All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open.  5″ of new snow the past 24 hours. Snow globe conditions today with lovely skiing in the fresh snow. All the trails, except Wavy Gravy and Island Lake trail, were groomed today at least once. Snow fell throughout the day filling in the tracks on the trails first groomed with a few areas of drifting but skier traffic packing in the fresh snow. We plan to groom the western trails in the morning. Lots of wildlife in recent days including a barred owl sighting at end of Loon Return and Roy’s Run today!

We get asked how long we will be open for the season and based on this year’s weather pattern at Maplelag, we are optimistic to have skiing until late March. The snow is seasoned or transformed so it endures the warmer days and the bottom 2-3″ of base is like concrete! The trails never closed because of cold or warm weather as long as there is skiable snow to ski on. 

Groomer’s Picks for Sunday: Bullhead Bootleg, (tracks might be filled in on lake) Roy’s Run and Wavy Gravy in the afternoon after trail is groomed in the morning.

Classic only skiing on trails with machine set tracks: Sukkerbusk, Sap Run, JibFly, Mother Hen, Rootin Tootin, Mother North Star and Loon Return. Roys Run, Twin Lakes, Wavy Gravy and the first and last part of Island Lake trail now tracked as well. Mac’s Mess in between Twin Lakes is not groomed but skier made track and passable. Might have to take skis off for just a little bit. North Loup has a track on the side and a skate path. The crossing on the north end of Bullhead lake trail is a bit rough. Take skis off and walk for the adventure! Lucky’s Loype and double green not groomed, skier made track. Watch for branches etc. on AMA land.   

Skating on Skater Waltz, the extension of Skater Waltz, Single Green climb, Kristin’s Kutoff, Eira Bikwadinaa hill and North Loup.  Please do not skate on trails outside of the designated skate trails. Thank you!

We have been grooming and skiing since November 20th and have only missed four days of grooming since that first snowfall we skied on after grooming. 

5″ new snowfall past 48 hours. 10″ new snow past 12 days. 29″ of snowfall this season, compacted base on trail 4-7″. Snow depth in woods 6-16″   

Share your ski experience on Skinnyski.com

Season and day passes can be purchased here. A purchase of a season pass helps us maintain the trails year round and provide the best skiing possible even in low snow year. Thank you! 

Fat Bike trails open. Click here for latest fat bike report

Grooming on Roy’s Run, January 25th, 2025.
Roll packing on Skaters Waltz extension, January 25th, 2025.
Grooming on Skaters Waltz, January 25th, 2025.
Grooming on Bullhead lake late afternoon as snow continued to fall, January 25th, 2025. Tracks might be filled in the morning.
Grooming during a snow squall on Skaters extension, January 24th, 2025.
Bullhead lake trail, January 24th, 2025. Great to see all the traffic on Bullhead today. Lots of deer moving in the areas on that trail. 
Snow falling over Twin lakes, January 24th, 2025.
Evening grooming on Sap Run, January 24th, 2025.
Hygge at the blue hour, January 24th, 2025.
Setting new track on Wavy Gravy trail, January 23rd, 2025.
New track cut on Island Lake trail, January 23rd, 2025.
Barred owl at end of Loon Return, January 23rd, 2025.
Grooming on Bullhead Lake to land, January 23rd, 2025. 
Bullhead Lake trail, January 23rd, 2025. Bullhead/Bootleg in great shape! 
Grooming on Roy’s Run, January 23rd, 2025.
A path was groomed in between Twin Lakes (part of Island Lake and Wavy Gravy trails) dusting of snow on top, January 23rd, 2025. 
Afternoon snow showers, January 22nd, 2025
Setting track on Mother North Star, January 22nd, 2025.
Setting track on Twin Lakes at dusk, January 22nd, 2025.
Evening groom on Sap Run, January 22nd, 2025.

Fat Bike Trail Report

Fat Bike Trails are open. Yesterday we groomed the entire FatLagChilada loop. Should be much better riding for today. Expect a few soft spots here and there, especially where it was drifted on the lakeside segments.  

The FatLagChilada includes the east side of Bullhead Bootleg loop and the west side of Twin Lakes. Ski trail segments and inner singletrack in between along with crossing of Bullhead lake consists of the “FatLagChilada”.   

Start at Skaters Waltz ski trail and go right to access the start. Stay on Skaters Waltz and only going off to singletrack where signed.

To access Twin Lakes singletrack only, take driveway down and start at bridge section. SukkerWest also accessed off the driveway for a good starter/beginner loop. 

