All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open.Should be a nice day of skiing today! Monday afternoon classic grooming on Sap Run, easy loop of JibFly, Loon Return, Sukkerbusk and the connectors to the western trails were groomed with new tracks cut. These trails will provide the best skiing in the morning for classic. All other trails should ski good, watch for a few glazed spots here and there, mostly on direct south facing segments towards the sun. The skate trails are still skiing well on Skaters Waltz and North Loup. Overall we have a good base throughout the trail system and should have a nice week of “spring” skiing. Best skiing is typically 10am to 2pm. (These times can fluctuate based on actual temperature, sun or cloud cover and humidity.) Just Ski. 

Skating on Skaters Waltz, the extension loops, North Loup, Single Green, Kristin’s Kutoff and Eira Bikwadinaa Hill. All other trails are tracked for classic skiing. (Please no skating on classic trails) Sukkerbusk is a great starter trail for classic which feeds the outer trails and crosses most of the inner trails providing a good “lay of the land”. One of the first trails at Maplelag!

We have also have a loop on Little Sugarbush Lake “Lumi’s Loop” with a skate lane and track on each side. This is a fun 1.2km loop that makes for a fun ski at sunrise and sunset and under the full moon! 

 Fat Bike Trail Report:

50″ of snow so far this season. We have been grooming daily on the entire trail system since mid November, only missing a few days.  

Thank you to everyone that comes to ski and supports the trails with season pass purchases. Day passes can be purchased here. 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.  18 and under day pass is $15, use the summer trail pass option. 

Ski rentals are available at a rate of $25 for adults and $15 for 18 and under. Snowshoe rental is $10 a person. There is no charge for children 6 and under. 

Snowfall YTD at 50″ Compacted base on trail 3-8″. 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″.

Renovating and cutting new track on Sap Run, March 2nd, 2026.
Renovating and cutting new track on Sukkerbusk, March 2nd, 2026.
Late afternoon ski on JibFly, March 1st, 2026.
Setting track on Island Lake trail, February 28th, 2026.
Grooming under the moonlight, March 1st, 2026.
Late afternoon grooming on North Loup for skate (track only set on downhills) February 27th, 2026.
Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

15km of trail open and groomed for fat biking. Excellent conditions in the morning. Should be good riding the next two mornings. Please ride before noon, earlier the better. No studded tires necessary at the moment. Might be a handful of very small icy spots on south facing segment otherwise riding as good as it gets!

Nice seeing all the riders out this weekend. Snow is holding out great and riding has been awesome. The 15km FatLagChilada (FLC) special edition loop most recently groomed Thursday late afternoon. 

Groomed trail includes segments Feeling Lucky, Winter Bjorps, SukkerWest, North Star extension, Twin Lakes Bridge loop, and Twin Lakes “Race Loop” which includes the Hudson’s Hula loop. The Twin Lakes loop includes the ski trails of Twin Lakes (start of) and Wavy Gravy. Follow the FatLagchilada or fat bike signs to enter Hudson’s Hula. This is a more rider friendly loop and combined with the groomed trail on the inner system, makes for a nice loop of 15km. 

To begin the “Special Edition” loop, head to the main trail head and follow signs to the big LagChilada sign to enter Feeling Lucky. After Feeling Lucky loop, head counter clockwise on Skaters Waltz to ride the other segments.  

Bullhead Bootleg loop is not groomed. Hopefully we have it groomed out for riding in March and April….some of the best months of fat biking at Maplelag! 

Great riding Monday morning, March 2nd, 2026. 
Sunday group ride! March 1st, 2026.
Lots of smiling today! March, 1st, 2026.
Thumbs up for great riding today! February 28th, 2026.
Great late season riding, February 27th, 2026.
Morning rider hitting the trail, February 27th, 2026.
Fat bike singletrack, February 26th, 2026.

Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

15km of trail open and groomed for fat biking. Excellent conditions in the morning. Should be good riding the next two mornings. Please ride before noon, earlier the better. No studded tires necessary at the moment. Might be a handful of very small icy spots on south facing segment otherwise riding as good as it gets!

Nice seeing all the riders out this weekend. Snow is holding out great and riding has been awesome. The 15km FatLagChilada (FLC) special edition loop most recently groomed Thursday late afternoon. 

Groomed trail includes segments Feeling Lucky, Winter Bjorps, SukkerWest, North Star extension, Twin Lakes Bridge loop, and Twin Lakes “Race Loop” which includes the Hudson’s Hula loop. The Twin Lakes loop includes the ski trails of Twin Lakes (start of) and Wavy Gravy. Follow the FatLagchilada or fat bike signs to enter Hudson’s Hula. This is a more rider friendly loop and combined with the groomed trail on the inner system, makes for a nice loop of 15km. 

