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Trail Conditions Updated 1/31/12

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Comments:  The welcomed return of winter has brought a bit more snow. Hidden Valley received a few snowfalls of at least two inches apiece. An inch of fluff fell today. Hidden Valley is well groomed and the skiing is excellent. Snow now covers even the stubborn spots! Classic tracks are set everywhere they are normally skied. The swamp is now passable. No need to take the Deer Trail detour. The only trail not groomed is Hannah’s.

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

The 14 km of machine groomed trails pass through rolling hills, paper birch and pine stands, and newly planted red and white pine plantations and are perfect for beginner to expert skiers. ‘You are here’ maps guide you along the trail.

Report Courtesy of Ely Chamber of Commerce

Trail Conditions Updated 1/22/12

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Comments: The Trezona Trail is in nice shape. There’s an inch of fluffy new snow covering everything, and the trail was groomed yesterday. It’s very slidy with nice classic tracks all the way around. There are no bare spots to speak of, and the grooming has erased all foot and dog prints, for now.

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

Dogs are allowed on this trail. This 6.4 Km trail is relatively flat and has great views of the old Pioneer Mine headframe. It circles Miner’s Lake which is a designated trout lake.

Report Courtesy of Ely Chamber of Commerce

Trail Conditions Updated 1/30/12

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Comments:   The North Junction trails are in reasonably good shape. The rockiest trails still may have exposed rocks or roots but the more flat and the grassy parts are in good shape.

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

The North Junction Trails consist of a series of loops. There are two loops south of the North Arm Road. The Beaver Meadow Trail is a beginner to intermediate trail that goes through an area occupied by beaver. The Moose Trail is an intermediate level that goes through hilly upland areas, a spruce swamp, and a beaver pond. The west end of the Beaver Meadows trail leads to Camp Widgiwagan. Please respect camp property and watch for vehicles.

Reports Courtesy of Ely Chamber of Commerce

Trail Conditions Updated 2/2/12

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Comments:  On January 25 the campground loops and trail from the office to the beach was groomed. The Norberg trail loop needs much more snow before we begin grooming. A great grey owl was spotted on several occasions at the boat launch on Saturday, January 7. On the morning of January 1 an adult moose and two calves crossed Bear Head Lake Road near Eagles Nest #3. The crappies are biting at about 30 feet of water.

Extend your visit to Bear Head Lake State Park by taking advantage of our Guest House and five camper cabins.

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

The Bear Head State Park Trails wind through mixed pine, balsam, birch and aspen stand and skirt four lakes along the way. Great views of Bear Head Lake can be seen from varying vantage points. Many exciting downhills, both gentle and more demanding, await the skier. These trails are machine groomed and accommodate both beginner and expert skiers.

Report Courtesy of Minnesota DNR, and the Ely Chamber of Commerce

Trail Conditions Updated 2/2/12

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Comments:  Depending where you are "portions of the trail are in fair condition" but other portions are poor. Light snow cover on the hills and in the heavy canopy. Watch out for exposed rocks on portions of the Fishing Lakes Trail. Putnam Trail is groomed.

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

This trail is a multi use 20km user tracked trail for easy to intermediate level skiers. No trail permit is required. The trail winds through Superior National Forest to Perch Lake with short side loops that are waiting to be explored! The trail offers a peaceful and solitary ski setting with many opportunities for wildlife sighting and tracking. The trail head is located at the intersection of Highway 21 and the Escape Road. Skiers should park along the shoulder of the Escape Road and walk across Highway 21 to the wooded trail head.

Report Courtesy of Northern Lights Lodge, Minnesota DNR, and the Ely Chamber of Commerce

Trail Conditions Updated 12/15/11

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Comments: We need much more snow before trails can be packed and groomed. Lakes are icing up, but crews will not be out to stake the trails across them until they are sure ice depths are adequate for lake travel.

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

8 km of user tracked classic wilderness trails.  Trails are beginner to intermediate with soft rolling hills.  A BWCA permit is required and is available at the trailhead.

Report Courtesy of Ely Chamber of Commerce, Kawishiwi District, Blue Heron Bed & Breakfast, and Timber Trail.

