Cross-Country Ski Trail Conditions in Lutsen and Tofte

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

Trail Conditions

Sugarbush Trails - Britton Peak & Moose Fence in Tofte

• Date: 3/18/2023
• Trail Base: 12"+
• Snowfall Last 24 Hours: 2"
• Snowfall Last 7 Days: 11"
• Total Snowfall for Season: 132"
• Average Depth off the Trail: 24"+
• Trail Conditions Update/Notes: 3/18/2023: We received 2" of new snow yesterday, so all of the trails were groomed last night into this morning with the Pisten Bully. A dusting of snow occurred during the grooming process and high winds have started this morning, so expect some drifting. 
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/18/2023: It's like January in Tofte. Trails were groomed overnight, the skate deck was nice and firm. They set tracks, which were also ok. But the wind was blowing relentlessly, leading to some drifting across the trail. The whole trail was skiable, we saw several out skating even, but there was significant drifting. The snow was dry and powdery with the wind leading to the perfect combination of no glide and no kick. I skated the last five km on my classic skis and the skate lane was awesome when there wasn't a lot of drifting. It was mid teens when we got out on the trail. Lots of snow left and plenty more skiing to be had and great grooming! (Kristin Riker-Coleman)
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/18/2023: Beautiful, if cold, afternoon classical skiing in Tofte today. Pristine, though squeaky, dry snow and a dusting of new snow made for a slog on the way out; our (and then another couple) having skied the tracks, along with the slight increase in temperature, brought longer strides with less effort on the return portion. (Jill Hansen)
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/14/2023: Quite honestly the best spring skiing ever in MN. Rivals out west ski areas with so much snow -- freshly groomed trails and no one here! They will be skiing for a long time yet! (John Dewall)
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/13/2023: Absolutely gorgeous sunny no-wind day at Sugarbush. Only had time to ski the Hogback Loop from the Britton Peak trailhead around noon... freshly groomed and great conditions. Pretty good hill climbs on Hogback and returning on Bridge Run. Classic tracks also were excellent. (Dave Carlson)
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/13/2023: Darren worked his magic with the PB last night, grooming 9" of fresh snow. The cold temps last night and into this morning resulted in surprisingly firm conditions. It doesn't get much better than this. Get out there and enjoy it while you can! (Jared VanderHook)

Sugarbush Trails - Oberg Mountain Area Trails in Lutsen

• Date: 3/18/2023
• Trail Base: 12"+
• Snowfall Last 24 Hours: 2"
• Snowfall Last 7 Days: 11"
• Total Snowfall for Season: 132"
• Average Depth off the Trail: 24"+
• Trail Conditions Update/Notes: 3/18/2023: We received 2" of new snow yesterday, so all of the trails were groomed last night into this morning with the Pisten Bully. A dusting of snow occurred during the grooming process and high winds have started this morning, so expect some drifting. 
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/18/2023: It's like January in Tofte. Trails were groomed overnight, the skate deck was nice and firm. They set tracks, which were also ok. But the wind was blowing relentlessly, leading to some drifting across the trail. The whole trail was skiable, we saw several out skating even, but there was significant drifting. The snow was dry and powdery with the wind leading to the perfect combination of no glide and no kick. I skated the last five km on my classic skis and the skate lane was awesome when there wasn't a lot of drifting. It was mid teens when we got out on the trail. Lots of snow left and plenty more skiing to be had and great grooming! (Kristin Riker-Coleman)
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/18/2023: Beautiful, if cold, afternoon classical skiing in Tofte today. Pristine, though squeaky, dry snow and a dusting of new snow made for a slog on the way out; our (and then another couple) having skied the tracks, along with the slight increase in temperature, brought longer strides with less effort on the return portion. (Jill Hansen)
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/14/2023: Quite honestly the best spring skiing ever in MN. Rivals out west ski areas with so much snow -- freshly groomed trails and no one here! They will be skiing for a long time yet! (John Dewall)
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/13/2023: Absolutely gorgeous sunny no-wind day at Sugarbush. Only had time to ski the Hogback Loop from the Britton Peak trailhead around noon... freshly groomed and great conditions. Pretty good hill climbs on Hogback and returning on Bridge Run. Classic tracks also were excellent. (Dave Carlson)
• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/13/2023: Darren worked his magic with the PB last night, grooming 9" of fresh snow. The cold temps last night and into this morning resulted in surprisingly firm conditions. It doesn't get much better than this. Get out there and enjoy it while you can! (Jared VanderHook)

