Lutsen and Tofte – Cross Country Ski Trail Conditions

Trail Base: 1" - 6"

Snowfall

Comments:

Jan. 22: We received 1/2-1" of new snow yesterday on the trails, helping the glazed track situation. High winds have caused tree debris to fall on the trails. We re-groomed most of the skate lanes yesterday and plan to re-groom some of the classic tracks, in higher snow depth areas, once the high winds subside. Please avoid Lower Homestead due to ice flows on the trail and ski with caution. Onion River Road, Upper Homestead, and Picnic Loop will have the best conditions. The Oberg warming cabin will remain closed this ski season, due to COVID safety concerns.

We finished our trail intersection sign replacement project yesterday. The existing 14 year old maps held up pretty well over the years, but squirrels, moose, wind, and sun help to destroy them. Liz Wagner was on the team replacing the maps as shown here on the Maple Loop. Thanks again to the North Star Ski Touring Club for a grant to purchase the maps.

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/Jan 22: Light new snow and trail grooming have helped. Oberg and Picnic trails were good for the most part with occasional patches of debris from cedar and spruce groves. Hard to find a better place to ski right now than Sugarbush. (Bruce Keifenheim)

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/Jan 18: Onion River Road, upper Homestead, and Picnic Loop were all freshly groomed today and in very good condition. There are a few dirt spots and rocks that are easy to avoid. You could make good skis work if you’re careful. I was a little worried about what the warm temps last week were going to do to the trails, but the groomers worked their magic and created near perfect conditions today. Thank you groomers! (Jared VanderHook)

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/Jan 16: Did a quick skate up and down Onion River Rd and around Oberg loop. Skate deck was in great shape, firm and fast but with fresh grooming, easy to get a grip. Downhill on Oberg was the hardest part as it was a rocket fast roller coaster and big foot print holes were a hazard as well as a few dirt spots that had to be quickly avoided. Otherwise it was sweet. (Tim Nelson)

The Sugarbush Trail System is an extensive cross country ski trail network and a developing single-track mountain bike trail system in Northeastern Minnesota along the shores of Lake Superior. The system provides a variety of recreation opportunities in the Sawtooth Mountains for the beginner to advanced skier and bicyclist. A small board of volunteers oversees all aspects of the Sugarbush xc ski trail system. We fund trail improvements, purchase and maintain grooming equipment, make sure the trails are groomed, maintain the Oberg warming shack and keep it stocked with wood and put on the Annual Tofte Trek Fundraiser. STA also works cooperatively with Cook County's Superior Cycling Association to develop single-track mountain bike trails in our area.

We want to remind folks that Sugarbush trails are only open to cross country skiing. Fat biking trails are available on the Norpine Trail system in Lutsen. Snowshoeing and hiking are available on the Superior Hiking Trail. Information on recreational trails throughout the county can be obtained from the Visit Cook County Information Center in Grand Marais; 218-387-2524.

This is the season, when non-profit organizations solicit supporters for financial support and Sugarbush Trail Association (STA) is one of them. We would like to encourage you to donate directly to STA through our website at Sugarbush Ski Trails or mail to: Sugarbush Trail Association, PO Box 2112, Tofte, MN 55615. We greatly appreciate any financial contributions to help us with our $40,000 operating budget. Thanks in advance.

Ski Pass Required: Minnesota Ski Pass required. They may be purchased online or in-person at any Holiday Station Store, Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte, or Clearview store in Lutsen. More information on the pass and a link to purchase on-line is located at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html

 

Trail Base: 1"- 6"

Snowfall

Comments:

Jan. 22: We received 1/2-1" of new snow yesterday on the trails, helping the glazed track situation. High winds have caused tree debris to fall on the trails. We re-groomed most of the skate lanes yesterday and plan to re-groom some of the classic tracks, in higher snow depth areas, once the high winds subside. Please avoid Lower Homestead due to ice flows on the trail and ski with caution. Onion River Road, Upper Homestead, and Picnic Loop will have the best conditions. The Oberg warming cabin will remain closed this ski season, due to COVID safety concerns.

We finished our trail intersection sign replacement project yesterday. The existing 14 year old maps held up pretty well over the years, but squirrels, moose, wind, and sun help to destroy them. Liz Wagner was on the team replacing the maps as shown here on the Maple Loop. Thanks again to the North Star Ski Touring Club for a grant to purchase the maps.

