A Destination Cross-Country Ski Resort and Conference Center
Posted Sunday, June 16, 2013
Authentic Chinese dragon boat on the waters of Little Sugarbush, lake Maplelag is located on.
During the months of June, July and the first half of August, we are host to the Concordia Language Villages, hosting the Chinese and Portuguese programs. More information on the Concordia Language Villages.
Posted Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Deep woods singletrack riding, June 11th, 2013.
After a wet start to June, it has been a dry week and the trails are nice riding.
Latest mountain bike trail report.
Maplelag maintains around 10 miles of mountain bike specific trails outside the winter months and are open to the public. The ski trails are also open for mountain biking and hiking. The trails are closed to horses and motorized traffic.
We are also part of the Minnesota Mountain bike series (named race of the year in 2011 and 2012), a sponsor of the series and also support a mountain bike team!
Posted Monday, June 10, 2013
Yellow lady slippers blooming the past few days among the rain showers.
The yellow slippers coming out 2-3 weeks later this year, due to the late winter/spring, exploding along the ski trails.
Posted Thursday, June 6, 2013
Skies clearing from the north under calm conditions, June 6th, 2013.
Nice to see the sunshine today after cloudy and damp conditions in recent days.
Posted Sunday, June 2, 2013
Congratulations to Jamie and Richie, Maplelag’s most recent couple to get married at Maplelag!
Thanks to everyone who has chosen Maplelag for a wedding weekend destination. If you would like more information on weddings at Maplelag, please contact us at 800-654-7711 or email us at maplelag@arvig.net
More wedding photos on the wedding album page and our Facebook page.
Posted Monday, May 27, 2013
Memorial service at the Aura cemetery along the Goat Ranch rd. (photo by Mary)
The Maplelag driveway is located south of the Goat Ranch rd! Goat ranch is named from the large goat farm settlers established in the early days.
We hope everyone had a safe Memorial day, remembering those that had fallen and currently serve.
Posted Saturday, May 25, 2013
Maple seedlings among the forest floor, May 25th, 2013.
Each day the woods are coming more to life as new underbrush emerges from the forest floor. Latest report from the woods on the trail report page.
Posted Monday, May 20, 2013
Marsh marigolds making an appearance this week.
The yellow flowers typically found along the edge of sloughs or marshy areas and recently bloomed the past few days.
Posted Saturday, May 18, 2013
First snapping turtle of the year making its way across the lawn near the cabooses, Friday May17th, 2013.
Latest trail and nature report on the trail report page.
Posted Friday, May 17, 2013
Two of the antique Norwegian immigrant folk art pieces in the main lodge.
Maplelag wishes all our Norwegian friends good cheer on their National holiday. The word Maplelag is a made up Norwegian word meaning “maple community”. There are also many ties between Maplelag and Norway with over 40 students who helped at Maplelag in the earlier years and many Norwegian influences on the ski trails, food and accommodations at Maplelag.
Posted Thursday, May 16, 2013
Fresh rapberries on the popular Maplelag dessert, Russian creme. The most recent berries coming locally just a few miles away from a small organic farmer.
Posted Friday, May 10, 2013
Group of loons enjoying the open water of Little Sugarbush (lake Maplelag is next to), May 9th, 2013.
Even though the lake remains 80% covered in ice as of Friday morning, there was enough open water for the loons to return! Few more photos of the first loons on the trail report page.
Posted Thursday, May 9, 2013
Rainbow on the south end of Little Sugarbush, May 8th, 2013.
Incredible lake scene last night after a thundershower passed through. Fog was rolling off the ice covered lake, rainbow to the south and sun shining through below the clouds to the northwest lighting up the east shore. Trail update on the trail report page.
Posted Monday, May 6, 2013
Red breasted grosbeaks at the Maplelag bird feeders this week.
With more seasonable weather and many birds migrating back, the bird feeders and woods have been festive with sights and sounds.
Posted Friday, May 3, 2013
Blue heron watching a pair of loons and trumpeter swans enjoy a rare section of open water, May 3rd, 2013.
Open water has been hard to come by with the extended winter and cool spring. The few areas that are open, mainly inlets and outlets, are busy with waterfowl, waiting for the lakes to open. Latest trail report on the trail report page.
Posted Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Just enough snow on Suicide Hill to log a May 1st ski, 2013!
Posted Friday, April 26, 2013
Grooming on Skaters Waltz, April 26th, 2013.