Trail Conditions

Norpine Trails - Deer Yard - Lutsen

• Date: 3/18/2023
• Trail Base: 16" - 24"
• Snowfall Last 7 Days:  5"
• Average Depth off the Trail: 6" - 50"+

• Trail Conditions Update/Notes - 3/18/2023:West End trails groomed 3/18. This includes Connector Trail between Cascade Lodge and Ski Hill Rd as well as Massie/Hall loops. Trails are in great shape! East End trails groomed overnight 3/17. This includes: Pioneer, Ridge, Lookout, Deeryard Main Loop, and Firetower. Two sets of classic tracks groomed around Deeryard Main and most of Pioneer Loop. Conditions are excellent.

• Cautions: Short Loop (at Deeryard) hasn't been cleared or groomed since December storms. SKI AT YOUR OWN RISK.

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/10/2023: Coming from the Twin Cities, we were blessed with an empty (aka didn't have to share) trail! We did the Pioneer Loop; a slow, slow climb then the whole way down was a balancing act in the tracks... speedy! Tracks were solid and grippy enough in the uphills. Beautiful scenery and so peaceful! Great conditions (Jennifer Myers)

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/10/2023: After checking out Pincushion and finding it too icy, I went to Deeryard, starting at Deeryard trail head which is probably a higher elevation than Pincushion. I skied the Deeryard loop twice, once in each direction. The tracks were solid and the deck smooth. Hardly any glazing in the tracks. I was on skins which worked perfectly in the neutral position. Great conditions and great grooming. (Tim Nelson)

Norpine Trails - Hall/Massie Loop

• Date: 3/18/2023
• Trail Base: 16" - 24"
• Snowfall Last 7 Days:  5"
• Average Depth off the Trail: 6" - 50"+

• Trail Conditions Update/Notes - 3/18/2023:West End trails groomed 3/18. This includes Connector Trail between Cascade Lodge and Ski Hill Rd as well as Massie/Hall loops. Trails are in great shape! East End trails groomed overnight 3/17. This includes: Pioneer, Ridge, Lookout, Deeryard Main Loop, and Firetower. Two sets of classic tracks groomed around Deeryard Main and most of Pioneer Loop. Conditions are excellent. Cautions: Short Loop (at Deeryard) hasn't been cleared or groomed since December storms. SKI AT YOUR OWN RISK.

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/13/2023: Entire Norpine trail system groomed Monday (with the exception of Short Loop at Deeryard which will be closed for remainder of this ski season). All trails are in great shape after the snow we got this weekend! Two sets of classic tracks groomed around Main Loop at Deeryard as well as majority of Pioneer Loop. (Adam Dettman)

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/10/2023: Coming from the Twin Cities, we were blessed with an empty (aka didn't have to share) trail! We did the Pioneer Loop; a slow, slow climb then the whole way down was a balancing act in the tracks... speedy! Tracks were solid and grippy enough in the uphills. Beautiful scenery and so peaceful! Great conditions (Jennifer Myers)

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/10/2023:After checking out Pincushion and finding it too icy, I went to Deeryard, starting at Deeryard trail head which is probably a higher elevation than Pincushion. I skied the Deeryard loop twice, once in each direction. The tracks were solid and the deck smooth. Hardly any glazing in the tracks. I was on skins which worked perfectly in the neutral position. Great conditions and great grooming. (Tim Nelson)