 Click here to be part of the Strava Maplelag Mountain Bike Community

Grooming on Bullhead Bootleg singletrack, January 23rd, 2025.
Grooming on Bullhead Bootleg singletrack loop, January 23rd, 2025.
Bullhead Bootleg singletrack, January 19th, 2025.
Twin Lakes singletrack, January 19th, 2025.
Saturday riding, January 18th, 2025.

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open. Snow globe conditions today with off and on snow showers with a snow burst in the afternoon. Very good to excellent conditions being reported. Late afternoon we groomed Skaters Waltz and the extension loops and reset tracks on Sap Run. We will be out grooming Saturday morning on select trails before the temperate drops and wind kicks in. Lots of wildlife in recent days including a barred owl sighting at end of Loon Return!

We get asked how long we will be open for the season and based on this year’s weather pattern at Maplelag, we are optimistic to have skiing until late March. The snow is seasoned or transformed so it endures the warmer days and the bottom 2-3″ of base is like concrete! The trails never closed because of cold or warm weather as long as there is skiable snow to ski on. 

Groomer’s Picks for Saturday:Bullhead Lake trail and Bootleg extension. Ski down Eira Bikwadinaa hill on to Bullhead Lake and follow grooming. Also Roy’s Run has been skiing well for outer loop.

Classic only skiing on trails with machine set tracks: Sukkerbusk, Sap Run, JibFly, Mother Hen, Rootin Tootin, Mother North Star and Loon Return. Roys Run, Twin Lakes, Wavy Gravy and the first and last part of Island Lake trail now tracked as well. Mac’s Mess in between Twin Lakes is not groomed but skier made track and passable. Might have to take skis off for just a little bit. North Loup has a track on the side and a skate path. The crossing on the north end of Bullhead lake trail is a bit rough. Take skis off and walk for the adventure! Lucky’s Loype and double green not groomed, skier made track. Watch for branches etc. on AMA land.   

Skating on Skater Waltz, the extension of Skater Waltz, Single Green climb, Kristin’s Kutoff, Eira Bikwadinaa hill and North Loup.  Please do not skate on trails outside of the designated skate trails. Thank you!

We have been grooming and skiing since November 20th and have only missed four days of grooming since that first snowfall we skied on after grooming. 

2″ new snowfall past 48 hours. 8″ new snow past 12 days. 26″ of snowfall this season, compacted base on trail 3-6″. Snow depth in woods 4-12″   

Share your ski experience on Skinnyski.com

Season and day passes can be purchased here. A purchase of a season pass helps us maintain the trails year round and provide the best skiing possible even in low snow year. Thank you! 

Fat Bike trails open. Click here for latest fat bike report

Grooming during a snow squall on Skaters extension, January 24th, 2025.
Bullhead lake trail, January 24th, 2025. Great to see all the traffic on Bullhead today. Lots of deer moving in the areas on that trail.
Snow falling over Twin lakes, January 24th, 2025.
Evening grooming on Sap Run, January 24th, 2025.
Hygge at the blue hour, January 24th, 2025.
Setting new track on Wavy Gravy trail, January 23rd, 2025.
New track cut on Island Lake trail, January 23rd, 2025.
Barred owl at end of Loon Return, January 23rd, 2025.
Grooming on Bullhead Lake to land, January 23rd, 2025. 
Bullhead Lake trail, January 23rd, 2025. Bullhead/Bootleg in great shape! 
Grooming on Roy’s Run, January 23rd, 2025.
A path was groomed in between Twin Lakes (part of Island Lake and Wavy Gravy trails) dusting of snow on top, January 23rd, 2025. 
Afternoon snow showers, January 22nd, 2025
Setting track on Mother North Star, January 22nd, 2025.
Setting track on Twin Lakes at dusk, January 22nd, 2025.
Evening groom on Sap Run, January 22nd, 2025.
Great skiing on Roy’s Run, January 20th, 2025. 
Sunday skiers, January 19th, 2025.
Setting track on Roy’s Run, January 19th, 2025.
Every day is a great day for winter play! January 19th, 2025.
Trail head sign getting closer to completion! January 19th, 2025.
Sun dogs over Bullhead Bay, January 18th, 2025.
Members of the Moorhead Nordic ski team out for early morning training, January 18th, 2025.
Sap Run skiing! January 18th, 2025.
Tracking to Twin Lakes! January 18th, 2025.