Ash River Falls Trail

Trail Conditions Updated 1/30/12

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Comments:   This trail system is not maintained or groomed.

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

The Ash River Falls trailhead is about 30 miles north of Orr. Take Highway 53 26 miles north, then go east on Ash River Road (County Rd 126) for about 5 miles to the trailhead on the south side of the road.  MN Ski Pass required.

Report Courtesy of Minnesota DNR & Sunset Resort

Trail Conditions Updated 12/15/11

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Comments:  We need much more snow before trails can be packed and groomed.  Lakes are icing up, but crews will not be out to stake the trails across them until they are sure ice depths are adequate for lake travel. 

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

People interested in using the trails should check at the lodge as to where they should park. Do not park down by the Retreat cabin. Please note, these trails exist not only for the lodge’s guests, but those that are on the Hidden Valley network.

Report Courtesy of Ely Chamber of Commerce

Trail Conditions Updated 12/15/11

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Comments:  We need much more snow before trails can be packed and groomed.  Lakes are icing up, but crews will not be out to stake the trails across them until they are sure ice depths are adequate for lake travel. 

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

The North Arm Trail is one of the premier skier-tracked trail systems in the area. It boasts 42 km of scenic trails in and out of the BWCA Wilderness.  Trailhead is located on North Arm Road off Burntside Lake.  Because they are not machine groomed, they can be challenging at times even for intermediate-skilled skiers. They are the most beautiful in the area as they roll up and down over forested ledge rock and across lakes through the wilderness. The trails are easy to follow and each intersection has a ‘you are here’ map. Beginner skiers can first test their proficiency on the Moose Horn Loops. Warning! - Ice conditions may be unsafe. Users should check on current ice conditions and proceed with caution on the lakes as ice conditions can change rapidly.

Reports Courtesy of Ely Chamber of Commerce, Kawishiwi District, and Camp DuNord

Trail Conditions Updated 1/1/12

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Comments:  Trails are only user tracked at this point.

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

 

Trail Conditions Updated 2/3/12

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Comments:  Giants Ridge alpine open 7 days/week, now with 30+ runs and 7 lifts.  3" base on Nordic trails.

Stadium--OPEN 2K

Biwabik Spur--OPEN 6 k; easier, two way

Bronze--OPEN 6 k; easier, two way, lift served

Cedar--OPEN 5 k; most difficult, one way

Gold--OPEN 14 k; most difficult, one way
Laurentian--OPEN 8 k; more difficult, two way

Northern Lights--OPEN 3k; one way, lighted

Oslo--OPEN 5 k; easier, two way

Silver--OPEN 10k; more difficult, one way

Summit--OPEN 6 k; easier, two way

Wynne Creek--OPEN 4 k; easier, two way

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

Giants Ridge offers more than 60 km of cross country trails, which are groomed and tracked every other day on rotation.  Trail fees are $5/day.  Please note that snowfall, snowstorms, and wind play a key role in the grooming schedule and can cause surface changes on recently groomed trails.  A Giants Ridge Cross Country Trail Pass is required.  Rentals are available.  Giants Ridge also has 35 downhill runs and a terrain park.

 

Trail Conditions Updated 1/24/12

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The Birch Lake Plantation trails will be groomed this week for classic skiing and should be in fair condition. 

The Babbitt Golf Course trails are groomed for both classic and skate skiing and are in good condition.

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

The Birch Lake White Pine Plantation 17 miles south of Ely in Babbitt is partially within the first red pine (Norway) plantation in the Superior National Forest, covering 120 acres. While touring the area, you may see white paint on some of the trees. These mark out research plots to study the growth of the trees. The area east of Forest Road #131 is generally flat, and the areas west are more challenging but relatively easy.

Trail Conditions Updated 2/3/12

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Comments:  Awaiting first report of the season.  Trail was not groomed 2008 - 2011. 

Send your trail report to trailconditions@bwca.cc

The Stuart River / Baldpate trails consist of 15K of interconnecting loops (easy to advanced), including the Pine Meadows Trail that passes through the BWCA.  Classic only.  Excellent for viewing wildlife.  No fees required.

Report Courtesy of Ely Chamber of Commerce