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: 4/6/2026
• New Snow Last 24 Hours: .25"
• New Snow Last 7 Days: 4.75"
• Trail Base:  10 - 16"
• Surface Conditions: Excellent
• Snow in Woods: 30"
• Last Grooming Day: 4/6/26
• Total Season Snowfall: 84 - 100"
• Trail Conditions Update/Notes: From Pincushion Ski & Run Club: 4/6/2026: Groomed skate deck on Stadium, East and West Overlook, Upper and Lower Snowman and Pincushion Loop. Skating will be excellent today on the above trails, but hazardous on all advanced trails. Classic tracks are deep, well defined and rock hard. Tracks have a coating of new snow in them, so are skiable, but use caution.

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com: 4/5/2026: Wonderful skiing! Superb grooming, solid base, no holes, and a good 14 inches as told to us by the groomer. Getting a bit sticky by late morning. Social hour at the trail head. Saw about 25 people including the groomer who told us that the plan is to keep grooming this week. We are so lucky! Did the Pincushion Loop, B and B loop, Half of Morris Maze, Half of North Advanced, Hilfiker Hill, all amazing. (Jeremy Lopez)

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: 3/19/2026
• Grooming update from US Forest Service: 3/19/2026: We groomed the Cascade Connector down to the state park, and then focused on the interior loop trails west of the parking lot until it got too warm. Tracks will be soft but they are there. (Kris Rich, US Forest Service)

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com: 3/25/2026: Not recently groomed, but well packed and tracked by other skiers. Amazing to be out classic skiing in this weather (41F). Think bit more snow please. (Ned Dunbar)

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: