Northwest Ski Region Offers Variety

From the edge of Lake of the Woods to the Headwaters of the Mississippi, from the hardwood forests of Maplewood State Park to the prison grounds of St. Cloud Prison, Northwestern Minnesota offers the widest variety of cross country ski trails in the state. There are several winter ski resorts as well as resorts and lodging outlets that have ski packages that include meals and a hot sauna.

Key WH = Warming House P = Parking B = Bathroom

Aitkin No Achen Trail 10.1km
218-927-7364 (P) Beginner to advanced, groomed classic ski trails, rustic forest, some trails closed for logging, MN ski pass required.

Aitkin Long Lake Conservation Center 7.2km
218-927-7364 (P) Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic ski trails, rustic forest, MN ski pass required.

Alexandria Spruce Hill Park 6.4km
320-763-6001 (P, B) 97-acre park with gentle wooded hills through tamarack, MN ski pass required.

Alexandria Trollskogen Ski Trail 15km
320-763-6001 (P, B) Intermediate trails on wooded glacial hills, MN ski pass required.

Argyle Old Mill State Park 11.2km
218-437-8174 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate, groomed trails, sledding hill, shelter with fireplace, three scenic bridges over Middle River, Old Mill historic site, MN ski pass required.

Battle Lake Glendalough State Park 11.2km
218-864-0110 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate, no sharp turns, classic, lots of wildlife, weekend shelter with fireplace, historic lodge rental available, call on camper cabins, rolling hills over prairie and northern hardwoods, ski and snowshoe rentals, ski past several lakes, MN ski pass required.

Baudette Franz Jevne State Park 5.6km
218-783-6252 (P, B) Ungroomed trails, unique rock outcrop, Rainy River, MN ski pass required.

Bemidji Buena Vista Ski Trail 25km
218-751-3456 (WH, P, B) Intermediate to advanced loops, home of the Minnesota Finlandia and Snowjourn races, woods and hills, family resort with downhill, sleigh rides, replica logging village, tubing, large lodge, kitchen and shops, since 1949, MN ski pass required.

Bemidji C.V. Hobson Forest Trail 6km
218-751-3456 (P, B) Beginner, groomed for classic with some skate ski grooming, red and white pine and tamarack bog along Lake Lyra, MN ski pass required.

Bemidji Lake Bemidji State Park 17.6km
218-318-2300 (WH, P, B) Beginner to advanced, only one hill, four loops, groomed double classic, warming shelter during office hours, annual candlelight ski, ski along Lake Bemidji, 28 miles of skate ski within 5 miles of park (part of MN Ski Trail System), State park vehicle pass required for entrance. MN ski pass required.

Bemidji Montebello Trail 4.5km
218-751-3456 (WH, P, B) Beginner, gentle course, in the city of Bemidji, close to hotels and restaurants, 2 km lighted trail, MN ski pass required.

Bemidji Movil Maze Trail 14km
218-751-3456 (P, B) Intermediate to advanced, steep and rolling hills used by local racers to train, classic and skate, through black spruce bog, red pines and hardwoods, MN ski pass required.

Bemidji Three Island Park 32km
218-751-3456 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic and skate, beautiful views of Three Island Lake and Turtle River,  MN ski pass required.

Bemidji Fern Lake Trail 32km 
218-751-3456 (P, B) Intermediate to advanced, Classical.  Clockwise  up the one BIG hill, counterclockwise down the BIG hill. From Bemidji take Hwy 71 S, turn R on N Lake Plantagenet Rd. Drive N for about 3 miles.  Welle Dr is across from the groomer's access point, no legal parking, next access is for snowmobiles and third access is the XC Trailhead with parking. MN ski pass required.

Brainerd Crow Wing State Park 9.6km
218-825-3075 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate, groomed, nice trails through woods along Mississippi River, town of Crow Wing historic sites, Red River Oxcart Trail, MN ski pass required.

Brainerd French Rapids 12km
218-829-8770 (P) Intermediate to advanced, challenging trails in glaciated area with great views of Mississippi River Valley, well groomed, MN ski pass required.

Brainerd Northland Arboretum 16km
218-829-8770 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate, classic and skate ski, winding trails, Arboretum located in Brainerd, nearly 5 km lighted trail, MN ski pass required.

Brainerd Pine Beach Trail 40km
800-272-4867 (WH, P, B) Mostly beginner to intermediate with some advanced loops, varied terrain through pine and hardwood forest, trail links Kavanaugh's and Cragun's resorts, ski past serveral scenic lakes, ski rentals at Cragun's, MN ski pass required.

Callaway Maplelag Resort 60km
800-654-7711 (WH, P, B) All levels, many well groomed loops, mostly classic with some skate ski, privately owned cross country ski resort with sauna, hot tub, lessons and rentals, maple forest with rolling hills.

Carlos Lake Carlos State Park 8km
320-852-7200 (WH, P, B) Intermediate, groomed classic only, rolling terrain through tamarack bog, marshes, woodland ponds and lakes, ski along Lake Carlos, MN ski pass required.

Crosby Wolf Lake Ski Trail 9.4km
218-824-1114 (P) Beginner to advanced, groomed classic with 1.5 km skate ski, challenging hills, shelter along trail, maps at intersections, hardwood forest and mature pine.

Deerwood Larson Lake Forest 20km
218-824-1115 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate in 11 loops, classic single track trails, rolling terrain in mature oak forest, MN ski pass required.

Detroit Lakes Dunton Locks 5.6km
218-847-9202 (P, B) Beginner with some hills, west of Detroit Lakes, groomed classic.

Detroit Lakes East Frazee Ski Trails 16km
218-847-9202 (P) Mostly beginner with loops for all levels, groomed single-track, pines and lakeshore, forest and meadows.

Detroit Lakes Pine Lake 12.7km
218-847-9202 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate, generally even terrain with a few short hills, occasionally groomed, located in the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, MN ski pass required.

Fergus Falls Spidahl Skigaard 20km
218-736-5097 (WH, P, B) All levels, eight loops, groomed classic and skate, 340 acres of hardwoods and prairie, privately owned, near Maplewood State Park, trails through sugar maple hills, ski and snowshoe rentals, MN ski pass required.

Glyndon Buffalo River State Park 9.6km
218-498-2124 (P, B) Beginner trails, ski through remnant prairie and hardwood forest, MN ski pass required.

Hackensack Deep Portage 24.2km
218-682-2325 (P, B) Beginner to advanced, rolling hills, located in the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve, 6 km skate ski, MN ski pass required.

Hackensack Hiram Ski Trail 8km
218-947-3338 (P) Beginner to advanced, inside Foot Hills State Forest, MN ski pass required.

Kensington Andes Tower Hills Ski Area 15km
320-965-2455 (WH, P, B) All levels, wooded trails adjacent to downhill ski area, both classic and skating tracks, breakfast served some Saturdays at warming house halfway down the trail (call for availability), 1.5 km lit trail, ski rentals, trails cut around and through lakes and forest.

Lake Bronson Lake Bronson State Park 11.2km
218-754-2200 (WH, P, B) Beginner, no hills, groomed classic, heated shelter with restrooms, good ice fishing, ski along Lake Bronson, snowshoe rentals available. MN ski pass required.

Little Falls Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge 5.6km
320-632-1575 (P, B) Beginner trail with gentle hills, good for families or those who just want some exercise, trail follows Platte River, skirts around several wetlands, winds through mixed hardwoods (mostly oaks), crosses fields restored with prairie grasses, overlooks of Rice Lake, serves as an important stop for many species of migrating birds, harbors one of the largest nesting populations of Greater Sandhill Cranes in the state, waterfowl observation deck along trail overlooking Skunk Lake, groomed with two parallel tracks.

Little Falls Hole-in-the-Day Trail 8.8km
320-632-4374 (P) Beginner to advanced, groomed weekly for classic and skate ski, free use of privately owned, leased land.

Little Falls Lindbergh State Park 8km
320-616-2525 (WH, P, B) Beginner, groomed, ski along Mississippi River, visit Weyerhaeuser Museum, MN ski pass required.

Longville Goose Lake Recreation Area 15km
218-947-3338 (P, B) Beginner, gently rolling hills around wetlands, MN ski pass required.

Milaca Milaca Trails 10km
320-983-5729 (P) City of Milaca trails are groomed single tracked.

Nisswa Grand View Lodge 20 km
800-432-3788 (WH, P, B) All levels over three loops, well groomed for classic and skate, wooded and open, 360 acres of pines, prairie and wetland, lodging, pool, hot tub, spa, ice fishing.

Onamia Mille Lacs Kathio State Park 32km
320-532-3523 (WH, P, B) Beginner to advanced, several loops, ski rentals, wooded terrain, 10.9 km beginner, 12.4 km intermediate, 8.7 km advanced, MN ski pass required.

Park Rapids Itasca State Park 50km
218-699-7255 (WH, P, B) Beginner to advanced, groomed, many loops, ski to headwaters of Mississippi River amongst towering white pines on easy rolling hills, MN ski pass required.

Park Rapids Soaring Eagle Trail 19km
800-247-0054 (WH, P, B) Beginner to advanced, trails wind through a varied forest ranging from baby aspen to mature balsam and pine, rolling hills, Troll Trail (advanced) has short, fast hills with turns, 7 km skate ski, the rest classic only, MN ski pass required.

Pelican Rapids Maplewood State Park 15km
218-863-8383 (WH, P, B) Intermediate to advanced, four loops, classic ski, candlelight ski in February, hills and hardwoods, many lakes, MN ski pass required.

Pine River Cut Lake Ski Trail 16.5km
218-947-3338 (P) Beginner to advanced, varied terrain, inside Foot Hills State Forest, MN ski pass required.

Roseau Hayes Lake State Park 9.6km 218-425-7504 (P, B) Beginner trails, groomed, ski along Hayes Lake and North Fork Roseau River, snowshoe rentals available. MN ski pass required.

Saint Augusta Warner Lake Park 6km
320-255-6172 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic ski only through woods, some challenging hills, 41-acre site surrounding 30 surface acres of Warner Lake.

Saint Cloud Graystone Trails 17km
320-252-1177 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate with a few challenging hills, many loops, scenic woods, pastures, apple orchards, near the St. Cloud penitentiary, a mile from the Mississippi River.

Saint Cloud Riverside Park 15km
320-255-7216 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate, flat to rolling hills right near downtown St. Cloud, along the Mississippi River.

Saint Joseph Wildwood Ski Trail 10km
320-685-4489 (P, B) Beginner to advanced, classic ski only, 2.5 miles west of St. Joseph, trails wind through wooded setting, MN ski pass required.

Waite Park Quarry Park and Nature Preserve 6.3km
320-255-6172 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate with a skating loop and classic loops, ski past granite quarries and rock piles on lighted trails, 323-acre State Scientific and Natural Area within park with additional 5 km of ungroomed "rustic" trail shared by snowshoers and skiers, Quarry Park parking pass required.

Waubun Rainbow Resort Trails 23km
888-734-1140 (P, B) All levels, groomed for classic and skate with Yellow Stone Track, heavily forested, snowshoe, ice skate and ski rentals.

Williams Zippel Bay State Park 17.6km
218-783-6252 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate, 14.4 km groomed, timberwolves and deer, Lake of the Woods, MN ski pass required.

Sources: Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Nordic Ski Association, Skinnyski & Individual Trails