Norpine Trails - Pioneer Loop & Cascade Area Trails

• Date: 3/18/2023
• Trail Base: 16" - 24"
• Snowfall Last 7 Days:  5"
• Average Depth off the Trail: 6" - 50"+

• Trail Conditions Update/Notes - 3/18/2023:West End trails groomed 3/18. This includes Connector Trail between Cascade Lodge and Ski Hill Rd as well as Massie/Hall loops. Trails are in great shape! East End trails groomed overnight 3/17. This includes: Pioneer, Ridge, Lookout, Deeryard Main Loop, and Firetower. Two sets of classic tracks groomed around Deeryard Main and most of Pioneer Loop. Conditions are excellent.

• Cautions: Short Loop (at Deeryard) hasn't been cleared or groomed since December storms. SKI AT YOUR OWN RISK.

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/13/2023: Entire Norpine trail system groomed Monday (with the exception of Short Loop at Deeryard which will be closed for remainder of this ski season). All trails are in great shape after the snow we got this weekend! Two sets of classic tracks groomed around Main Loop at Deeryard as well as majority of Pioneer Loop. (Adam Dettman)

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/10/2023: Coming from the Twin Cities, we were blessed with an empty (aka didn't have to share) trail! We did the Pioneer Loop; a slow, slow climb then the whole way down was a balancing act in the tracks... speedy! Tracks were solid and grippy enough in the uphills. Beautiful scenery and so peaceful! Great conditions (Jennifer Myers)

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 3/10/2023:After checking out Pincushion and finding it too icy, I went to Deeryard, starting at Deeryard trail head which is probably a higher elevation than Pincushion. I skied the Deeryard loop twice, once in each direction. The tracks were solid and the deck smooth. Hardly any glazing in the tracks. I was on skins which worked perfectly in the neutral position. Great conditions and great grooming. (Tim Nelson)

Trail Conditions

• Date: 3/13/2023
• Trail Base: 26"
• Trail Conditions: Very Good
• Trail Groomed?: Yes
• Difficulty: intermediate (track)  
• Average Depth off the Trail: 40"
• Trail Condition Update/Notes: 3/13/2023: TTrails were packed and tracked 3/13/23. The lake loop does not have enough snow to lay a track set, but the base has been packed. Hiking Trails are icy. Traction devices are highly recommended. Don't forget to purchase your great Minnesota ski pass.

• Firsthand Trail Reports: From skinnyski.com - 2/25/2023: Skied Pioneer Loop, Lookout Mountain, and some of the central trails. Pioneer loop and central trails were great skiing. Word of caution to newcomers: the "hard" ski trails (around the falls and cascade lodge) are hard because they aren't groomed. They get enough foot traffic that they're mostly workable, but you'll have to clip out a couple times and walk. There's a tough spot between U and I (on the Norpine version of the map) where a downed tree requires you to walk through thigh-deep snow for ten yards. Lookout Mountain hasn't been groomed recently, and it doesn't seem to have had much traffic. The view is more than worth the work, a must-see especially in winter! (Alex Leslie)

• Facilities:

  • A warming house is available at the trailhead.

  • Ski passes are available outside the park office daily during the ski season. Otherwise, the park office is open and ski passes can be purchased on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  • The campground is closed except for a few campsites. Water is available near the trailhead parking lot.

  • Winter camping is available. Contact park for further details.

• Cascade River State Park home page »

   

Trail Conditions

Sawbill Ski Trail is a 6k classic ski trail on a loop through the Superior National Forest. This is a privately maintained ski trail that we are happy to share with others. Park in the plowed parking lot and access the trail from the four-way intersection. No dogs or snowshoes please!​

Trail Conditions

Ullr Loop is not yet open for the season

• Date: 
• Trail Base: "
• Snowfall Last 24 Hours: 
• Snowfall Last 7 Days: 
• Average Depth off the Trail: 
• Trail Conditions Update/Notes -