There have been positive improvements to the Park’s winter trails this week. The green trail is now entirely open from Franks Bay to Crane Lake. The gold portage is still rough, and stakes have been placed to mark trail edges and drops. Stay between the stakes to avoid those hazards. The purple trail on Rainy Lake is open to Kettle Falls, but there are two marked sections of slush that riders should approach with caution. The yellow trail is open with a new temporary bridge spanning a small creek near Mica Bay that is slow to freeze over. Use caution while crossing the bridge. Travel on the snowmobile trails is rough, as there are only a few inches of snow on the ice in many places. The trails have been staked, but not groomed. Land portages have been packed but are rough due to the limited amount of snow.
In the coming days, the trail crew will be checking ice to establish what we can of ice roads. Later next week, depending on snow conditions on the lakes, they will focus on grooming what they can. We are not able to run larger grooming equipment until we have 10 inches of ice and adequate snow consistently along the trail route. We encourage everyone to remember that ice is never 100% safe. Be aware of conditions and ride in response to them.
As always, you can find the latest winter trails conditions at Alerts & Conditions - Voyageurs National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Snowmobile Trails:
International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) -Open Staked Not Groomed
Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) -Open Staked Not Groomed
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) - Open Staked Not Groomed
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) - Closed
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) - Open Staked not Groomed
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) - Open Staked Not Groomed
Ice Roads:
Rainy Lake Ice Road - Closed
Rainy Lake Dryweed Loop - Closed
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road - Closed
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road West and East Spur Roads - Closed
Ski Trails:
Kabetogama Area:
Echo Bay Ski Trail - Packed not tracked
Rainy Lake Area:
Rainy Lake Rec Trail - Packed not tracked
Black Bay Ski Trail - Closed
Tilson Connector Trail - Closed
Snowshoe Trails: Hiking allowed on trails
Rainy Lake Area:
Rainy Lake Recreation Trail - Open
Oberholtzer Trail - Open
Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail - Closed
Ash River Area:
KabAsh 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 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
Open water near Mica Bay on the yellow trail: NPS Photo/Nevalainen
Stakes on green trail at Gold Portage : NPS Photo/Line
