All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail Report

Winter Returns! Nearly a foot of heavy dense snow as of 6pm Saturday. 3-4″ of snow Thursday evening. Very tricky snow to pack and groom but able to set track on Sukkerbusk and Sap Run. Also packed, groomed and combed a 3km loop of Skaters Waltz. End of the day everything turned out nice and was really nice skiing late afternoon. Pretty incredible for April. Should be great skiing early Sunday morning before it warms up. Best to get out before noon, earlier the better! Just Ski.

We will plan to have the trails open until Wednesday but if it looks to be skiable beyond that we will remain open. Considering the time of year, best to get out as early as possible during the day for best conditions. Not sure how things will groom out moving forward but always enjoy the opportunity and challenge to make conditions as best as possible! Just Ski.

Nice to see a few folks out enjoying the late season skiing and grooming Friday morning! A 4km loop (no track set) consisting of Skaters Waltz and Sukkerbusk, using Sap Run as a connector groomed also Sap Run and JibFly for classic skiing. Not quite enough snow to set a good track with no base underneath. It is important to have the skis waxed properly for the best skiing experience, especially if above 32 degrees. Enjoy the late season snow and Just Ski! 

The mornings it has froze down this past week allowed us to get on trail and cut firewood for next season!  

Fat Bike Trail Report

72″ of snow this season from November 15th-April 4th. We began grooming on November 17th and groomed daily on the entire trail system, only missing a few days on the last grooming March 19th.  

Thank you to everyone that comes to Maplelag and supports the trails with season pass purchases and day passes A MN State trail pass is NOT required to ski at Maplelag. The Maplelag trails are self funded by operations with no grants or state funding. 

Snowfall YTD at 72″ April snowfall 13″. March snowfall 7″. Total snowfall in February at 11″. January at 15″. December: 17″. Snowfall in November: 7″. October precipitation (rain) at 2.7″ and around 1″ in September. Total precipitation ytd (rain) at Maplelag is at 25.12″.

Late afternoon classic skiing on fresh groomed, April 4th, 2026.
Late afternoon skate skiing on Skate loop, April 4th, 2026.
Pisten Bully grooming on skate loop, April 4th, 2026.
Combing on skate loop, April 4th, 2026.
Setting track on Sap Run, April 4th, 2026.
Setting track on Sukkerbusk, April 4th, 2026.
Lots of fresh snow at Maplelag! April 4th, 2026.
Friday skiers! April 3rd, 2026.
Sap Run skier, April 3rd, 2026.
Heading down Sap Run, April 3rd, 2026.
Thursday evening grooming, April 2nd, 2026.
Grooming through the skinny field on Sukkerbusk ski trail, part of the early/late season skiing loop. April 2nd, 2026.
Trail side “spring” scene, April 2nd, 2026.
Grooming on Skaters Waltz as part of the early/late season skiing loop, April 2nd, 2026.
Pond near Sukkerbusk, April 2nd, 2026.

Bike Trail Report

Winter returns! 12″ of snow the past 48 hours. Yesterday morning we groomed the Twin Lakes race loop but grooming now buried in snow. We don’t plan to groom with the warm forecast and depth of the snow, at this time. If we feel it would be meaningful to groom, we would do on Monday for riding in the mornings later in the week.

It’s been a typical end of winter, start of spring with up and down weather. The trails have been drying out nicely but now are snow covered.

We try to update on Trailbot if there are last minute opportunities but best to wait until the dirt season is officially on….stay tuned! 

Once the snow melts off we should be very close to opening for the dirt season.

Winter riding returns! April 2nd, 2026.

Maplelag Lodging

Striding through the lodging at Maplelag, April 3rd,2026. Select trails are now open for the weekend thanks to late season snow and grooming. Trail Report here:

Maplelag offers year round lodging with full kitchens in the Candy Store, Six Swedes lodge, Big Dipper (formally the Lapland cabin) and Norwegian Log cabin and now the original main house “MapleHus”. The Switchyard features the Orange and Red Caboose have kitchenettes. More details on each cabin on the Lodging page and check availability online.

