All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail

Trail Report

Trails are open. Great “spring skiing” conditions this week. The sweet spot of the transition, where snow starts to soften up and not be so icy has been 9am-11am. Outside of this time frame, fast and icy before 9am, slower and damp/slushy after 12pm.

The sun and warmth has taken its toll on the snowpack but we plan to have the trails open through the weekend. Saturday will be the best day, Sunday looks iffy right now to be open safely. Sunday would be desperation skiing for one last ski. There will be areas of thin cover, especially in the start areas, better once you get in the woods. Also a few small bare spots etc. but with caution, carry a good attitude and there is some great skiing to be had for Saturday. Use extreme caution on the downhills.

Friday afternoon we groomed on Sukkerbusk and North Loup setting new track and also combed out Skaters Waltz. Recommended trails to ski include Sukkerbusk, Twin Lakes, North Loup and (Sap Run with caution, first half thin and a bit rough, second half better). Skaters Waltz best for skating.

Thursday afternoon we reset tracks on Twin Lakes, beginner loop of JibFly, Loon Return and Sap Run. We also cleaned up the Kamikaze hill segment on Skaters Waltz and groomed a skate lane on Sap Run connector to bypass Kamikaze. Wednesday we reset new track on Sap Run, Sukkerbusk and Mother North Star. We also groomed Skaters Waltz, the extension and put the skate lane back in North Loup. We will groom in the afternoon once again Friday afternoon than no more grooming planned after that. Grooming late afternoon allows the track to set up a bit more overnight and ensure longer transition skiing the next day.

Great day Tuesday hosting the Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships! Beautiful spring skiing day. Warming temps made for tougher conditions for the racers, snow and base held out great other than a few small exposed areas. Nice job to everyone who competed.

Trails are open for day use. All day and season passes for non overnight guests must be purchased online through the website. (click here) We are closed for the season for lodging and meal packages.

Note: Please do not snowshoe or walk on ski or fat bike trails. Thank you! We have designated snowshoe trails for snowshoeing and walking. We take pride in having as “clean” as possible ski and fat bike trails.

Select singletrack loops groomed for fat biking totaling 25km. Report on the Fat Bike trail report.


Lotvola Cup is Back! Click here for more details. (We are working on updating the participant list)

All day and season passes for non overnight guests must be purchased online through the website.(click here) Parking in first parking lot as you enter Maplelag. Click here for trail map. There are no services in the main lodge. No ski rental available at this time. No lodging or meals available for the remainder of the skiing season.

Double tracked Trails: include Sap Run, Sukkerbusk, Twin Lakes, JibFly, North Loup, Rootin Tootin, Mother North Star, and Mother Hen.

Singletrack classic skiing includes Wavy Gravy, Island Lake, Bootleg extension/second half of Bullhead lake trail, and Roy’s Run.

Skate trails groomed include Skaters Waltz, Suicide Hill, Single Green, Krisitin’s Kutoff, and Skaters Extension.

Adventure trails: First part of Bullhead and Lucky’s are not machine groomed and are “adventure” ski trails with skier made track. Bootleg extension is now groomed. The north end is has a few rough spots but passable. The first part of Bullhead remains an adventure trail.

Please no snowshoeing or walking on ski and fat bike trails.

Total new snowfall past 24 hours, Trace. Snowfall past 29 days around 25″. Total snowfall on season 39″ (since October 14th) Compacted base on trail 1-6″.

Snowshoe trail is open for snowshoeing. Please no hiking or walking on the ski trails!

First part of Bullhead Lake and Lucky’s Loype that traverse on AMA land not groomed. Use caution as unmarked obstacles etc. may exist.

Please note the lodge will be closed to day skiers as a result of COVID-19 precautions. This includes no ski rental availability. Porta bathrooms in far parking lot. Please help keep Maplelag open by limiting inside use.

