Category Archives: Reports

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Ski Trail

Woods and Trail Report

Dry conditions continue. We have been missing the recent rain and storms at Maplelag with only .17″ of precipitation recorded since August 8th. Despite the drier conditions, the woods are still very lush and green. The leaves are definitely showing signs of the approaching Fall with tinges of yellow and some trees already changing color. We typically see our peak of fall color around the third week of September. We have been working on the trail when we can amongst the projects at Maplelag, clearing deadfall and mowing on the inner trails. 

It has been a busy summer clearing fallen trees off the trails after strong winds over 80mph brought down 100’s of tree on the Maplelag property during the “Solstice Storm”. We have cleared nearly 300 trees on the trails so far. We were able to get the 25 mile “LagChilada” mountain bike course open a week after the storm. We are extremely grateful for the professional crew that helped us out. Thank you! 

The mountain bike trails are open, click here for report.  

Support the trails! Day and season pass purchases help us offset costs to maintain the trails. Thanks everyone for the support. 

Mowing on JibFly is trail, September 3rd, 2025. We have begun the big push for fall grooming.
Morning fog rolling off Little Sugarbush lake, September 3rd, 2025.
Trail tuning on Skaters Waltz, August 21st, 2025.
Tree clearing crew! August 18th, 2025. Thanks for the help boys! 
Nature scene along Mother North Star trail, August 15th, 2025.
Calm Little Sugarbush lake, August 14th, 2025. 
Campion flowers blooming, August 13th, 2025.
Oyster mushrooms on a dead maple tree, August 10th, 2025.
Little Sugarbush sunset August 9th, 2025. 
Another round of Chicken of the Woods mushrooms popping up on a oak tree, August 9th, 2025.
Little Sugarbush sunset, August 8th, 2025.
Ski trail mowing, August 1st, 2025.
Natural Knotweed along the trail, August 1st, 2025.
Fog lingering over the marsh area, north end of Little Sugarbush lake, July 28th, 2025.
Decaying oak deadfall providing nutrients for the forest floor, July 28th, 2025.
“Maple” mushroom, July 22nd, 2024.
Ghost pipe mushrooms popping up along the trail this week, July 23rd, 2024.
Tranquil evening on Little Sugarbush, July 17th, 2025.
Bald eagles along Skaters Waltz extension, Ju.ly 16th, 2025. Active nest on Eagle View along Island Lake trail again. 
“Buck” moon over Little Sugarbush lake, July 9th, 2025.
Calm waters on Little Sugarbush, July 8th, 2025.
Clearing on Sukkerbusk ski trail, June 27th, 2025.
Black Eyed Susan along the trail, June 28th, 2025.
Yarrow along the trail, June 28th, 2025.
Trees still to clear at start of Bullhead lake trail, June 28th, 2025.
Colorful mushrooms sprouting along the trail, June 28th, 2025.
Clearing storm blow down before the start of the LagChilada bike course, June 23rd, 2025.
Thanks Jack and Laurens for your help this week clearing trail!
Thanks Steve and Keith! 
Jens tossing off another log. One of many this week!
Blowdown on the ski trail after the Solstice storm, June 21st, 2025.
Wild Iris flowers blooming the end of this week, June 13th, 2025.
“Strawberry” moon over Little Sugarbush lake, June 12th, 2025. 
Bike Trail

Mountain Bike Trail Report

Trails are open. Trail is dry and hardpacked and rolling great. Tuesday we blew out the North Loup Gnar segment. We are in the early stages of fall riding which is some of the best of the year. The track is ridden in nicely after the Laddies Loppet races this past weekend. Watch for organic forest matter including acorns that are falling now, otherwise some of the best riding of the dirt season is now!

Beautiful day for the Laddies Loppet MNMBS race! Thanks to everyone that came this past weekend and supported the 35th running of this event! We are already looking forward to next year and making it better….Also good job to the riders that took on the LagChilada challenge this weekend. The next 4-6 weeks is the one of the best times of year to ride at Maplelag and do the LagChilada! 

