Snow conditions at Minnesota’s ski resorts

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Duluth has some of the best cross-country skiing you'll find anywhere in the nation – over 100 km of groomed trails. Experience the peace and quiet of wooded trails and the breathtaking views of Lake Superior and the St. Louis River Valley.

The Ellery House innkeepers are both cross-country skiers, keep a selection of trail maps available and love helping guests find just the right trails.

Note: The Minnesota Ski Pass($3/day or $10/year) is requested on the city-maintained trails. Ski resorts offer Nordic passes at a nominal price.

These are some of our favorite cross-country ski areas.

Snowflake Nordic Center
15 km of expertly groomed trails, a biathlon range, and a cozy chalet.

Chester Bowl
3 km of hilly terrain for the advanced skier and racer.

Hartley Trail
5 km, with the inner loop offering gentle and meandering trail while the outer hill trail provides a challenge to the more experienced skiers.

Lester-Amity Trail
15 km of varied terrain through pine, aspen, and birch forests. An additional 3 km circles the Lester Park Golf Course and is excellent for beginning cross-country skiers.

Magney-Snively Trail
14 km of skiing through a remote old-growth hardwood forest. Rugged terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers with a magnificent view of the St. Louis River and the Duluth harbor.

Piedmont Trail
5 km of trail for beginning and intermediate skiers. This double-tracked trail leads you through birch and hardwood forest with a beautiful overlook of the St. Louis River Valley.

Western Waterfront Trail
The Munger Inn grooms this 2 mile trail for classical skiing. Excellent for beginning skiers.

Korkki Nordic Ski Center
11 km of easy to difficult single-tracked, classic groomed trails. Gorgeous woods. Warming cabin with wood burning stove maintained by volunteers.

Boulder Lake Management Area
21 km of classic and 8 kilometers of skating style cross-country skiing trails for beginner to advanced skiers.The trails are well maintained and a warming hut with hot cider and coffee is open sunrise to sunset.

Jay Cooke State Park
27 km of groomed cross-country ski trails for skiers of all skill levels.With the scenic St. Louis River flowing right through it, Jay Cooke is one of Minnesota's most pristine parks.

Superior Municipal Cross Country Trails
36 km of skating and classical trails on the Wisconsin side of the St. Louis River. Trails suitable for all levels of ability. Conditions permitting, you can ski across the St. Louis River from the Water front Trail to these trails.

Gooseberry Falls State Park
22 km of trails from easy to challenging meander through the woods and past waterfalls. Gorgeous view of Lake Superior. 

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
13 km double-tracked intermediate to difficult trails along Lake Superior and around Day Hill. 

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Skis & snowshoes

Snowmobiles:

Park Point Recreation Area
Peaceful and gorgeous snowshoeing area at the end of Park Point.

Kingsbury Creek Trail/ Lake Superior Zoo
Snowshoe through the Fairmount Park area, up the trail and through the zoo.

Lester Park
Snowshoe along Lester River and through the park and adjacent golf course.

Boulder Lake Management Area
Snowshoeing opportunities abound along the northern shore of the reservoir as well across the frozen lake. Wind can sometimes be a factor.

Jay Cooke Park
Like all Minnesota State Parks and Forests, Jay Cooke is open for snowshoeing. While snowshoe trekkers must keep off groomed ski and snowmachine trails, they can blaze their own trails or follow the trails that are packed and marked for snowshoeing. (Jay Cooke Park rents snowshoes.)

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Spirit Mountain  (800 642-6377) 
5 chairlifts and 24 runs. 22 km of wooded cross-country ski trails, double tracked with skating lanes. Snowshoe rentals available for backcountry area. One of the best hills in the state with gorgeous views of Lake Superior.

Giants Ridge (800 688-7669) 
50 miles from Duluth with 6 chairlifts and 34 runs, Giants Ridge prides itself on having exquisitely groomed trails including more than 60 km of cross-country ski trails and the six-foot-wide “Sleeping Giant” snowshoe trail that winds through the scenic Superior National Forest.

Lutsen Mountain  (218 663-7281)
100 miles fromDuluth with 7 chairlifts and 88 runs. 27 km of cross-country ski trails and a backcountry trail system for snowshoeing. Awesome views and the best mountain skiing in the Midwest.  

Chester Bowl (218 724-9832)
1 chairlift and 3 runs. Operated by Duluth Parks and Recreation and surrounded by cross-country ski trails.

Mont du Lac (218 626-3797)
7 miles fromDuluth with 1 chairlift and 7 runs. Affordable lift ticket prices and easygoing runs make it a great place to practice your moves before tackling the tougher hills.

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The Ellery House offers off-street parking for snowmachine trailers.

The North Shore Trail
146 mile natural surface trail from Duluth to Grand Marais winds its way through the forests behind the outer bluffs, overlooks Lake Superior, and provides access to some of the most rugged and beautiful scenery in Minnesota.

The Willard Munger State Trail
A collection of multiple use trails between Hinckley and Duluth with interconnecting trails highlighting the picturesque scenery and rich history of East Central Minnesota.

Duluth Cross Town Trail - West
Ride the skyline ridge, around Spirit Mountain and on the trail behind the zoo leading to the Willard Munger State Trail.

Duluth Cross Town Trail - East
Snowmobile from Lester Park into the Hawk Ridge Valley and city forests to the start of the North Shore State Trail. 

Taft Trail
A popular local trail that leaves the North Shore State Trail 14 miles north of Duluth and heads west to Island and Fish Lakes.

Pequaywan Lake Trail
Leaves the North Shore State Trail about 20 miles north of Duluth, heads north into the Cloquet Valley State Forest and connects with the State Trail.

Two Harbors Corridor Trail
Ride the ten mile from Two Harbors to the State Trail.

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