Great conditions on Twin Lakes Friday morning, March 5th, 2021.
Start of Twin Lakes, March 5th, 2021.
Nice job Jonell completing the Lotvola Cup! March 5th, 2021. We will have a participant list posted early next week.
Evening grooming on North Loup setting a new track, March 5th, 2021. The middle section has more thin areas and rough spots but skiable througout.
Shoveling on thin areas on North Loup at dusk, March 5th, 2021.
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Sunset grooming on Sap Run, March 4th, 2021. Twin Lakes, Loon Return and bypass loop of JibFly groomed this evening.
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Covering thin area on downhill connector to western trails, March 4th, 2021. Few more thin areas on western trails. Full coverage on Twin Lakes all the way through, use caution on downhills.
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Awesome spring skiing conditions on North Loup, both skate and classic, March 4th, 2021. Critical to get out early!
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Skaters Waltz, late morning March 4th, 2021.
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Mother North Star, March 4th, 2021. Few more thin spots on the south facing areas of Mother North Star but linking good segments of trail with other good segments can make for really nice skiing 930-11.
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Crust skiing on Bullhead lake, March 4th, 2021. Access Bullhead lake bottom of Suicide Hill. Phenomenal skiing mid morning.
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Suicide Hill, March 4th, 2021. Suicide Hill benefits from being exposed to the north. Snow is in great shape and provides nice access to Bullhead lake below.
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Crust cruising on Little Sugarbush lake, March 4th, 2021. Looks icy but silky creamy surface making for really nice skiing!
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Spring skiing! Striding on JibFly, March 3rd, 2021.
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Resetting track on Mother North Star, March 3rd, 2021.
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Sunset grooming, March 3rd, 2021. Spring skiing season we groom in the afternoons so the integrity of the track remains longer during the transition period the next day.
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Skaters Waltz after grooming at dusk, March 3rd, 2021. Skating will be fast and icy early but mid morning until early afternoon very fun!
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Start of one of the “pod” races for Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships, March 2nd, 2021.
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Congrat to boys Section 8 champ, Logan Jensen. March 2nd, 2021.
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Congrats to girls Section 8 champ, Lilian Schaeffer. March 2nd, 2021.
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Girls racing action, March 2nd, 2021.
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Boys racing action, March 2nd, 2021.
Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

Trails are open. Late season conditions. Mostly velcro surface in the mornings after hard freeze at night. Few icy spots here and there. Please ride in the mornings before it thaws (generally before 11am, best riding 7am-11am) Trails will be closed on Sunday with forecasted warm temps overnight.

For best riding experience, run lower tire pressure and widest tires possible. (please no mountain bikes) If you are making ruts, you need to lower your tire pressure or if late season you probably should not be riding. Please no hiking or snowshoeing on Fat Bike trails. Maplelag is one of the few tracks in the country that have fat bike exclusive use providing a smooth and level deck.

Grooming update: Entire 25km loop is open and groomed. Most recent grooming on February 25th.

To access the bootleg loop, take Skaters Waltz ski trail, riding on the side than take Suicide Hill singletrack to bottom of Suicide Hill to access the Bootleg loop. Back up Suicide Hill on Skaters Waltz and follow grooming and look for eventual signage to complete the loop and continue on to Twin Lakes. To ride just Twin Lakes access half way down the driveway. Sukkerwest singletrack is accessed at end of the driveway and is a great beginner or starter loop.

Thanks Ben Olson for the volunteer grooming and use of the snowdog groomer!

All day and season passes for non overnight guests must be purchased online through the website. The Maplelag trails are not subsidized in any way and passes help offset grooming and property taxes.