We wrapped up a great mountain bike camp with the Northwest Wolves mountain bike team mid August.  

We have cleared nearly 300 trees so far since the Solstice Storm. Huge huge thanks to the crew that helped us out!  Be aware trees may fall without warning and assume full responsibility while riding.


The LagChilada challenge remains in place which encompasses all the trails at Maplelag. Click here for more details.  Secondary signage is up and the LagChilada course is marked. Click here for the Strava map which can be downloaded. Nice job to everyone completing the challenge this year including the riders doing a double!! 


 Maps: Trailforks and click on Maplelag map for reference of the trails. 
The Maplelag trails are described as classic or old style. Featuring more narrow singletrack with roots and rocks and generally more technical in nature. A good beginner loop is the Citizen Loop and a good intermediate loop is the Sport loop. 


Maplelag is a family owned and operated business. We are one of the few MTB trail systems in the Midwest that maintain the trails ourselves with no outside funding or assistance and pay property taxes that in turn help support other trails locally and in the state! Please consider a trail pass to offset some of our expenses. We love to mountain bike and share the trail with others…what it is all about! Thank you.

Bent Crank Racing team riders completing the LagChilada challenge, September 1st, 2025.
Bike Trail

Mountain Bike Trail Report

Trails are open. A quick morning rain shower that basically settled the dust for a few hours. Trail is dry and hardpacked and rolling great. This morning we blew out the North Loup Gnar segment.

Beautiful day for the Laddies Loppet MNMBS race! Thanks to everyone that came this past weekend and supported the 35th running of this event! We are already looking forward to next year and making it better….Also good job to the riders that took on the LagChilada challenge this weekend. The next 4-6 weeks is the one of the best times of year to ride at Maplelag and do the LagChilada!

We wrapped up a great mountain bike camp with the Northwest Wolves mountain bike team mid August.  

We have cleared nearly 300 trees so far since the Solstice Storm. Huge huge thanks to the crew that helped us out!  Be aware trees may fall without warning and assume full responsibility while riding.


The LagChilada challenge remains in place which encompasses all the trails at Maplelag. Click here for more details.  Secondary signage is up and the LagChilada course is marked. Click here for the Strava map which can be downloaded. Nice job to everyone completing the challenge this year including the riders doing a double!! 


 Maps: Trailforks and click on Maplelag map for reference of the trails. 
The Maplelag trails are described as classic or old style. Featuring more narrow singletrack with roots and rocks and generally more technical in nature. A good beginner loop is the Citizen Loop and a good intermediate loop is the Sport loop. 


Maplelag is a family owned and operated business. We are one of the few MTB trail systems in the Midwest that maintain the trails ourselves with no outside funding or assistance and pay property taxes that in turn help support other trails locally and in the state! Please consider a trail pass to offset some of our expenses. We love to mountain bike and share the trail with others…what it is all about! Thank you.

Bent Crank Racing team riders completing the LagChilada challenge, September 1st, 2025.
Bike Trail

Mountain Bike Trail Report

Trails are open. Beautiful day for the Laddies Loppet MNMBS race! Look forward to a fun day of riding and racing! Races start at 9 and conclude at 4pm. Dry conditions and the track is rolling great! Thursday and Friday we blew out and groomed the entire course.

We wrapped up a great mountain bike camp with the Northwest Wolves mountain bike team mid August.  

Some areas are a little extra root spicy from the weathering this year. Recommended to drop a little tire pressure for better rolling.

We have cleared nearly 300 trees so far since the Solstice Storm. Huge huge thanks to the crew that helped us out!  Be aware trees may fall without warning and assume full responsibility while riding.


The LagChilada challenge remains in place which encompasses all the trails at Maplelag. Click here for more details.  Secondary signage is up and the LagChilada course is marked. Click here for the Strava map which can be downloaded. Nice job to everyone completing the challenge this year including the riders doing a double!! 