To begin the “Special Edition” loop, head to the main trail head and follow signs to the big LagChilada sign to enter Feeling Lucky. After Feeling Lucky loop, head counter clockwise on Skaters Waltz to ride the other segments.  

Bullhead Bootleg loop is not groomed. Hopefully we have it groomed out for riding in March and April….some of the best months of fat biking at Maplelag! 

Great riding Monday morning, March 2nd, 2026.
Sunday group ride! March 1st, 2026.
Lots of smiling today! March, 1st, 2026.
Thumbs up for great riding today! February 28th, 2026.
Great late season riding, February 27th, 2026.
Morning rider hitting the trail, February 27th, 2026.
Fat bike singletrack, February 26th, 2026.
Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open. Another beautiful day of March skiing. Didn’t get quite as warm as forecasted, high right around 36 locally and cooling back down again at sunset. Snow held out great. Trails skied well and reports from skiers were generally good. Direct south facing got glazed from sun but nothing major. It’s March and skiing this month really bonus skiing. This afternoon Sap Run, easy loop of JibFly, Loon Return, Sukkerbusk and the connectors to the western trails were groomed with new tracks cut. These trails will provide the best skiing in the morning for classic. The skate trails are still skiing well, watch for a few glazed spots on south facing. Same on classic trails not groomed today. Overall we have a good base throughout the trail system and should have a nice week of “spring” skiing. Best skiing is typically 10am to 2pm. (These times can fluctuate based on actual temperature, sun or cloud cover and humidity.) Just Ski.

Skating on Skaters Waltz, the extension loops, North Loup, Single Green, Kristin’s Kutoff and Eira Bikwadinaa Hill. All other trails are tracked for classic skiing. (Please no skating on classic trails) Sukkerbusk is a great starter trail for classic which feeds the outer trails and crosses most of the inner trails providing a good “lay of the land”. One of the first trails at Maplelag!

We have also have a loop on Little Sugarbush Lake “Lumi’s Loop” with a skate lane and track on each side. This is a fun 1.2km loop that makes for a fun ski at sunrise and sunset and under the full moon! 

 Fat Bike Trail Report:

50″ of snow so far this season. We have been grooming daily on the entire trail system since mid November, only missing a few days.  

Thank you to everyone that comes to ski and supports the trails with season pass purchases. Day passes can be purchased here. 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.  18 and under day pass is $15, use the summer trail pass option. 

Ski rentals are available at a rate of $25 for adults and $15 for 18 and under. Snowshoe rental is $10 a person. There is no charge for children 6 and under. 

Snowfall YTD at 50″ Compacted base on trail 3-8″. 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″.

Renovating and cutting new track on Sap Run, March 2nd, 2026.
Renovating and cutting new track on Sukkerbusk, March 2nd, 2026.
Late afternoon ski on JibFly, March 1st, 2026.
Setting track on Island Lake trail, February 28th, 2026.
Grooming under the moonlight, March 1st, 2026.
Late afternoon grooming on North Loup for skate (track only set on downhills) February 27th, 2026.
Resetting track on Mother Hen, February 27th, 2026.
Morning ski on Bulhead Lake trail, February 26th, 2026.
Refreshing track on Sap Run, February 25th, 2026.
Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

15km of trail open and groomed for fat biking.  Good to excellent conditions Snow is holding out great and riding has been awesome. Sunday should be a primo day to ride! The 15km FatLagChilada (FLC) special edition loop most recently groomed Thursday late afternoon. 

Groomed trail includes segments Feeling Lucky, Winter Bjorps, SukkerWest, dNorth Star extension, Twin Lakes Bridge loop, and Twin Lakes “Race Loop” which includes the Hudson’s Hula loop. The Twin Lakes loop includes the ski trails of Twin Lakes (start of) and Wavy Gravy. Follow the FatLagchilada or fat bike signs to enter Hudson’s Hula. This is a more rider friendly loop and combined with the groomed trail on the inner system, makes for a nice loop of 15km. 

To begin the “Special Edition” loop, head to the main trail head and follow signs to the big LagChilada sign to enter Feeling Lucky. After Feeling Lucky loop, head counter clockwise on Skaters Waltz to ride the other segments.  

Bullhead Bootleg loop is not groomed. Hopefully we have it groomed out for riding in March and April….some of the best months of fat biking at Maplelag! 

Thumbs up for great riding today! February 28th, 2026.
Great late season riding, February 27th, 2026.
Morning rider hitting the trail, February 27th, 2026.
Fat bike singletrack, February 26th, 2026.