Morning ride on the Twin Lakes singletrack, March 5th, 2021. Get out early for best conditions! Watch for a few icy spots etc.
Fantastic riding conditions in the morning, March 3rd, 2021.
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Light dusting of snow on the fat bike singletrack, March 1st, 2021.
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Grooming on the entire Fat Bike trail loop, February 25th, 2021.
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Deck in great shape after Saturday’s riders packed in the light fluff snow, February 21st, 2021.
Events, Maplelag, News, Race, Seasons, Skiing, Sports, Winter

Virtual Lotvola Cup 2021

Nice job to everyone who completed the Virtual Lotvola Cup this ski season. A wide range of conditions made for memorable skiing. Below are the participants from Strava recording and submitted times/completions. Anyone that is missed, please let us know so we can update the page and photo! We plan to do the virtual option again next season along with a mass timed event. A date will be posted in the fall.

The Lotvola Cup was one of the oldest cross country ski races in Minnesota, starting in 1977, and had grown to be popular among not only local skiers but enthusiasts from around the country.

Start of Lotvola Cup on Little Sugarbush lake in front of the original main lodge, 1980.

We have established a new course for classic only technique. We are not able to host a mass start race but will have the virtual race now open through the remainder of the 2020-2021 ski season. A 14km course has been set using Strava to track skiers. If you are not on Strava, we suggest loading the app. If not using Strava, you may submit your time and we will add all the skiers on a final spreadsheet. In keeping with the spirit of the original Lotvola Cup, the idea is not to be the fastest skier but “simply” complete the challenge. Partnering with ski shops, we will provide random awards to skiers upon completion of the Cup.

There is no entry fee to participate but a season or day pass is required to ski the trails.

Start of the 2021 Lotvola Cup challenge. Sukkerbusk ski trail, just across the parking lot near the legendary orange tractor!

The course starts on Sukkerbusk ski trail at the “orange tractor”. Continue on Sukkerbusk until Twin Lakes trail. Left on Twin Lakes. Upon completion of Twin Lakes, continue back up to Sukkerbusk. Take a left on Sukkerbusk to North Loup. Left on access to North Loup. Upon completion of North Loup, take left on Sukkerbusk and finish out Sukkerbusk back to the start area. Continue on through and finish out on Sap Run trail to the right. The finish is back at the flag pole.

Most intersections take left except near the end of Sukkerbusk stay right to finish out the course on Sap Run trail. Most intersections will be marked with the original signs like above that read “Maplelag Ski Tur”.

The original Lotvola Cup course was 12 kilometers. The 2021 version will be around 14km, classic only technique.

The 12 KM classic technique only race was named in honor of Elias Lotvola. A Finnish pioneer in the local Sugarbush township who was famous for his skiing abilities as well making classic wooden skis in the Finnish tradition by hand.   Even is his 80’s Elias would ski thru the “bush” and woods checking his trapline of over 30 miles in length. His skis and poles were on display in the lodge, but sadly they were lost in the fire of December 1999.  However, many examples of similar wooden skis made by Elias Lotvola, are on display in the lodge.

Newspaper article by local paper Detroit Lakes Newspapers of first Lotvola Cup in 1977.

The race honors the tradition of Nordic skiing in Minnesota and up to the most recent race, had a wood ski division. Past Lotvola Cup participants included not only recreational skiers but Olympic athletes including biathlete Wynn Roberts of Battle Lake area who competed in the Vancover Winter Olympics in 2010. 

Old school and new school, US Olympian Wynn Robert competing in the Lotvola Cup 2009 with wood skis.

Maplelag has always promoted a healthy and environmental friendly use of the land with a minimal footprint to conserve and promote our wonderful natural resources.

Snowy start to Lotvola Cup 2010.

Newspaper article from early Lotvola Cup.

Archived results and photos on skinnyski.com

Ski Trail

Trail Report

Trails are open. Great “spring skiing” conditions this week. Generally 10-12 is the “sweet spot” skiing. Outside of this time frame, fast and icy before 10, slower and damp/slushy after 12pm. Things can change quick one way or another. Also skiing before early afternoon, especially on the skate trails, helps preserve the snow and prolong the snow. We plan to have the trails open through the weekend. There will be areas of thin cover and a few small bare spots etc. but with caution, carry a good attitude and there is some great skiing to be had for a few more days.

