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: 3/11/2026
• New Snow Last 24 Hours: 1.5"
• New Snow Last 7 Days: 3.5"
• Trail Base:  10 - 15"
• Snow in Woods: 25"
• Last Grooming Day: 3/11/26
• Total Season Snowfall: 53 - 74"
• Trail Conditions Update/Notes: From Pincushion Ski & Run Club: 3/11/2026:  Full system groomed for skate and classic skiing. Conditions are excellent. Skiers are reporting the best skiing of the year! It is close to cross country skiing nirvana out there. - Lead Groomer, Bill Hansen

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com: 3/10/2026: We skated the Pincushion Loop this morning--given the weather in recent days I was pleasantly surprised. There was a little fresh snow on top of the transformed base, which overall made for good skating. The big downhill was a little bit sketchy (uncertain what I was getting into, I was trying to snowplow, but it was pretty scraped out), but not too bad. There's a ton of snow. There were tracks set, but they hadn't really been used yet today and so were half-filled in with fresh snow. (Erik Riker-Coleman)

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 

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: 
• 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: 3/5/2026
• Grooming update from US Forest Service: 3/5/2026: We groomed/tracked the course of the Ski North Ultra including the Cascade Connecter, much of the road portions of trail, and a few interior loops. Conditions were icy, and then soft, with plenty of debris along the trail and in the tracks from recent wind. The best skiing is on the roads where there is less debris. 
  (Kris Rich, US Forest Service)

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com: 3/8/2026: Only did a short loop but tracks were pretty good. My skin skis were performing well in the warm snow but pole plants were going pretty deep, making it hard to get much push from the poles. (Peter Aggen)
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com: 3/7/2026: 1" to 4" of fresh snow, sunshine, and great trails made for a fun and challenging day. A huge Thank You to Allie Rykken and team for putting on an amazing Ski North Ultramarathon. A well organized race on the Deer Yard, Bally Creek, Cascade state park, and Caribou trails. Congrats to all that participated. (Tom Ajax)

Download a georeferenced map of Bally Creek Ski Trails here.

TRAIL CONDITIONS

• Date: 2/24/2026
• Last grooming day: 2/24/2026
• Trail Conditions Update/Notes: From the USFS: 2/24/2026:We packed the trail wide and set a classic track following the last big snowstorm the previous week (20") plus this morning (additional 4"). (Kris Rich, US Forest Service)
• George Washington Pines loop is a mixed use trail. Please be mindful of not walking or snowshoeing on the classic tracks. And please pick up after your pet!

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com: