They call it the "dead of winter." But up here, things can get pretty lively.

The longest downhill ski runs. The greatest freshwater lake. The largest groomed cross country network in North America. No matter what you do in Cook County, it's the perfect place to celebrate Minnesota's most legendary season.

One-hundred-twenty inches of annual snowfall paints a beautiful backdrop for snowmobiling, dog-sledding, sleigh rides and more. So get ready to ignite some adventure and fall in love with winter all over again.

 

Winter in Cook County, MN

Cross-Country Skiing

With 400 kilometers of gorgeous trail conditions and spectacular terrain, Cook County offers the largest system of groomed cross-country ski trails in North America.

We Double Dog Dare You
One day. Hundreds of skiers. Every centimeter of North America's largest groomed Nordic system. Join us for the Volks Ski 400 on February 11 during the 2012 Winter Tracks Festival and become part of the team that collectively tackles all 400km in one day. Hit the trail at VolksSki.com.

Trail Maps

Trail Conditions

Historical Sites Tour

Dig a little deeper than the first few feet of snow, and you'll discover that Minnesota's arrowhead region is brimming with turn-of-the-century heritage, native culture and scores of historical sites and museums. Visit the Grand Portage National Monument Heritage Center, the newly opened Grand Portage State Park Visitor's Center, or call 1-888-922-5000 for more info.

Snowmobiling

446 miles of groomed trails. 120 inches of annual snowfall. And the backcountry beauty of the bluffs behind Lake Superior. It's just you, your sled and the scenery, plus dozens of resorts and restaurants along the way.

Trail Maps

Trail Conditions

Winter Tracks

You should go to a few other winter festivals first. Just for practice.

We do winter a little bigger, a little better, a little bolder than most folks. So when we host a winter festival, you best hold onto your hat.

Winter Tracks

Alpine Skiing

When they say "Mountain skiing without the airfare," they mean it.
Lutsen Mountains offers the highest peaks (1,000+ feet of vertical), longest runs (2 miles) and most skiable space (1,000 acres) of any downhill skiing resort in the Midwest.

Snowboarding

You want terrain? How about mountains? Right here in Northeastern Minnesota. Lutsen Mountains is the largest ski resort in the Midwest, offering two-mile runs, over a thousand feet of vertical drop and some of the best snow conditions this side of the sky.

Dog Sledding

A hundred years ago, dog sledding was one of the few ways to navigate the remote forests and frozen lakes of northeastern Minnesota during our long, snowfall-filled winters. Today, you can travel this way for the pure fun of it.
Lutsen-Tofte Area: Stoney Creek Kennels - 218-663-0143
Gunflint Trail Area

Sleigh Rides

We all appreciate the north woods in winter, but you haven't experienced the snowy season until you've traveled in a lantern-lit, horse-drawn sleigh.
Call Cascade Lodge (218) 387-1112 or 1-800-322-9543 for reservations.

Snowshoeing

A host of groomed snowshoeing trails cut mile after silent mile through Northeastern Minnesota, but the real exploration heads off the beaten path and into the woods. Call 1-888-922-5000 for more information.

Ice Fishing

The fishing stories you've heard about this place are true: huge lake trout, spectacular rainbows, wonderful walleye and feisty northern pike. A fine mess of fish, in other words, on the other side of the ice.
Call 1-888-922-5000 for more info.

Winter Events

The snowy season can get fairly lengthy, so we fill it with all sorts of get-togethers. Like Winter Tracks, winter's most adventurous event,
and Volks Ski 400, a challenge to cross-country ski Cook County's 400km of trails. Events Calendar.

Live Music and Entertainment

The perfect end to a busy day on the snow is a bustling night on the town, and we raise the roof with local bands, regional acts and all sorts of merriment. Events Calendar.

County-Wide Day Trips

When 1,451 square miles of wilderness get blanketed in ten feet of snow, you get more winter than you can see in one day. So we suggest taking a few off and exploring. Call 1-888-922-5000 for more info.

Dining

Nothing warms you up like a good meal, and after a day on the slopes, the trails, or the seclusion of a wintery forest floor, you'll need all the sustenance you can get. What's for dinner?

Dining

Lodging

A cabin in the woods? A cavernous log lodge? A hidden resort hideaway? Cook County has them all, plus hotels, B&Bs and (if you're up for it) some of the best winter camping on snow.

Find a Place to Stay

Galleries

Northeastern Minnesota isn't just rich in scenic splendor, it's rich in culture, too. And, while your glasses might fog up on the way in, you'll see hundreds of beautiful pieces by local artists in any one of our many art galleries.
Call 1-888-922-5000 for more info.

Massages

You cross-country ski 400km, you snowshoe a few dozen miles, you tackle all 92 downhill runs, and you snowmobile from here to the horizon. Yes, it's time for a massage. Call 1-888-922-5000 for more info.

Shopping

We won't let you go home empty-handed, and once you've perused all the shopping opportunities, you might not want to go home at all.

Browse our shops