All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open. A great day to classic ski. Yesterday’s grooming setting up nicely and no wind with thin layer of high clouds. At Maplelag we don’t talk about cold and windchill, instead we embrace winter and enjoy the incredible beauty. The sounds of squeaky snow, the cracks of the trees and the booming of the ice, doesn’t get any better. Just Ski. All double track trails groomed, all skate trails roll packed and singletrack trails Rootin Tootin and Roy’s Run tracked Monday. Tuesday grooming planned on Wavy Gravy, Island Lake and Bullhead Lake trail. The snow is a bit granular from the wind making for slower conditions but all around nice skiing. 

Despite the cooler weather and windy conditions this weekend the trails have been busy. Thanks everyone for coming out and good job getting out! 

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. We plan to groom today 1/20.

It’s been great seeing so many people out on the trails so far this winter season and we deeply appreciate the support! Want to share your ski experience at Maplelag, file a report on Skinnyski.com

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”.  

34″ 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. 

The entire 25km FatLagChilada loop is now open. Click here for fat bike trail report. 

Snowfall YTD at 34″ Compacted base on trail 3-7″. Total snowfall in January at 10″. 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″. 

Out to the trails, January 19th, 2026.
Incredible sun dog morning, January 19th, 2026.
Morning grooming, January 19th, 2026.
Grooming on Mother North Star, January 18th, 2026.
Heading to the western trails to break through the powder on Island Lake trail! January 18th, 2026.
Morning skiers on Skaters Waltz, January 18th, 2026.
Grooming on Sukkerbusk, January 18th, 2026. Didn’t take long for the tracks to fill in with snow today!
Sundog over the start! January 17th, 2026. After a blustery start turned out to be a beautiful day to ski!
Grooming break to check the tracks, January 17th, 2026.
Setting new double track on Twin Lakes, January 17th, 2026. Grooming mixing the old granulated snow deep in the base with the new snow for fast setting tracks!
Double track fun on a good ol’ winter day! January 17th, 2026.
Morning on Mother North Star! January 17th, 2026.
Cutting track on Single Green trail, January 17th, 2026. Also a skate lane. 
Combing Skaters Waltz, January 17th, 2026.
First tracks on Sukkerbusk, January 17th, 2026.
Moorhead Nordic post practice fun, January 17th, 2026. Nice work Spuds skiing in the cold temps!
Skiing in the storm! January 16th, 2026.
Grooming the new snow with the granulated snow on Mother North Star, January 16th, 2026. Trails are grooming out nice. Wind is filling in the track just a little but still great skiing. We will be refreshing all the double track Saturday, 1/17.
Time to ski! Skiers heading out to the trail, January 16th, 2026.
Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

Trails are open but will be tough riding with all the recent new snow and many areas drifted over on the trail. It might not be until Wednesday or Thursday until we can groom.

To pick up the trail and start of the FatLagChilada, head to the skaters waltz trail and go right. (The large LagChilada sign is for the summer start, not winter) Signs are out marking the key intersections. To access the west side trails, use the driveway to access Twin Lake singletrack and Sukkerwest which is a good starter trail for first time riders. A good loop to start with is taking the skaters waltz and following the signs and groomed singletrack to access Bjorps and Sukkerwest. 

Any questions on riding, text Jay 218-849-7669.

First singletrack section on “InnerWest” loop, January 16th, 2026.
*Front Page, News

Maplelag Hygge

Frosty scene at the Hygge, January 8th, 2026.

The Hygge is the hub for day users with sitting area, bathrooms, area with snacks and cookies and rental shop and small game room in basement with fireplace. Ski trail report on the trail report page.  Fat bike trail report

Ski trail passes can be purchased here. 18 and under $15, use summer pass option.

Ski rental available, $25 for adults and $15 for 18 and under for day use.

Lodging rental: Check the lodging and availability page to book a stay! Contact us at [email protected] for any questions.

Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open. A beautiful January day!! At Maplelag we don’t talk about cold and windchill, instead we embrace winter and enjoy the incredible beauty. The sounds of squeaky snow, the cracks of the trees and the booming of the ice, doesn’t get any better. Just Ski. All double track trails groomed, all skate trails roll packed and singletrack trails Rootin Tootin and Roy’s Run tracked today. Tuesday grooming planned on Wavy Gravy, Island Lake and Bullhead Lake trail. The snow is a bit granular from the wind making for slower conditions but all around nice skiing.

Despite the cooler weather and windy conditions this weekend the trails have been busy. Thanks everyone for coming out and good job getting out! 

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. A new track was set on one side 1/14. Track is now drifted over and will do our best to have skiable with the wind but best bet this weekend is to ski in the woods!

It’s been great seeing so many people out on the trails so far this winter season and we deeply appreciate the support! Want to share your ski experience at Maplelag, file a report on Skinnyski.com

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”.  

34″ 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. 

The entire 25km FatLagChilada loop is now open. Click here for fat bike trail report. 

Snowfall YTD at 34″ Compacted base on trail 3-7″. Total snowfall in January at 10″. 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″. 

Out to the trails, January 19th, 2026.
Incredible sun dog morning, January 19th, 2026.
Morning grooming, January 19th, 2026.
Grooming on Mother North Star, January 18th, 2026.
Heading to the western trails to break through the powder on Island Lake trail! January 18th, 2026.
Morning skiers on Skaters Waltz, January 18th, 2026.
Grooming on Sukkerbusk, January 18th, 2026. Didn’t take long for the tracks to fill in with snow today!
Sundog over the start! January 17th, 2026. After a blustery start turned out to be a beautiful day to ski!
Grooming break to check the tracks, January 17th, 2026.
Setting new double track on Twin Lakes, January 17th, 2026. Grooming mixing the old granulated snow deep in the base with the new snow for fast setting tracks!
Double track fun on a good ol’ winter day! January 17th, 2026.
Morning on Mother North Star! January 17th, 2026.
Cutting track on Single Green trail, January 17th, 2026. Also a skate lane. 
Combing Skaters Waltz, January 17th, 2026.
First tracks on Sukkerbusk, January 17th, 2026.
Moorhead Nordic post practice fun, January 17th, 2026. Nice work Spuds skiing in the cold temps!
Skiing in the storm! January 16th, 2026.
Grooming the new snow with the granulated snow on Mother North Star, January 16th, 2026. Trails are grooming out nice. Wind is filling in the track just a little but still great skiing. We will be refreshing all the double track Saturday, 1/17.
Time to ski! Skiers heading out to the trail, January 16th, 2026.
*Front Page, News

Maplelag Lodging

Ski in and ski out from all the Lodging at Maplelag. MapleHus cabin, January 13th, 2026.
Big Dipper surrounded by frosty snow flocked trees, December 31st, 2025. Multi colored lights to the sauna!

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.