Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open. A great day on the trails! Incredible frosty scenes and skiing. Cleared off last night which allowed the temp to drop down to a low of 14 at Maplelag and cool down the base nicely. We reached a high of 36 before slowly cooling down again in the afternoon. A half inch or so, some places more, rime snow fell from the trees on to the trail deck. This little bit of frost snow will mix in nicely when we groom next and conditions should remain excellent rest of the week and into the weekend. We did groom a little this evening and the tracks reset perfectly. We will plan to groom the entire trail system again Thursday and Friday. Grooming last night on Sap Run, Skaters Waltz, Eira Bikwadinaa and segments of Sukkerbusk and Mother North Star.

A stunning day for the ski meet yesterday. Incredible rime frost on the trees, no wind and temps in the lower 20’s. The snow was like silk and so fun to ski on. Good work to to all the skiers. Tuesday evening grooming on Sap Run, portions of Sukkerbusk and all of Skaters Waltz and Eira Bikwadinaa hill.

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. The lake has over a foot of ice and keeps the snow nice and cool on warm days if skiing Wednesday afternoon. 

This 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. 

The entire 25km FatLagChilada loop is 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″. 

Frosty scene in the “Switchyard“, January 7th, 2026.
Late afternoon groom on Mother Hen trail, January 7th, 2026. There is great snow to work with for future grooming and conditions should be very good to excellent rest of the week and weekend.
Frosty scene at crossing to Twin Lakes and the western trails, January 7th, 2026.
Wavy Gravy trail, January 7th, 2026.
North end Bullhead lake trail, January 7th, 2026. (M. Sands photo)
Frosty scene between Twin Lakes, January 7th, 2026 (Dani S. photo)
Frosty day at the races January 6th, 2025
The hills of Mother North Star January 6th, 2026
JV Boys classic race, January 6th, 2026.
Ending the day with a ski….magical conditions! January 6th, 2026.
Always good when the moon pops out during the evening groom, January 6th, 2026.

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.