Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open. A winter wonderland day with the trees flocked with rime frost and snow. If you ever wondered what it was like to ski in a cloud with excellent snow conditions, today would be that day! We did have a little bit of mist yesterday but the dry silky snow absorbed it nicely and the snow is dreamy to ski on right now. Forecast is calling for temps right around freezing but we don’t think we will get that warm with the thick ceiling above.

Grooming today will be this evening on Sap Run, Mother North Star and Skaters Waltz. These trails will be used for tomorrow’s MHD Invite for JV and Jr High skiers. Races are 10:30 and over by 2pm. All other 50km of trails open for skiing.

Mild weather looks to continue this week with Wednesday possible temps above freezing. We have a great base of snow and always look ahead when grooming in the present to make sure we can work the snow if any warm weather to have the best conditions possible. Typically when people come out skiing after a warm spell, conditions are “better than expected”. Just Ski. With that said, if you plan to ski Wednesday, please try to ski in the morning to help us preserve the snow moving forward.

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, sunset and especially at night with the full moon this past week.

Next Saturday and Sunday 1/10 and 1/11 the “old sauna” will be available to the public from 12noon to 4:30pm. Please purchase a trail pass for skiing and a trail pass for sauna.

It’s been awesome seeing so many people out on the trails over the holiday season and we deeply appreciate the support! Want to share your ski experience at Maplelag, consider 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”.  

26″ 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.

Majority of the fat bike trails are now open. Click here for fat bike trail report. 

Snowfall YTD at 26″ Compacted base on trail 3-6″. Total snowfall in January at 2″. 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″. 

Trees thick with rime frost, January 5th 2026.
Norwegian Log cabin at night surrounded by frosty trees, January 5th, 2026.
Cutting a new track on the lake loop, “Lumi’s Loop”, January 5th, 2026.
Night grooming on the course for tomorrow’s JV/Jr High races, January 5th, 2026.
MPLS Washburn skiers in the “skinny field”, January 4th, 2026.
Local skier D. Johnson happy to have the recent fresh snow after navigating the icy conditions the week before! 78 years strong! January 4th, 2026.
MPLS Washburn skiers gliding on Bullhead Lake, January 4th, 2026.
After the fire of October 2022, Joel Woodward unbeknownst to us, started a GoFundMe to bring back the cookies. The cookies are back! Thanks Joel.
Local skier “Dr. Bob” still going strong at 82 on trail today, January 3rd, 2026. 
MPLS Washburn skiers working on skills on Eira Bikwadinaa hill, January 3rd, 2026.
Moorhead Nordic team members on Roy’s Run, January 3rd, 2026.
Resetting track on Sukkerbusk under the full moon, January 3rd, 2026.
Striding on Bullhead Lake trail, January 2nd 2026. Great conditions on Bullhead Bootleg loop! 
Striding through a winter wonderland on Roy’s Run, January 2nd, 2026.
Cutting new track on Roy’s Run, January 2nd, 2026.
Combing skate lane on North Loup, new track cut yesterday. January 2nd, 2026.
Porcupine high up in a tree on North Loup near “Terrible Ted” corner, January 2nd, 2026.
Cutting new track on far point of Roy’s Run, January 2nd, 2026.
Setting new double track on Sukkerbusk, January 1st, 2026.
Skate grooming on Skaters extension, January 1st, 2026.
Enjoying the fresh fluff, January 1st, 2026.
Ready for a ski on the western trails, January 1st, 2026.
Ending the skiing day with a lap on “Lumi’s Loop”, January 1st, 2026.
Grooming on Bullhead lake trail, December 31st, 2025.
Setting track on Bullhead lake, December 31st, 2025.
New Years Eve skate on the ice rink, December 31st, 2025.
Track set and skate lane combed on “Lumi’s Loop”, a 1.2km loop on Little Sugarbush lake in front of Maplelag, 
No better way to end 2005 than with a ski! 
Father and son ski! 
Night ski on Lumi’s Loop, 1.2km loop on Little Sugarbush lake, December 31st, 2025.
King court sprints and ski games for MPLS SW Nordic in the soccer field, December 30th, 2025.
A “perfect day” on the trails! December 30th, 2025.
Hygge time for Sartell/Cathedral skiers, December, 30th, 2025.
Grooming on Sukkerbusk ski trail, December 29th, 2025.
Grooming on connector to Twin and Island Lake trails, December 29th, 2025.
Intense sun dogs this morning, December 29th, 2025.
Sunset ski on Sukkerbusk, December 29th, 2025.
Sunshine and smiles! December 29th, 2025.