Ski Trail Report

Winter Returns! 4″ of new snow as of Thursday evening. Nice to see a few folks out enjoying the late season skiing and grooming this morning! A 4km loop (no track set) consisting of Skaters Waltz and Sukkerbusk, using Sap Run as a connector groomed yesterday and this morning. This loop can be skied both directions. Also groomed and set track on Sap Run and also packed out JibFly for classic skiing. Not quite enough snow to set a good track with no base underneath. However,  the trails will be open for skiing today through Tuesday! Best to ski in the morning or later afternoon when cooler. The ground is warm underneath, some rough spots but for early April it’s not too bad! It is important to have the skis waxed properly for the best skiing experience, especially if above 32 degrees. Enjoy the late season snow and Just Ski!  We will continue grooming through the weekend and most likely until Tuesday looking at the forecast.

The mornings it has froze down this past week allowed us to get on trail and cut firewood for next season!  

Fat Bike Trail Report

59″ of snow so far this season. We began grooming on November 17th and groomed daily on the entire trail system, only missing a few days on the last grooming March 19th.  

Thank you to everyone that comes to Maplelag and supports the trails with season pass purchases and day passes A MN State trail pass is NOT required to ski at Maplelag. The Maplelag trails are self funded by operations with no grants or state funding. 

Snowfall YTD at 62″ April snowfall 3″. March snowfall 7″. Total snowfall in February at 11″. January at 15″. December: 17″. Snowfall in November: 7″. October precipitation (rain) at 2.7″ and around 1″ in September. Total precipitation ytd (rain) at Maplelag is at 25.12″.

Friday skiers! April 3rd, 2026.
Sap Run skier, April 3rd, 2026.
Heading down Sap Run, April 3rd, 2026.
Thursday evening grooming, April 2nd, 2026.
Grooming through the skinny field on Sukkerbusk ski trail, part of the early/late season skiing loop. April 2nd, 2026.
Trail side “spring” scene, April 2nd, 2026.
Grooming on Skaters Waltz as part of the early/late season skiing loop, April 2nd, 2026.
Pond near Sukkerbusk, April 2nd, 2026.

Ski Trail Report

Winter Returns! 3-4″ of new snow as of Thursday evening. A 4km loop consisting of Skaters Waltz and Sukkerbusk, using Sap Run as a connector groomed in the afternoon and again Thursday evening. Will be back out in the morning grooming this loop. Also set track on Sap Run and will pack out JibFly with intention to set track. These trails will be open for skiing Friday through Tuesday! Best to ski in the morning or later afternoon when cooler. The ground is warm underneath, some rough spots but for early April it’s not too bad! It is important to have the skis waxed properly for the best skiing experience, especially if above 32 degrees. Enjoy the late season snow and Just Ski!

The mornings it has froze down this past week allowed us to get on trail and cut firewood for next season! 

Fat Bike Trail Report

59″ of snow so far this season. We began grooming on November 17th and groomed daily on the entire trail system, only missing a few days on the last grooming March 19th.  

Thank you to everyone that comes to Maplelag and supports the trails with season pass purchases and day passes A MN State trail pass is NOT required to ski at Maplelag. The Maplelag trails are self funded by operations with no grants or state funding. 

Snowfall YTD at 62″ April snowfall 3″. March snowfall 7″. Total snowfall in February at 11″. January at 15″. December: 17″. Snowfall in November: 7″. October precipitation (rain) at 2.7″ and around 1″ in September. Total precipitation ytd (rain) at Maplelag is at 25.12″.

Thursday evening grooming, April 2nd, 2026.
Grooming through the skinny field on Sukkerbusk ski trail, part of the early/late season skiing loop. April 2nd, 2026.
Trail side “spring” scene, April 2nd, 2026.
Grooming on Skaters Waltz as part of the early/late season skiing loop, April 2nd, 2026.
Pond near Sukkerbusk, April 2nd, 2026.