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The Trezona Trail: The Trezona Trail is in nice shape. There’s
an inch of fluffy new snow covering everything, and the
trail was groomed yesterday. It’s very slidy with nice
classic tracks all the way around. There are no bare spots
to speak of, and the grooming has erased all foot and dog
prints, for now. (1/22/12)
This 7k trail is relatively flat and has
great views of the old Pioneer Mine head frame. It circles
Miner's Lake which is a designated trout lake. |
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| The Bear Island Trails: This trail is a multi use
20km user tracked trail for easy to intermediate level
skiers. No trail permit is required. The trail winds through
Superior National Forest to Perch Lake with short side loops
that are waiting to be explored! The trail offers a peaceful
and solitary ski setting with many opportunities for
wildlife sighting and tracking. The trail head is located at
the intersection of Highway 21 and the Escape Road. Skiers
should park along the shoulder of the Escape Road and walk
across Highway 21 to the wooded trail head. |
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The North Junction Trails: The North Junction trails are in
reasonably good shape. The rockiest trails still may have
exposed rocks or roots but the more flat and the grassy
parts are in good shape. (1/30/12)
Consist of a series of loops. There
are two loops south of the North Arm Road. The Beaver Meadow
Trail is a beginner to intermediate trail that goes through
an area occupied by beaver. The Moose Trail is an
intermediate level that goes through hilly upland areas, a
spruce swamp and a beaver pond. Please respect camp property
and watch for vehicles. |
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South Farm Lake Trails: These trails are user tracked
all the way and offer opportunities for skiers of all skill
levels. If someone is looking for a trail-breaking
opportunity, or a little-used wilderness trail, this is it.
(A Wilderness Permit is required and available at the trail
head.) |
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Birch Lake White Pine Plantation: The Birch Lake
Plantation trail was groomed on Monday for classic skiing.
It is in fair condition with a few rough, thin spots but
certainly skiable. (1/30/12)
17 miles south
of Ely in Babbitt, was established in 1916 from seedlings
grown at the Baird Ranger Station. The young red pine were
transported 7 miles by horse and wagon and another 11 miles
by canoe to this burned and barren area where local
residents planted them. There is a continuing research
project in progress to determine the optimum number of trees
per acre in relation to most rapid growth. These trees will
reach maturity at 120 years in 2035. The area east of Forest
Road #131 is generally flat, and the areas west are more
challenging but relatively easy. |
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The Bear Head State Park Trails: The Bear Head Lake State
Park provides rolling topography through birch and pine stands. You
can expect to see wildlife ranging from deer, wolves, moose, martins
and squirrels. On January 25 the campground loops and trail from the
office to the beach was groomed. The Norberg trail loop needs much
more snow before grooming can begin. Fair conditions with a 2-5 inch
base. (2/2/12)
Wind through mixed pine,
balsam, birch and aspen stand and skirt four lakes along the way.
Great views of Bear Head Lake can be seen from varying vantage
points. Many exciting hills, both gentle and more demanding, await
the skier. These trails are machine groomed and accommodate both
beginner and expert skiers. |
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Hidden Valley Trails: Hidden Valley received a few
snowfalls of at least two inches apiece. An inch of fluff
fell today. Hidden Valley is well groomed and the skiing is
excellent. Snow now covers even the stubborn spots! Classic
tracks are set everywhere they are normally skied. The swamp
is now passable. No need to take the Deer Trail detour. The
only trail not groomed is Hannah’s. (1/31/12)
There are over 20 kilometers of
regularly groomed trails for both classic and skate skiing. |
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The North Arm Trail: These trails are skier-tracked trails and
so are classic in every sense of the word (though skate
skiing can be fabulous in late winter on the hard crusted
lakes). Because only some of the trails are occasionally
machine groomed, they can be challenging at times even for
intermediate-skilled skiers. They are some of the most
beautiful in the area as they roll up and down over forested
ledge rock and across lakes through the wilderness. The
trails are easy to follow and each intersection has a 'you
are here' map. Beginner skiers can first test their
proficiency on the Moose Horn Loops. |
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Hegman Trail: |
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| Hidden Valley Extension: Scenic overlooks of Farm
Lake. Access trails behind Fall Lake Town Hall. Trails
connect to Hidden Valley. |
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Babbitt Golf Course: The Babbitt Golf Course
trails were groomed and tracked on Monday for skate and
classic skiing. Excellent condition. (1/31/12)
The Babbitt Golf Course
offers over 2 miles of groomed trails. |
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Pine Park Trail: The Pine Park trail is skiable. It is
not machine groomed yet because there is not sufficient snow
in some areas. It is still rough. (1/19/12)
Located between the Hidden Valley
connector trail and the trails at Silver Rapids. These
trails can be accessed from Ernie's Road. |
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Silver Rapids Trail: |
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*Please note
Remember, a MN State Snowmobile Trail Sticker is required for
ALL snowmobiles operating on state or grant-in-aid trails. The
annual trail sticker is valid from November 1 - April 30 and costs $16 ($15 permit fee plus $1 filing fee.)
Bear Head State Park, Hidden Valley and the Birch Lake
Plantation cross country ski trails require a MN State Ski Pass
for all persons age 16 and above. (A full list of trails
requiring a ski pass is available on the Minnesota DNR website
listed below) The daily pass is $6.00 and a seasonal pass is
$20.00. (effective from July 1st of purchasing year to June 30
of following year, i.e. 07/01/2010 - 06/30/2011) A three
season pass is $55.00. (effective July 1st of purchasing year to
June 30 of third year, i.e. 07/01/2010 - 06/30/2013) Your
ski pass fee helps support Minnesota's cross-country ski trail
system.
Snowmobile Trail Stickers and MN State Ski Passes can be
purchased at several locations in Ely, on-line at:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/snowmobile/trailpermit.html,
(snowmobile sticker) and
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html
(Cross-Country Ski Pass) by phone at: 888/665-4236, 888/665-4236
(for snowmobile stickers) or 888/646-6367 888/646-6367 (for
cross country ski permits) or by mail: MN DNR License Center 500
Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4026 |
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