 Maps: Trailforks and click on Maplelag map for reference of the trails. 
The Maplelag trails are described as classic or old style. Featuring more narrow singletrack with roots and rocks and generally more technical in nature. A good beginner loop is the Citizen Loop and a good intermediate loop is the Sport loop. 


Maplelag is a family owned and operated business. We are one of the few MTB trail systems in the Midwest that maintain the trails ourselves with no outside funding or assistance and pay property taxes that in turn help support other trails locally and in the state! Please consider a trail pass to offset some of our expenses. We love to mountain bike and share the trail with others…what it is all about! Thank you.


Race info for the 35th Laddies Loppet mountain bike race over Labor Day Weekend

Beautiful night for mountain bike practice, August 26th, 2025.
The infamous “white earth” at Maplelag. A sign when the clay dries out and the riding is as good as it gets! August 26th, 2025.
Sunset on the lakeside, August 26th, 2025.
Start of starter loop for Comp and Expert races, August 23rd, 2025.
Ski Trail

Woods and Trail Report

After a very wet June and July, and first week of August which saw 4″ of rain that first week, it has been a dry month. We have been missing most of the recent storms. Woods are still very lush and green from the overall wet summer. We have been working on the trail when we can amongst the projects at Maplelag, clearing deadfall and mowing on the inner trails. 

It has been a busy summer clearing fallen trees off the trails after strong winds over 80mph brought down 100’s of tree on the Maplelag property during the “Solstice Storm”. We have cleared nearly 300 trees on the trails so far. We were able to get the 25 mile “LagChilada” mountain bike course open a week after the storm. We are extremely grateful for the professional crew that helped us out. Thank you! 

The woods look a little different in areas from the Solstice Storm but wildlife has been on the move and an interesting variety of mushrooms and lichens popping up along the forest floor as well as the usual wildflowers. 

The mountain bike trails are open, click here for report.  

Support the trails! Day and season pass purchases help us offset costs to maintain the trails. Thanks everyone for the support. 

Trail tuning on Skaters Waltz, August 21st, 2025.
Tree clearing crew! August 18th, 2025. Thanks for the help boys! 
Nature scene along Mother North Star trail, August 15th, 2025.
Calm Little Sugarbush lake, August 14th, 2025. 
Campion flowers blooming, August 13th, 2025.
Oyster mushrooms on a dead maple tree, August 10th, 2025.
Little Sugarbush sunset August 9th, 2025. 
Another round of Chicken of the Woods mushrooms popping up on a oak tree, August 9th, 2025.
Little Sugarbush sunset, August 8th, 2025.
Ski trail mowing, August 1st, 2025.
Natural Knotweed along the trail, August 1st, 2025.
Fog lingering over the marsh area, north end of Little Sugarbush lake, July 28th, 2025.
Decaying oak deadfall providing nutrients for the forest floor, July 28th, 2025.
“Maple” mushroom, July 22nd, 2024.
Ghost pipe mushrooms popping up along the trail this week, July 23rd, 2024.
Tranquil evening on Little Sugarbush, July 17th, 2025.
Bald eagles along Skaters Waltz extension, Ju.ly 16th, 2025. Active nest on Eagle View along Island Lake trail again. 
“Buck” moon over Little Sugarbush lake, July 9th, 2025.
Calm waters on Little Sugarbush, July 8th, 2025.
Clearing on Sukkerbusk ski trail, June 27th, 2025.
Black Eyed Susan along the trail, June 28th, 2025.
Yarrow along the trail, June 28th, 2025.
Trees still to clear at start of Bullhead lake trail, June 28th, 2025.
Colorful mushrooms sprouting along the trail, June 28th, 2025.
Clearing storm blow down before the start of the LagChilada bike course, June 23rd, 2025.
Thanks Jack and Laurens for your help this week clearing trail!
Thanks Steve and Keith! 
Jens tossing off another log. One of many this week!
Blowdown on the ski trail after the Solstice storm, June 21st, 2025.
Wild Iris flowers blooming the end of this week, June 13th, 2025.
“Strawberry” moon over Little Sugarbush lake, June 12th, 2025.