Cross Country Ski Trail Conditions in Grand Marais

Click to expand on the trail system for complete trail report and trail details.

TRAIL CONDITIONS

• Date: 12/9/2025
• Trail Base: 1 - 3"
• New Snow Last 24 Hours: 2.5 - 4"
• New Snow Last 7 Days: 2 - 3 "
• Snow Depth in Woods: 7-8"
• Total Season Snowfall: 6-8"
• Trail Conditions Update/Notes: From Pincushion Ski & Run Club: 12/9/2025: All trails are rolled. West Overlook, Upper and Lower Snowman, B&B and North Advanced loops are groomed for skate and classic style skiing. Conditions are surprisingly good, but there are numerous exposed rocks, leaves and grass. Ski mindfully and with caution. Think snow!
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com:

The ski trails at Pincushion are maintained by the Pincushion Ski and Run Club, with the financial support of sponsorships and memberships and also a grooming grant we receive from the Great MN Ski Pass program.  

Click here to become a member or renew your PSRC membership

Click here to purchase or renew your Great MN Ski Pass (required to ski at Pincushion and other MN public ski areas)

Questions: Email info@pincushionskiandrun.org

Upcoming Events and Activities at Pincushion 

Cook County Invitational High School Ski Meet

Where: Pincushion Trails

When December 20, 2025

The High School Cross Country Ski Team is hosting the Cook County Invitational Ski Meet at Pincushion on December 20.  It takes a small army of volunteers to make the event a success for the 250 or so participating athletes from across the northern Minnesota region.  Please take a minute to review the volunteer roles below and let us know if you can help out.  

You can email or text Mike Crook (Race Director, mikecrook1226@gmail.com, 218-370-9949) to let him know if and how you can help out.  Many thanks.

Regardless of whether you're able to sign up as a volunteer, you're also welcome to come to watch the races.  It's always quite a spectacle.  The schedule of races is below.

Full Moon Ski and Gatherings at Pincushion 

We'll be hosting Full Moon Ski gatherings at the Pincushion chalet every month through the winter. Join friends for a ski around the lighted trails and then gather for socializing in the chalet or around the bonfire.  Hot drinks will be served.

• Where: Pincushion Chalet
• When: January 3
• What to bring: Headlamp recommended. The West Overlook Trail will be lit up for skiing.
• Cost: Free

Pincushion Ping Pong Club Returns

PSRC Weekly Community Ping Pong

It's time for another winter season of weekly community ping pong, beginning this Thursday, 12/11 at 6:30PM.  As we did last year, we're partnering with Bethlehem Lutheran Church to host the games at their convenient in-town location.  Come join the fun! Details are below.

• What: Weekly community ping pong play.  There are two tables available and paddles and balls will be provided
• Where: Bethlehem Lutheran Church (417 1st Ave W), 2nd floor .
• When:  Thursday, December 11 beginning at 6:30PM and subsequent Thursdays at the same time (except for Christmas Day).  

Questions?: email info@pincushionskiandrun.org

Annual Membership Campaign - Please Join or Renew

Our Annual Membership Campaign is underway now, raising the funds we need for the club's programs and activities at Pincushion in 2025.  We are a volunteer-led non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) and we rely on donations from members and sponsors for the majority of our club's annual operating budget.  More information can be found here: Link to Join or Renew Pincushion Ski and Run Club Membership/Sponsorship

TRAIL CONDITIONS

• Date: 12/9/2025
• Trail Base:
• Surface Conditions:
• Snowfall Last 24 Hours: 
• Snowfall Last 7 Days: 
• Total Snowfall for the season: 
• Detailed Grooming Report: From US Forest Service: 12/9/2025:  All trails except Cascade Connector have been rolled into about 6" of light powder, even less on the windblown sections. Northeast loops were only snowmobile-packed as it was rough riding. We look forward to setting tracks after we get some more snow. (Kris Rich)
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com: 11/30/2/25: Trails were not groomed. Several old deadfalls from this summer or fall still block the trails in places. It doesn't appear trail prep has really been done, that I could see. Nevertheless the trails are skier tracked or unbroken. I skied most of the trails with the exception of the loops on the other side of the pond and broke some of them. There is plenty of stubble and a few rocks under about 5 inches of snow. The portion of the trails that use Bally Creek Road are not skiable as there has been lots of traffic on it and gravel is everywhere. All that being said, it was fun to be out in cold and snow and on skis on the last day of November. Hoping for more snow so these and other local trails can be groomed. (Tim Nelson)

Download a georeferenced map of Bally Creek Ski Trails here.

TRAIL CONDITIONS

• Date: 
• Trail Base:
• Surface Conditions:
• Snowfall Last 24 Hours: 
• Snowfall Last 7 Days: 
• Total Snowfall for the season:
• Trail Conditions Update/Notes: From the USFS: 
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com: