Winter Trails Report 12/11/2024
Winter is off to a promising start! We received between 8 and 10 inches of snow in the park, and crews have been working to prepare trails for winter use. The latest round of wet, heavy snow has caused many branches and small trees to hang down into our trails, slowing down tracking. Some of the land-based ski trails have been cleared of branches and are packed and/or tracked.
Lake ice is being assessed in order to begin work on opening snowmobile trails and ice roads in the coming weeks. We urge caution for anyone on the frozen lakes, as we have not yet found sufficient ice in most areas. This amount of wet snow falling before ice has had enough time to form has created an unstable base, and more cold temperatures are needed before it can be considered safe. Remember that 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)
Snowmobile Trails
PURPLE TRAIL International Falls to Kettle Falls CLOSED
GREEN TRAIL Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River CLOSED
GREEN TRAIL Ash River to Crane Lake CLOSED
DASHED BLACK TRAIL Chain of Lakes CLOSED
YELLOW TRAIL Ash River to Kettle Falls CLOSED
BLUE TRAIL East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake CLOSED
Ice Roads
Rainy Lake Ice Road CLOSED
Rainy Lake Dryweed Loop CLOSED
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road CLOSED
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road Wes and East Spur Roads CLOSED
Ski Trails
Echo Bay Ski Trail 1st loop packed and tracked 2nd and 3rd cleared
Rainy Lake Rec Trail Packed not Tracked
Black Bay Ski Trail Closed
Tilson Connector Trail Packed not Tracked
Snowshoe Trails
Rainy Lake Rec Trail Open
Oberholtzer Trail Open
Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail Closed
Kab/Ash Trail Open
Blind Ash Bay Trail Open
Sullivan Bay Trail Open
Kabetogama Lake Recreation Area
Sledding Hill Closed
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)
International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club: Trail Report
Snow Depth and Groomed Trail Conditions | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)
Buyck Portageurs Snowmobile Club
Ash River Kabetogama Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club
Polar Polers Ski Club: Polar Polers | International Falls MN | Facebook
