All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail Report

Trails Open Warm day on Wednesday really softening the snow. Should freeze down tonight and we will groom on the skate trails Skaters Waltz and North Loup if conditions warrants. Conditions have changed quickly but the trails are skiable with a deep base of snow. Spring skiing conditions. Skiing is faster in the morning, softening as the day passes than freezing down again later afternoon. The best time to ski is generally from sunrise to 1pm. Skiable all day but most consistent snow is found in the morning.

We typically groom in the afternoons and evenings this time of year for best skiing the next morning.

Note: With the rapid warm up today and yesterday, the driveway is tricky driving. Best with a vehicle with all wheel drive. We plowed the road on Wednesday evening to improve the conditions.

We are closed for the season for lodging/ski packages but the trails will remain open for day skiing until a projected date of April 15th, weather and snow conditions permitting.

Grooming Report We will be grooming select trails daily this week. Sap Run and Sukkebusk groomed on Monday as well as all of the skate trails. Twin Lakes, Mother North Star and JibFly groomed on Tuesday. Trails not groomed very skiable with good coverage. We will groom more classic trails if it is meaningful to do so.

Nature Notes: Wildlife bit more active with the slow transition to spring. We have been seeing porcupines along the snowshoe trail and Roy’s Run. We have also seen hawks, owls near JibFly and North Star, fox, deer of course, pileated woodpeckers and tons of tracks. Eagle sightings near Twin Lakes return at eagle view.

Fat Bike trails open. Click here for report

Trails are open for day use. Day and season passes can be purchased here. There are no lodge services for day use for day skiers. This includes no ski rental or access to coffee bar. Parking in far lot near blue recycling bins where porta potties are located.Please respect this policy so Maplelag can operate as safe as possible and remain open. There are no dogs or pets allowed.

Classic skiing on Sukkerbusk, Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly, Rootin Tootin, Twin Lakes, Mother North Star, Wavy Gravy, North Loup and Roy’s Run. Please no skating on the classic trails. Lucky’s Loype is adventure skiing (no grooming).

Skaters Waltz, North Loup, the extension loops, Suicide Hill, Single Green and Kristin’s Kutoff designated trails groomed for skating.

Day and season passes can be purchased here.

Snowshoe trails are open and packed.

Snowfall past 24 hours: 0″

Snowfall past 7 days: 3″ Snowfall to date: 94″

Compacted base on trail: 12-28″ Snow depth in woods: 18-49″

NO services in the lodge at this time or ski rental available for day skiing. Parking in far lot near porta bathrooms and recycling bins.

Ski Trail Report


Trails Open
Spring skiing! Beautiful morning with some great conditions. Some of our favorite conditions of the year. Skiing is faster in the morning, softening as the day passes than freezing down again later afternoon. The best time to ski is generally from sunrise to 1pm. Skiable all day but most consistent snow is found in the morning.

We typically groom in the afternoons and evenings this time of year for best skiing the next morning.

We are closed for the season for lodging/ski packages but the trails will remain open for day skiing until a projected date of April 15th, weather and snow conditions permitting.

Grooming Report We will be grooming select trails daily this week. Sap Run and Sukkebusk groomed on Monday as well as all of the skate trails. Twin Lakes, Mother North Star and JibFly planned for grooming on Tuesday. Trails not groomed very skiable with tons of snow still. We will groom more classic trails if it is meaningful to do so.

Nature Notes: Wildlife bit more active with the slow transition to spring. We have been seeing porcupines along the snowshoe trail and Roy’s Run. We have also seen hawks, owls near JibFly and North Star, fox, deer of course, pileated woodpeckers and tons of tracks. Eagle sightings near Twin Lakes return at eagle view.

Fat Bike trails open. Click here for report

Trails are open for day use. Day and season passes can be purchased here. There are no lodge services for day use for day skiers. This includes no ski rental or access to coffee bar. Parking in far lot near blue recycling bins where porta potties are located.Please respect this policy so Maplelag can operate as safe as possible and remain open. There are no dogs or pets allowed.

Classic skiing on Sukkerbusk, Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly, Rootin Tootin, Twin Lakes, Mother North Star, Wavy Gravy, North Loup and Roy’s Run. Please no skating on the classic trails. Lucky’s Loype is adventure skiing (no grooming).

Skaters Waltz, North Loup, the extension loops, Suicide Hill, Single Green and Kristin’s Kutoff designated trails groomed for skating.

Day and season passes can be purchased here.

Snowshoe trails are open and packed.

Snowfall past 24 hours: 1″

Snowfall past 7 days: 3″ Snowfall to date: 94″

Compacted base on trail: 12-32″ Snow depth in woods: 18-49″

NO services in the lodge at this time or ski rental available for day skiing. Parking in far lot near porta bathrooms and recycling bins.



This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is mar14-11.jpg
Cutting new double track on Sap Run, March 14th, 2022.
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is mar14-002.jpg
Mother North Star, March 14th, 2022. Dusting of new snow skied on most recent grooming.
Ski at dusk enjoying the fresh grooming from earlier in the day, March 14th, 2022.

Fat Bike Trail Report


Trails open
. Great morning of riding. “Spring conditions” which can be some of the best riding of the year. Ride earlier in the day when frozen. When it warms up around noon time and gets soft we ask riders stay off to preserve the trail so we can extend the season as long as possible!

Entire 25km “FatLagChilada” loop groomed Monday afternoon.

Note: Fat bikes only please on the trail. No mountain bikes and e-bikes not allowed to preserve the integrity of the trail. Be sure to run pressure in the 6-8 psi range.

