Winter Trails Report: January 15th, 2025
Winter Trails Report: January 15th, 2025
Photo 1: Rainy Lake Ice Road NPS Photo/Heibel
Photo 2: Kabetogama Lake Ice Road NPS Photo/Nevalainen
Conditions are improving throughout the park! The ice roads on both Rainy Lake and Kabetogama Lake have been opened and extended. More snowmobile trails are open, with more opening by this weekend. Crews are continuing to check ice on the lakes where trails are not yet open, including the Purple, Yellow, Black, and Blue Trails.
If you go out on a frozen lake, be extremely careful near pressure ridges. Avoid these treacherous spots when possible! They can be difficult to see in conditions with low visibility. Be cautious while on land portages, as they are still a bit rough and could use more snow. The Black Bay, Sullivan Bay, and Moose River Grade portages should be groomed later this week. There is enough snow on the lakes to run snowmobiles without the risk of overheating, although traction is lacking in some places.
Be sure to exercise caution in these and other hazardous areas where the ice is still thin: sand bars, shorelines, and shallow areas. Ice is never 100% safe!
You can always find the most current winter trails report on our website at Alerts & Conditions - Voyageurs National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Scroll to the end of the page for links to other regional trail reports.
SNOWMOBILE TRAILS
Purple Trail (International Falls to Kettle Falls): CLOSED
Green Trail (Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River): Open Portages will be groomed by this weekend
Green Trail (Ash River to Crane Lake): Open Portages not groomed
Dashed Black Trail Chain of Lakes: Open will be staked but not groomed by this weekend
Yellow Trail (Ash River to Kettle Falls): CLOSED
Blue Trail (East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake): CLOSED
ICE ROADS
Rainy Lake Ice Road: Open by this weekend
Rainy Lake Dryweed Loop: CLOSED
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road: Open from Kab VC to Ash River VC
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road West and East Spur Roads: CLOSED
SKI TRAILS
Echo Bay Ski Trail: Open; packed and tracked
Rainy Lake Rec Trail: Open; packed and tracked
Black Bay Ski Trail: Open; novice loop packed
Tilson Connector Trail: Open; packed and tracked by this weekend
SNOWSHOE TRAILS
Rainy Lake Recreation Trail: Open
Oberholtzer Trail: Open
Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail: Open
KabAsh Trail: Open
Blind Ash Bay Trail: Open
Sullivan Bay Trail: Open
KABETOGAMA LAKE RECREATION AREA
Sledding Hill: Open; more snow than last week, but still some bare spots to watch
Ice Rink: CLOSED
For further information on land trails in communities surrounding the park check out these links:
Voyageur Trail Society - Trail Updates Voyageur Trail Society - Trail Updates (snowmobilevacation.org)
Trail Report http://www.ridetheborders.com/trail-report.html
Snow Depth and Groomed Trail Conditions | Minnesota DNR Snow Depth and Groomed Trail Conditions | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)
Buyck Portageurs Snowmobile Club https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057218389432
Ash River Kabetogama Snowdrifters - Ash River Kabetogama Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068157102512
Polar Polers Ski Club: Polar Polers | International Falls MN | Facebook