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/Jan 22: Light new snow and trail grooming have helped. Oberg and Picnic trails were good for the most part with occasional patches of debris from cedar and spruce groves. Hard to find a better place to ski right now than Sugarbush. (Bruce Keifenheim)

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/Jan 18: Onion River Road, upper Homestead, and Picnic Loop were all freshly groomed today and in very good condition. There are a few dirt spots and rocks that are easy to avoid. You could make good skis work if you’re careful. I was a little worried about what the warm temps last week were going to do to the trails, but the groomers worked their magic and created near perfect conditions today. Thank you groomers! (Jared VanderHook)

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/Jan 16: Did a quick skate up and down Onion River Rd and around Oberg loop. Skate deck was in great shape, firm and fast but with fresh grooming, easy to get a grip. Downhill on Oberg was the hardest part as it was a rocket fast roller coaster and big foot print holes were a hazard as well as a few dirt spots that had to be quickly avoided. Otherwise it was sweet. (Tim Nelson)

The Sugarbush Trail System is an extensive cross country ski trail network and a developing single-track mountain bike trail system in Northeastern Minnesota along the shores of Lake Superior. The system provides a variety of recreation opportunities in the Sawtooth Mountains for the beginner to advanced skier and bicyclist. A small board of volunteers oversees all aspects of the Sugarbush xc ski trail system. We fund trail improvements, purchase and maintain grooming equipment, make sure the trails are groomed, maintain the Oberg warming shack and keep it stocked with wood and put on the Annual Tofte Trek Fundraiser. STA also works cooperatively with Cook County's Superior Cycling Association to develop single-track mountain bike trails in our area.

We want to remind folks that Sugarbush trails are only open to cross country skiing. Fat biking trails are available on the Norpine Trail system in Lutsen. Snowshoeing and hiking are available on the Superior Hiking Trail. Information on recreational trails throughout the county can be obtained from the Visit Cook County Information Center in Grand Marais; 218-387-2524.

This is the season, when non-profit organizations solicit supporters for financial support and Sugarbush Trail Association (STA) is one of them. We would like to encourage you to donate directly to STA through our website at Sugarbush Ski Trails or mail to: Sugarbush Trail Association, PO Box 2112, Tofte, MN 55615. We greatly appreciate any financial contributions to help us with our $40,000 operating budget. Thanks in advance.

Ski Pass Required: Minnesota Ski Pass required. They may be purchased online or in-person at any Holiday Station Store, Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte, or Clearview store in Lutsen. More information on the pass and a link to purchase on-line is located at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html

 

Trail Base: 1"- 9"

Snowfall

Comments:

Jan 20: No snow from recent system to our south. Caution: Icy conditions. Watch for bare spots on lower elevation trails.

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/ Jan 22: Skied the Deer Yard Loop and the Fire Tower Spur. Inch of fluff had fallen since last grooming, but prior skiers had largely cleared the track. 90% beautiful, few short sections with leaves or pine detritus. Easy to avoid. I used B skis but would have been comfortable with good skis. Great afternoon ski! (Steven Goetz)

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/ Jan 18: Skied up the pioneer loop from the snowmobile lot trailhead off Hwy61. Skied over to Deeryard, around Deeryard, up and down Fire Tower, and back down west pioneer and ridge run. The lower trails (West Pioneer and Ridge Run) are in terrible shape, all ice, dirt, frozen foot prints and debris. A new logging road crosses the Deeryard connection twice, and has eliminated east Pioneer loop for the rest of the season. Warnings have been put up, but logging roads require ski removal and I suggest walking the short distance between crossings between the road crossings. The good news is the deeryard loop is in great shape. I would only ski it from the Deeryard trailhead until we get more snow. The rest of the trails are hazardous. (Tim Nelson)

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/ Jan 15: I skied from the parking area on Lutsen Mountain road north towards 4, and back. Humps, lots of debris and sticks poking through the snow. Also footprints. I’d recommend against it until there is more snow. (Jacquelyn Bacigalupi)

The Norpine Trail System is 57km of machine groomed X-C ski trails between Cascade River and Ski Hill Road. Trails include Deer Yard Lake, Pioneer Trail, Hall and Massey Loops. The Norpine Trail Association is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including maintaining, preserving, and enhancing the historic Norpine Trail System in Cook County, Minnesota, (which includes Cascade River State Park trails, Deer Yard Loop trails and Hall-Massey trails).

Norpine Trails are maintained with the help of the North Star Ski Touring Association, www.north-stars.org, and many other Norpine members and volunteers.

More information: www.norpinetrails.org

Ski Pass Required: MN ski passes are required on our trail system. Passes can be purchased on-line or they may be purchased in-person at any Holiday Station Store, Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte, or Clearview store in Lutsen.

