Recent cold weather has allowed for some good progress in grooming the snowmobile trails on the large lakes. You will find smoother riding on staked trails. The Gold portage, Moose River Grade and Sullivan portage are groomed and in good shape. Please be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to all trail signage. Overall, the lake trails are in better shape than previous weeks, but snow drifts and stretches of frozen slush ruts can be dangerous and can cause the machine to tip or throw off a rider. Use caution and slow down where appropriate. Crews have been monitoring the ice road, and have found some inconsistent conditions. Plowing will begin as soon as it is safe to do so. Remember, ice is never 100% safe so pay attention to signage and be aware of your surroundings.
Snowmobile Trails:
International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) - Open, not groomed
Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) -Open, not groomed
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) - Open, not groomed
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) - Open, groomed
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) - Open, groomed
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) - Open, not groomed
Ice Roads:
Rainy Lake Ice Road - Not Open
Rainy Lake Dryweed Loop - Not Open
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road - Not Open
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road West and East Spur Roads - Not Open
Maintenance crews groom a snowmobile trail
NPS Photo/Nevalainen
Ski Trails:
Kabetogama Area:
Echo Bay Ski Trail - Open, packed, and tracked
Rainy Lake Area:
Rainy Lake Rec Trail - Open, packed, and tracked
Black Bay Ski Trail - First loop is open, packed and tracked. Figure 8 is open and packed. Ridge trail is not open.
Tilson Connector Trail - Open, packed, and tracked
Snowshoe Trails:
Rainy Lake Area:
Rainy Lake Recreation Trail - Open
Oberholtzer Trail - Open
Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail - Open
Ash River Area:
KabAsh Trail - Open
Blind Ash Bay Trail - Open
Sullivan Bay Trail - Open
Kabetogama Lake Recreation Area:
Sledding Hill - Not Open
Ice Rink - Not Open
For further information on land trails in communities surrounding the park check out these links:
Voyageur Trail Society - Trail Updates https://www.snowmobilevacation.com and https://www.facebook.com/VTSIGrooms
Trail Report (ridetheborders.com) http://www.ridetheborders.com/trail-report.html and https://www.facebook.com/IVSClub
Snow Depth and Groomed Trail Conditions | Minnesota DNR https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html
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