This afternoon we reset tracks on Twin Lakes, beginner loop of JibFly, Loon Return and Sap Run. We also cleaned up the Kamikaze hill segment on Skaters Waltz and groomed a skate lane on Sap Run connector to bypass Kamikaze. Yesterday we reset new track on Sap Run, Sukkerbusk and Mother North Star. We also groomed Skaters Waltz, the extension and put the skate lane back in North Loup. We will groom in the afternoon once again Friday afternoon than no more grooming planned after that. Grooming late afternoon allows the track to set up a bit more overnight and ensure longer transition skiing the next day.

Great day Tuesday hosting the Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships! Beautiful spring skiing day. Warming temps made for tougher conditions for the racers, snow and base held out great other than a few small exposed areas. Nice job to everyone who competed.

Trails are open for day use. All day and season passes for non overnight guests must be purchased online through the website. (click here) We are closed for the season for lodging and meal packages.

Note: Please do not snowshoe or walk on ski or fat bike trails. Thank you! We have designated snowshoe trails for snowshoeing and walking. We take pride in having as “clean” as possible ski and fat bike trails.

Select singletrack loops groomed for fat biking totaling 25km. Report on the Fat Bike trail report.


Lotvola Cup is Back! Click here for more details. (We are working on updating the participant list)

All day and season passes for non overnight guests must be purchased online through the website.(click here) Parking in first parking lot as you enter Maplelag. Click here for trail map. There are no services in the main lodge. No ski rental available at this time. No lodging or meals available for the remainder of the skiing season.

Double tracked Trails: include Sap Run, Sukkerbusk, Twin Lakes, JibFly, North Loup, Rootin Tootin, Mother North Star, and Mother Hen.

Singletrack classic skiing includes Wavy Gravy, Island Lake, Bootleg extension/second half of Bullhead lake trail, and Roy’s Run.

Skate trails groomed include Skaters Waltz, Suicide Hill, Single Green, Krisitin’s Kutoff, and Skaters Extension.

Adventure trails: First part of Bullhead and Lucky’s are not machine groomed and are “adventure” ski trails with skier made track. Bootleg extension is now groomed. The north end is has a few rough spots but passable. The first part of Bullhead remains an adventure trail.

Please no snowshoeing or walking on ski and fat bike trails.

Total new snowfall past 24 hours, Trace. Snowfall past 29 days around 25″. Total snowfall on season 39″ (since October 14th) Compacted base on trail 1-6″.

Snowshoe trail is open for snowshoeing. Please no hiking or walking on the ski trails!

First part of Bullhead Lake and Lucky’s Loype that traverse on AMA land not groomed. Use caution as unmarked obstacles etc. may exist.

Please note the lodge will be closed to day skiers as a result of COVID-19 precautions. This includes no ski rental availability. Porta bathrooms in far parking lot. Please help keep Maplelag open by limiting inside use.

Sunset grooming on Sap Run, March 4th, 2021. Twin Lakes, Loon Return and bypass loop of JibFly groomed this evening.
Covering thin area on downhill connector to western trails, March 4th, 2021. Few more thin areas on western trails. Full coverage on Twin Lakes all the way through, use caution on downhills.
Awesome spring skiing conditions on North Loup, both skate and classic, March 4th, 2021. Critical to get out early!
Skaters Waltz, late morning March 4th, 2021.
Mother North Star, March 4th, 2021. Few more thin spots on the south facing areas of Mother North Star but linking good segments of trail with other good segments can make for really nice skiing 930-11.
Crust skiing on Bullhead lake, March 4th, 2021. Access Bullhead lake bottom of Suicide Hill. Phenomenal skiing mid morning.
Suicide Hill, March 4th, 2021. Suicide Hill benefits from being exposed to the north. Snow is in great shape and provides nice access to Bullhead lake below.
Spring skiing! Striding on JibFly, March 3rd, 2021.
Resetting track on Mother North Star, March 3rd, 2021.
Sunset grooming, March 3rd, 2021. Spring skiing season we groom in the afternoons so the integrity of the track remains longer during the transition period the next day.
Skaters Waltz after grooming at dusk, March 3rd, 2021. Skating will be fast and icy early but mid morning until early afternoon very fun!
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Start of one of the “pod” races for Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships, March 2nd, 2021.
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Congrat to boys Section 8 champ, Logan Jensen. March 2nd, 2021.
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Congrats to girls Section 8 champ, Lilian Schaeffer. March 2nd, 2021.
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Girls racing action, March 2nd, 2021.
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Boys racing action, March 2nd, 2021.
Ski Trail

