crosses Hwy 53 at the Peppard Rd Jct, and follows the ditch south to Peel Rd and to the Oasis.
Putnam/Fishing Lakes Trail -is groomed and in fair condition.
Lake Vermilion- Soudan Underground Mine State Park Trail– are groomed and in fair condition.
Tomahawk Trail – From Ely to Knotted Pine is partially groomed and groomers are hoping to have the trails completely groomed before the weekend. Burntside to Mud Lake is groomed but Mud Lake to Vermilion is not. Teams hope to have everything groomed within the next week.
Arrowhead State Trail
Snow: 14-24”
Base: 2-5”
Groomed: Yes
Condition: Fair to Good
The entire Arrowhead is groomed and in fair to good condition. Use caution in the vicinity of the Elephant Creek trail bridge because of thin ice. There is also a small section of open water/thin ice on the side of the trail in the Lost Lake swamp area (just north of Hwy 1). Also, on the Arrowhead Trail North of Hwy 1, a dozer from logging activity has gone through around 2 miles of the trail; use caution and stay on the trail.
News and Reports:
Ely Winter Festival – February 7-17
Ely Northwoods Medallion Hunt – February 7-17
Pink Ribbon Riders 2019 Snow Run Tour – February 22-23