The 25km”FatLagChilada” loop starts out on Skaters Waltz and follows the “Fat Bike” signs all the way to Bullhead Lake for Bootleg access or continue on for the inner segments and ultimately Twin Lakes. There are options to make different loops using the driveway based on riding ability. Any questions ask or text 218-849-7669.

Signs marking the route for the inner loops are in place and ultimately direct the course for the “FatLagChilada”. Twin lakes and SukkerWest singletrack can be accessed from the driveway. To access the start to access Bootleg, head to the start of Skaters Waltz to the right. We have groomed on the far right side of Suicide Hill for uphill travel. Access to Bootleg has been groomed on the lake. Use trails at own risk and assume all responsibility. Skaters Waltz is open for fat biking when conditions are firm. SukkerWest is recommended trail for beginner riders. Trail difficulty on outer loops is intermediate to advanced.

Grooming on Bootleg singletrack loop, March 14th, 2022.
Grooming on Bootleg singletrack loop, March 14th, 2022.
Heading over to Bootleg singletrack via Bullhead Lakes, March 14th, 2022.

Ski Trail Report

Trails Open Spring skiing! Some of our favorite conditions of the year. Skiing is faster in the morning, softening as the day passes than freezing down again later afternoon. The best time to ski is generally from 10am to 1pm. Skiable all day but most consistent snow is found in the morning.

We typically groom in the afternoons and evenings this time of year for best skiing the next morning.

We are closed for the season for lodging/ski packages but the trails will remain open for day skiing until a projected date of April 15th, weather and snow conditions permitting.

Grooming Report We will be grooming select trails daily this week. Sap Run and Sukkebusk groomed on Monday as well as all of the skate trails. Twin Lakes, Mother North Star and JibFly planned for grooming on Tuesday. Trails not groomed very skiable with tons of snow still. We will groom more classic trails if it is meaningful to do so.

Nature Notes: Wildlife bit more active with the slow transition to spring. We have been seeing porcupines along the snowshoe trail and Roy’s Run. We have also seen hawks, owls near JibFly and North Star, fox, deer of course, pileated woodpeckers and tons of tracks. Eagle sightings near Twin Lakes return at eagle view.

Fat Bike trails open. Click here for report

Trails are open for day use. Day and season passes can be purchased here. There are no lodge services for day use for day skiers. This includes no ski rental or access to coffee bar. Parking in far lot near blue recycling bins where porta potties are located.Please respect this policy so Maplelag can operate as safe as possible and remain open. There are no dogs or pets allowed.

Classic skiing on Sukkerbusk, Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly, Rootin Tootin, Twin Lakes, Mother North Star, Wavy Gravy, North Loup and Roy’s Run. Please no skating on the classic trails. Lucky’s Loype is adventure skiing (no grooming).

Skaters Waltz, North Loup, the extension loops, Suicide Hill, Single Green and Kristin’s Kutoff designated trails groomed for skating.

Day and season passes can be purchased here.

Snowshoe trails are open and packed.

Snowfall past 24 hours: 1″

Snowfall past 7 days: 3″ Snowfall to date: 94″

Compacted base on trail: 12-32″ Snow depth in woods: 18-49″

NO services in the lodge at this time or ski rental available for day skiing. Parking in far lot near porta bathrooms and recycling bins.

Cutting new double track on Sap Run, March 14th, 2022.
Mother North Star, March 14th, 2022. Dusting of new snow skied on most recent grooming.
Ski at dusk enjoying the fresh groom from earlier in the day, March 14th, 2022.

Bike Trail Report

Trails open. Dusting of snow on Saturday after most recent grooming Friday. Base is solid, deck might be a bit soft in a few areas where drifted otherwise nice riding.

Note: Fat bikes only please on the trail. No mountain bikes and e-bikes not allowed to preserve the integrity of the trail. Be sure to run pressure in the 6-8 psi range.

Grooming update:  Fresh snow and drifted areas groomed out late Friday afternoon on the entire 25km loop. More groomed singletrack trail added this week on the “Bootleg” loop.

The 25km”FatLagChilada” loop starts out on Skaters Waltz and follows the “Fat Bike” signs all the way to Bullhead Lake for Bootleg access or continue on for the inner segments and ultimately Twin Lakes. There are options to make different loops using the driveway based on riding ability. Any questions ask or text 218-849-7669.

Signs marking the route for the inner loops are in place and ultimately direct the course for the “FatLagChilada”. Twin lakes and SukkerWest singletrack can be accessed from the driveway. To access the start to access Bootleg, head to the start of Skaters Waltz to the right. We have groomed on the far right side of Suicide Hill for uphill travel. Access to Bootleg has been groomed on the lake. Use trails at own risk and assume all responsibility. Skaters Waltz is open for fat biking when conditions are firm. SukkerWest is recommended trail for beginner riders. Trail difficulty on outer loops is intermediate to advanced.

Deep snow on Bootleg singletrack, March 10th, 2022.
Drop on Bootleg singletrack, March 10th, 2022.
Bullhead lake crossing, March 10th, 2022.
Bootleg singletrack, March 10th, 2022.
Twin Lakes fat bike trail, March 9th, 2022.
Deep snow remains, Twin Lakes singletrack March 9th, 2022.
Grooming new trail segment on Bootleg singletrack loop, March 7th, 2022.
Incredible snow depth in this section on Bootleg March 7th, 2022.
Grooming across Bullhead lake, March 7th, 2022.
Bootleg singletrack, March 7th, 2022.
Working deep snow on new Bootleg segment. March 7th, 2022.