Trail Report

Great day yesterday hosting the Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships! Beautiful spring skiing day. Warming temps made for tougher conditions for the racers, snow and base held out great other than a few small exposed areas. Nice job to everyone who competed.

Froze down hard last night and the trails are icy this morning. Slow to warm up today and we are in full spring skiing mode. We will be grooming on skaters waltz and north loup mid day. We will be erasing the one track on North Loup adding a skate lane. Other classic trails have good tracks, timing is critical for best skiing during spring conditions. Generally 11-2 is the “sweet spot” skiing. Outside of this time frame, fast and icy before, slower and damp after. Again, things can change quick one way or another. We plan to have the trails open through the weekend. There will be some thin spots etc. Use caution, good attitude there is some great skiing to be had for a few more days.

Trails are open for day use. All day and season passes for non overnight guests must be purchased online through the website. (click here) We are closed for the season for lodging and meal packages.

Note: Please do not snowshoe or walk on ski or fat bike trails. Thank you! We have designated snowshoe trails for snowshoeing and walking. We take pride in having as “clean” as possible ski and fat bike trails.

Select singletrack loops groomed for fat biking totaling 25km. Report on the Fat Bike trail report.


Lotvola Cup is Back! Click here for more details. (We are working on updating the participant list)

All day and season passes for non overnight guests must be purchased online through the website.(click here) Parking in first parking lot as you enter Maplelag. Click here for trail map. There are no services in the main lodge. No ski rental available at this time. No lodging or meals available for the remainder of the skiing season.

Double tracked Trails: include Sap Run, Sukkerbusk, Twin Lakes, JibFly, North Loup, Rootin Tootin, Mother North Star, and Mother Hen.

Singletrack classic skiing includes Wavy Gravy, Island Lake, Bootleg extension/second half of Bullhead lake trail, and Roy’s Run.

Skate trails groomed include Skaters Waltz, Suicide Hill, Single Green, Krisitin’s Kutoff, and Skaters Extension.

Adventure trails: First part of Bullhead and Lucky’s are not machine groomed and are “adventure” ski trails with skier made track. Bootleg extension is now groomed. The north end is has a few rough spots but passable. The first part of Bullhead remains an adventure trail.

Please no snowshoeing or walking on ski and fat bike trails.

Total new snowfall past 24 hours, Trace. Snowfall past 29 days around 25″. Total snowfall on season 39″ (since October 14th) Compacted base on trail 1-6″.

Snowshoe trail is open for snowshoeing. Please no hiking or walking on the ski trails!

First part of Bullhead Lake and Lucky’s Loype that traverse on AMA land not groomed. Use caution as unmarked obstacles etc. may exist.

Please note the lodge will be closed to day skiers as a result of COVID-19 precautions. This includes no ski rental availability. Porta bathrooms in far parking lot. Please help keep Maplelag open by limiting inside use.

Start of one of the “pod” races for Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships, March 2nd, 2021.
Congrat to boys Section 8 champ, Logan Jensen. March 2nd, 2021.
Congrats to girls Section 8 champ, Lilian Schaeffer. March 2nd, 2021.
Girls racing action, March 2nd, 2021.
Boys racing action, March 2nd, 2021.
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Setting track on Mother North Star as part of the Section 8 classic course, March 1st, 2021.