Gunflint Trail – Cross Country Ski Trail Conditions

Trail Base: 12" - 14"

Snowfall

Comments:

Central Gunflint Ski Trail Conditions on February 16, 2019

• Groomed with classic track: 70 km
• Groomed with skate lane: 58 km
• Surface Conditions: Fresh groomed snow
• Last grooming day: 2-16-2019
• Total season snowfall: 83.78"

Comments: February 16: Snow accumulation has broken 80 inches on the year now! All ski trails are in excellent shape, requiring a lot of extra grooming this year to keep up with all the 2-inch snowfalls - a good problem to have! All trails were groomed again yesterday (Feb 15) and the groomers are back out again this morning to freshen things back up. Temperatures look very comfortable this weekend and into next week with most days in the mid-teens. Excellent skiing weather and trail conditions right now!

Winter on the Gunflint is so pretty; come on up and enjoy the trails!

"Firsthand Trail Report" - Feb 16 - "Snow accumulation has broken 80 inches on the year now so a lot of snow to work with. All trails were groomed yesterday and we are back out again this morning. Trails are in excellent shape and with the comfortable temps this weekend and next week, the skiing right now is as close to perfect as it can get." (Zach Baumann)

Comments: The snowbanks are massive and the skiing's fantastic! All trails continue to be open and are groomed on a regular basis after each snowfall, and as needed. Trail base is over a foot thick in most places, solidly packed snow, not ice as we have not received the rain the rest of the state has gotten this winter season. The snowshoe trails are beautiful too! Skiing is pretty awesome right now!

Ski Pass Required: Central Gunflint Trail System

For the most up to date grooming information, as well specific trail conditions, please contact Bearskin Lodge (1-800-338-4170) or Golden Eagle Lodge (1-800-346-2203). Central Gunflint Ski Pass Required.

Trail Base: 11" - 17"

Snowfall

Comments:

John, Head Naturalist at the Gunflint Lodge reports, "This week, we exceeded the 6 foot mark for our snow this season, for a total of 73.5 inches. Base depths on the trails range from 11 - 15 inches. The snow off trail ranges from 26 - 30 inches. The Overlook and Big Pine Trails are in ideal condition."

Most of the Upper Gunflint nordic ski trails are suited for the intermediate skier. However, there is plenty of good skiing for beginners and some challenging parts of the trails for the advanced. Everyone can enjoy the trail system from any of the three resorts on Gunflint Lake. The system is designed with many loops that permit easy day outings. Signage is made available to inform the skier of trails and trail information.

All the Upper Gunflint ski trails are groomed with gyro groomers and track setters. Most of the trails are double tracked for skier enjoyment. A few trails are single tracked, they are narrower and more remote but offer the skier a sense of being one with his or her environment. The staff from the three resorts are out on the trails every few days making sure everything is kept in the best shape.

Detailed trail information is available from any of the three resorts on Gunflint Lake: Gunflint Lodge, Gunflint Pines Resort and Heston’s Country Store and Lodge. From these businesses that know these trails, valuable information can be learned prior to a skier’s trek. Feel free to ask questions and enjoy over 100 km of some of the greatest nordic skiing anywhere.

Ski Pass Required: Upper Gunflint Trail System

The 40 miles of the Upper Gunflint Ski Trail system is maintained by the Gunflint Lake Trails Group, and requires an Upper Gunflint Trail Ski pass for usage. Funds raised from these passes pay for land lease fees and grooming expenses. Daily, weekend, week, and seasonal passes are available. 

Passes are available at Gunflint Lodge (800-328-3325), Gunflint Pines (800-533-5814), or Heston's Lodge (800-338-7230). 

Trail Base: 11"-30"

Snowfall

Comments:

Groomer's Report- February 18: On Sunday evening, February 17, Curry Thompson finished grooming all the trails of Banadad System. Great snow (lots of it) and great skiing. Banadad Trail System grooming continues in our deep snowy winter.

"Firsthand Trail Report" - Feb 17 - "Amazing skiing conditions. 27k groomed for classic. Fast snow, perfect conditions, weather was great. Trails are groomed perfectly." (Flannery Delaney)

The Banadad Trail offers 36K+ of intimate classical groomed trails primarily through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).

Banadad Trail Snow & Trail Conditions Report- brought to you by the Banadad Trail Association- The 41 km. Banadad Ski Trail System is accessible from two trail heads, both with free parking; the eastern trail head is located 30 miles up the Gunflint Trail off the Lima Grade; the west end trail head is on the Gunflint Trail at Fire #10045. In addition to the Banadad the trail system consists of the Lace Lake, Tall Pines and Tim Knapp Trails. The Banadad is the BWCA longest tracked ski trail and likely the longest wilderness tracked ski trail in the USA. For more info call 218-388-4487.

Additional Comment: The Banadad Ski Trail System is a public ski trail managed by the Banadad Ski Trail Association, in agreement with the Gunflint Ranger District — USFS and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The Minnesota Ski Pass is required to ski the trail. Free public parking is provided at the Eastern and Western Trail Heads. The System consists of the 27 kilometer Banadad trail, a single tracked intimate trail through the Boundary Waters Wilderness, and another 14 kilometers of trails taking off from the Banadad's eastern end. All the trails are single tracked. The Trail is centrally located along the 200-kilometer Gunflint Nordic Trails. The eastern end of the Banadad connects with the Central Gunflint Trails and at the western end skiers can ski into the Upper Gunflint Trail System. Trail access for the Eastern Trailhead is located along the Little Ollie Road. The Western Trailhead is off the Gunflint Trail, 1/4 mile south of the Loon Lake Public Landing. Other trail access is across Poplar Lake at the Swamp, Lizz and Mead Lake Portages. In the summer the Banadad Trail is an interesting hiking trail, providing you with a glimpse of what much of the interior of the Boundary Water (BWCA) looks like when not viewed from a Boundary Waters lake. While Nordic Skiing is normally considered an eco-friendly sport, the Gunflint Nordic Trails have taken this one step further. Many ago the Banadad Ski Trail became carbon neutral ski trails. The Banadad offers 41 kilometers of intimate classical groomed trails most going through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). The trail system is located in Northern Minnesota along the Gunflint Trail and 32 miles inland from the Lake Superior coastal town of Grand Marais. See www.poplarcreekbnb.com.

For more information go to https://www.banadad.org/newsletter

Ski Pass Required: Minnesota Ski Pass required.

 

Minnesota Ski Pass required.