Hard to believe with mild weather but we were able to groom one more time Friday morning, April 26th. This the seventh consecutive month we have groomed! Skiing was nice up until noon as well! Latest trail report on the trail report page.
Posted Thursday, April 25, 2013
Classic skiing recently groomed tracks under intense late April sunshine, April 24th, 2013.
We have been enjoying incredible late season skiing this week as a large base of snow remains on the trails. This might be the last week however with warmer temps moving in! Trail report on the trail report page.
Posted Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Sap dripping from a branch turning to a icicle, April 23rd, 2013.
We no longer “sugar” at Maplelag but many locals in the area collect sap to be boiled down for maple syrup. We serve pure maple syrup at Maplelag with our syrup coming from the Kroll’s Zuckerwald in Long Prairie, MN. We spoke with them today and they are reporting a great year. The season has run late for sure and similar to 1975 and 1979 when they went to May 1st!
Posted Thursday, April 18, 2013
Carlos along for the ride, summer 2012.
We wish we had good news to report about Carlos, the Maplelag mascot that has been missing since late December of 2o12, but we still have not had any word on his whereabouts. Still hoping he comes flying through the woods one day.
Posted Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Tray of Maplelag’s home made lemon meringue pie ready to be served!
Chef Deb and staff prepare the pie from scratch using lemon juice from freshly squeezed lemons! The food at Maplelag is one of the highlights and something we take great pride in using as many local ingredients as possible and everything made from scratch.
Posted Friday, March 29, 2013
Beautiful frosty mornings this week including a spectacular sunrise on Monday over the Goat Ranch Road, (road Maplelag stems off of)
Posted Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Frosty morning at Maplelag, March 26th, 2013.
Still no signs of winter ending with single digit temps Tuesday morning and a deep base of snow! Fresh grooming Monday night. Latest trail report on the trail report page.
Posted Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Chef Deb cranking out Norwegian pancakes on a Saturday morning.
You don’t have to stay at Maplelag on the weekend to enjoy the famous Norwegian pancakes served with imported lingonberries and pure maple syrup, the thin crepe like pancake is served during midweek as well.
Trails are taking shape nicely after the big 15-17″ dump of snow and multiple grooming passes. Latest trail report on the trail report page.
Posted Thursday, February 7, 2013
Eisinger/Powers family enjoying the beautiful morning, February 7th, 2013.
Skiing is on the top shelf right now. Clouds giving way to sunshine later today providing “luxurious” conditions. Latest trail report on the trail report page.
Posted Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Chef Deb stocking the shelves in the gift shop with freshly bagged Maplelag’s home made 7 grain hot cereal, February 4th, 2013.
The hot cereal specialty is served every morning except Sundays and is available for sale in the gift shop and can be purchased online.
An inch or two of fresh snow overnight. Latest trail report on the trail report page.
Posted Monday, January 28, 2013
Guests over the weekend enjoying a home cooked meal in the dining room, January 26th, 2013.
We are very fortunate at Maplelag to have such a loyal customer base and we appreciate every one’s visit. This past weekend we made a conservative guestimate that between the many repeat guests staying on the weekend, adding up all the years would be almost 3000 years!
Posted Thursday, January 24, 2013
Fresh honey drizzling over a hot batch of Maplelag fry bread, January 23rd, 2013.
In addition to the hand made coffee mugs for sale in the gift shop, we had honey pots made to contain the local organic honey from Humble Honey near Richwood and Johnson Honey near Callaway. Both honeys are for sale in the gift shop and always make the Maplelag fry bread that much tastier!
Posted Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Midweek Morris gang enjoying a huge batch of Jim’s popcorn during game time, January 14th, 2013.
Jim’s fresh home made popcorn is served most Saturday nights and by special request on certain nights! Fresh snow Tuesday night! Latest trail report on the trail report page.
Posted Monday, January 7, 2013
Guests over the Holiday season snowshoeing on the snowshoe trail. December 26th, 2012. (Gordon McBean photo)
Although the deep fresh powder has been lacking this year, the snowshoe trail has seen a lot of action with folks enjoying the multiple loops in scenic terrain. The snow shoe loops total around 4km. Snow is holding out great. Latest trail report on the trail report page.
| “People rarely come to Maplelag only once, and now I understand why” — Pamela Hill Nettleton, Minnesota Monthly | “Maplelag lures its customers with a simple combination: great food, good skiing, camaraderie, and lots of fun” — Will Goddard, Cross Country Skier Magazine | “In the winter, there is no place like Maplelag” – Beth Gauper, MidwestWeekends.Com |