More information on the pass and a link to purchase on-line is located at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html

 

Trail Base: 1"- 9"

Snowfall

Comments:

Jan 20: No snow from recent system to our south. Caution: Icy conditions. Watch for bare spots on lower elevation trails.

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/ Jan 22: Skied the Deer Yard Loop and the Fire Tower Spur. Inch of fluff had fallen since last grooming, but prior skiers had largely cleared the track. 90% beautiful, few short sections with leaves or pine detritus. Easy to avoid. I used B skis but would have been comfortable with good skis. Great afternoon ski! (Steven Goetz)

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/ Jan 18: Skied up the pioneer loop from the snowmobile lot trailhead off Hwy61. Skied over to Deeryard, around Deeryard, up and down Fire Tower, and back down west pioneer and ridge run. The lower trails (West Pioneer and Ridge Run) are in terrible shape, all ice, dirt, frozen foot prints and debris. A new logging road crosses the Deeryard connection twice, and has eliminated east Pioneer loop for the rest of the season. Warnings have been put up, but logging roads require ski removal and I suggest walking the short distance between crossings between the road crossings. The good news is the deeryard loop is in great shape. I would only ski it from the Deeryard trailhead until we get more snow. The rest of the trails are hazardous. (Tim Nelson)

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/ Jan 15: I skied from the parking area on Lutsen Mountain road north towards 4, and back. Humps, lots of debris and sticks poking through the snow. Also footprints. I’d recommend against it until there is more snow. (Jacquelyn Bacigalupi)

The Norpine Trail System is 57km of machine groomed X-C ski trails between Cascade River and Ski Hill Road. Trails include Deer Yard Lake, Pioneer Trail, Hall and Massey Loops. The Norpine Trail Association is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including maintaining, preserving, and enhancing the historic Norpine Trail System in Cook County, Minnesota, (which includes Cascade River State Park trails, Deer Yard Loop trails and Hall-Massey trails).

Norpine Trails are maintained with the help of the North Star Ski Touring Association, www.north-stars.org, and many other Norpine members and volunteers.

More information: www.norpinetrails.org

Ski Pass Required: MN ski passes are required on our trail system. Passes can be purchased on-line or they may be purchased in-person at any Holiday Station Store, Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte, or Clearview store in Lutsen.

More information on the pass and a link to purchase on-line is located at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html

 

Trail Base: 1" - 9"

Snowfall

Comments:

Jan 20: No snow from recent system to our south. Caution: Icy conditions. Watch for bare spots on lower elevation trails.

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/ Jan 22: Skied the Deer Yard Loop and the Fire Tower Spur. Inch of fluff had fallen since last grooming, but prior skiers had largely cleared the track. 90% beautiful, few short sections with leaves or pine detritus. Easy to avoid. I used B skis but would have been comfortable with good skis. Great afternoon ski! (Steven Goetz)

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/ Jan 18: Skied up the pioneer loop from the snowmobile lot trailhead off Hwy61. Skied over to Deeryard, around Deeryard, up and down Fire Tower, and back down west pioneer and ridge run. The lower trails (West Pioneer and Ridge Run) are in terrible shape, all ice, dirt, frozen foot prints and debris. A new logging road crosses the Deeryard connection twice, and has eliminated east Pioneer loop for the rest of the season. Warnings have been put up, but logging roads require ski removal and I suggest walking the short distance between crossings between the road crossings. The good news is the deeryard loop is in great shape. I would only ski it from the Deeryard trailhead until we get more snow. The rest of the trails are hazardous. (Tim Nelson)

Firsthand Trail Reports: www:skinnyski.com/ Jan 15: I skied from the parking area on Lutsen Mountain road north towards 4, and back. Humps, lots of debris and sticks poking through the snow. Also footprints. I’d recommend against it until there is more snow. (Jacquelyn Bacigalupi)

The Norpine Trail System is 57km of machine groomed X-C ski trails between Cascade River and Ski Hill Road. Trails include Deer Yard Lake, Pioneer Trail, Hall and Massey Loops. The Norpine Trail Association is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including maintaining, preserving, and enhancing the historic Norpine Trail System in Cook County, Minnesota, (which includes Cascade River State Park trails, Deer Yard Loop trails and Hall-Massey trails).

Norpine Trails are maintained with the help of the North Star Ski Touring Association, www.north-stars.org, and many other Norpine members and volunteers.

More information: www.norpinetrails.org

Ski Pass Required: MN ski passes are required on our trail system. Passes can be purchased on-line or they may be purchased in-person at any Holiday Station Store, Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte, or Clearview store in Lutsen.

More information on the pass and a link to purchase on-line is located at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html

 

Comments:

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!

Comments:

Ullr Mountain Nordic Trail closed.