Fat Bike Trail Report

Fat Bike Trails are open.  Today we groomed the entire FatLagChilada loop. Should be much better riding for Friday. Expect a few soft spots here and there, especially where it was drifted on the lakeside segments.  

The FatLagChilada includes the east side of Bullhead Bootleg loop and the west side of Twin Lakes. Ski trail segments and inner singletrack in between along with crossing of Bullhead lake consists of the “FatLagChilada”.   

Start at Skaters Waltz ski trail and go right to access the start. Stay on Skaters Waltz and only going off to singletrack where signed.

To access Twin Lakes singletrack only, take driveway down and start at bridge section. SukkerWest also accessed off the driveway for a good starter/beginner loop. 

 Click here to be part of the Strava Maplelag Mountain Bike Community

Grooming on Bullhead Bootleg singletrack, January 23rd, 2025.
Grooming on Bullhead Bootleg singletrack loop, January 23rd, 2025.
Bullhead Bootleg singletrack, January 19th, 2025.
Twin Lakes singletrack, January 19th, 2025.
Saturday riding, January 18th, 2025.

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open. Excellent conditions. 2″ new snow past two days. Entire trail system groomed Wednesday and Thursday. With the new snow and existing base, everything groomed out really nice, especially the classic trails. Touch up grooming planned Friday afternoon. Lots of wildlife in recent days including a barred owl sighting at end of Loon Return!

We get asked how long we will be open for the season and based on this year’s weather pattern at Maplelag, we are optimistic to have skiing until late March. The snow is seasoned or transformed so it endures the warmer days and the bottom 2-3″ of base is like concrete! The trails never closed because of cold or warm weather as long as there is skiable snow to ski on.

Groomer’s Picks for Friday:Bullhead Lake trail and Bootleg extension. Ski down Eira Bikwadinaa hill on to Bullhead Lake and follow grooming.

Classic only skiing on trails with machine set tracks: Sukkerbusk, Sap Run, JibFly, Mother Hen, Rootin Tootin, Mother North Star and Loon Return. Roys Run, Twin Lakes, Wavy Gravy and the first and last part of Island Lake trail now tracked as well. Mac’s Mess in between Twin Lakes is not groomed but skier made track and passable. Might have to take skis off for just a little bit. North Loup has a track on the side and a skate path. The crossing on the north end of Bullhead lake trail is a bit rough. Take skis off and walk for the adventure! Lucky’s Loype and double green not groomed, skier made track. Watch for branches etc. on AMA land.   

Skating on Skater Waltz, the extension of Skater Waltz, Single Green climb, Kristin’s Kutoff, Eira Bikwadinaa hill and North Loup.  Please do not skate on trails outside of the designated skate trails. Thank you!

We have been grooming and skiing since November 20th and have only missed four days of grooming since that first snowfall we skied on after grooming. 

2″ new snowfall past 24 hours. 8″ new snow past 10 days. 26″ of snowfall this season, compacted base on trail 3-6″. Snow depth in woods 4-12″   

Share your ski experience on Skinnyski.com

Season and day passes can be purchased here. A purchase of a season pass helps us maintain the trails year round and provide the best skiing possible even in low snow year. Thank you! 

Fat Bike trails open. Click here for latest fat bike report

Setting new track on Wavy Gravy trail, January 23rd, 2025.
New track cut on Island Lake trail, January 23rd, 2025.
Barred owl at end of Loon Return, January 23rd, 2025.
Grooming on Bullhead Lake to land, January 23rd, 2025.
Bullhead Lake trail, January 23rd, 2025. Bullhead/Bootleg in great shape!
Grooming on Roy’s Run, January 23rd, 2025.
A path was groomed in between Twin Lakes (part of Island Lake and Wavy Gravy trails) dusting of snow on top, January 23rd, 2025.
Afternoon snow showers, January 22nd, 2025
Setting track on Mother North Star, January 22nd, 2025.
Setting track on Twin Lakes at dusk, January 22nd, 2025.
Evening groom on Sap Run, January 22nd, 2025.
Great skiing on Roy’s Run, January 20th, 2025. 
Sunday skiers, January 19th, 2025.
Setting track on Roy’s Run, January 19th, 2025.
Every day is a great day for winter play! January 19th, 2025.
Trail head sign getting closer to completion! January 19th, 2025.
Sun dogs over Bullhead Bay, January 18th, 2025.
Members of the Moorhead Nordic ski team out for early morning training, January 18th, 2025.
Sap Run skiing! January 18th, 2025.
Tracking to Twin Lakes! January 18th, 2025.