Recent snowfall has allowed for good progress on opening trails throughout the park. Use caution off trail; ice ridges have been active, and high winds over the past few days have created snowdrifts, currently soft, on the lake surface. Some snowmobile trails still remain closed, but progress is moving quickly to open them as ice conditions allow.
The Rainy Lake Ice Road is now open from the visitor center to Cranberry Bay, and around portions of Dryweed Island. The Kabetogama Lake Ice Road is now open from the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center Boat Launch to the Ash River Visitor Center Boat Launch. Ski trails are open, packed, and tracked. Snowshoe trails are open, but not packed.
Please remember the snowmobile speed limit within the park is 45 mph on frozen lake surfaces and 25 mph on all overland portages. Speed limit signs are posted at trailheads and portages. The speed limit for the ice road is 30 mph.
When ice fishing, please remember holes must be drilled at least 50 feet from ice roads and snowmobile trails.
The Rainy Lake Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. During business hours, the visitor center offers maps, information, and hot cocoa. Snowshoe and cross-country skis loans have started for the season.
The most up to date winter trail conditions are available at www.nps.gov/voya.
Snowmobile Trails
- International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Closed
- Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) – Open and staked
- Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Open and staked
- Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Closed
- Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open and staked
- East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Closed
Ice Roads
- Rainy Lake Ice Road - Open to Cranberry Bay, and around portions of Dryweed Island
- Kabetogama Lake Ice Road - Open
Ski Trails
- Echo Bay Ski Trail – Open, packed, and tracked
- Black Bay Ski Trail – Open, packed, and tracked
- Tilson Connector Trail – Open, packed, and tracked
- KabAsh Trail – Open
Snowshoe Trails
- Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail – Open, not packed
- Blind Ash Bay Trail – Open, not packed
- Oberholtzer Trail – Open, not packed
- Sullivan Bay Trail – Open, not packed
“STAKED TRAILS MAKE SAFETY SENSE”
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