Southern Mn Ski Trails
Southern Minnesota has a wide variety of state parks, forests and recreational trails that offer fine cross country skiing. It's many rivers provide high vistas and abundant wildlife to view while skiing. The Southern half of Minnesota offers rolling bluff country in the east to wide open prairies in the west with regions of old growth forest in between.
Albert Lea Myre-Big Island State Park 12.8km
507-379-3403 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate, 8 km groomed classic, 3 km ungroomed, ski along Albert Lea Lake and on Big Island, MN ski pass required.
Altura Whitewater State Park 12.8km
507-932-3007 (WH, P, B) Beginner, trails along the Whitewater River, MN ski pass required.
Austin Jay C. Hormel Nature Center 15km
507-437-7519 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate, 13 km classic, 2 km skate, woods and prairie, interpretive building with displays, MN ski pass required.
Currie Fort Ridgely State Park 8km
507-426-7840 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic, variety of terrain, sledding hill,rentals MN ski pass required.
Faribault River Bend Nature Center 16km
507-332-7151 (WH, P, B) Beginner to advanced, groomed classic, some ungroomed trail sections, flat prairie, woods, some challenging hills, MN ski pass required.
Frontenac Frontenac State Park 7.5km
651-345-3401 (WH, P, B) All levels, groomed classic, overlooks of Lake Pepin (Mississippi River), MN ski pass required.
Granite Falls Upper Sioux Agency State Park 3.2km
320-564-4777 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic, some ungroomed trails, sledding hill, historic Upper Sioux Agency site, MN ski pass required.
Houston Richard Dorer State Forest - Oak Ridge Unit - Wet Bark Trail 14.2km
507-285-7176 (P) Intermediate, trackset, hilltop fields, scenic overlooks, shelters along trail, MN ski pass required.
Kellogg Richard Dorer State Forest - Snake Creek Unit 6km
651-285-7176 (P) Intermediate to advanced trails through beautiful forest and over creeks, MN ski pass required.
Lake Benton Hole-in-the-Mountain Trail 8.1km
507-828-5313 (P, B) Beginner to advanced trails within 800-acre park, groomed with enough snow, woodland and prairie scenery, historical sites along trails.
Lakefield Kilen Woods State Park 2.4km
507-662-6258 (P, B) Beginner, groomed classic, sledding hill, ski along Des Moines River, MN ski pass required.
Lanesboro Richard Dorer State Forest - Brightsdale Unit 8km
507-285-7176 (P, B) All levels, woods with some open spaces, Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, MN ski pass required.
Lanesboro Richard Dorer State Forest - Isinours Unit 5.2km
507-285-7176 (P, B) Groomed classic only, MN ski pass required.
Lanesboro Root River State Trail 67.2km
507-285-7176 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate, rural communities with shops along trail, this popular bike trail is also popular with skiers, offering views of tall bluffs and abundant wildlife, MN ski pass required.
Le Roy Lake Louise State Park 4.8km
507-324-5249 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate, periodically groomed for classic, scenic views of Lake Louise and various streams, MN ski pass required.
Lynd Camden State Park 10.2km
507-865-4530 (WH, P, B) Beginner to advanced, groomed classic with 2.2 km skate ski, ski through maple-basswood forest, MN ski pass required.
Mankato Minneopa State Park 6.4km
507-389-5464 (P, B) Beginner, ski through oak savanna and past the Twin Waterfalls and Seppmann Windmill, overlooks of Minnesota River, MN ski pass required.
Mankato Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail 62.4km
507-267-4772 (WH, P, B) Beginner, trailhead at Lime Valley Road near Mankato, rolling wooded ravine to prairie, MN ski pass required.
Nerstrand Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park 9.6km
507-333-4840 (P, B) Beginner to advanced, groomed classic, ski deep into the woods to find Hidden Falls, MN ski pass required.
New London Sibley State Park 19.2km
320-354-2055 (WH, P, B) Intermediate to advanced, hills and curves, 16 km groomed double tracked classic, 3.2 km skate ski, ski to the top of Mt. Tom for the best view of the countryside, MN ski pass required.
New London Burr Oak Trail10km
320-354-5894 (WH, P, B) Groomed, classic/skate. ski/snoeshow rentals MN ski pass.
New Ulm Flandrau State Park 9.7km
507-233-9800 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic, flat trails on the bottom of the valley with more challenging routes on the oak-shaded bluffs, several overlooks, Cottonwood River,ski and snowshoe rentals, 3.4km snowshoe trails, MN ski pass required.
Owatonna Kaplan's Woods 10km
507-444-4321 (P, B) Intermediate, 3 km lit, ravine terrain provides challenging hills, wide trails suitable for skate ski, tracked for classic when snow is sufficient, hardwood forest near lake and river, MN ski pass required.
Owatonna Rice Lake State Park 4km
507-455-5871 (P, B) Beginner, groomed classic, several loops through woods and along lake, MN ski pass required.
Plainview Carley State Park 8km
507-932-3007 (P, B) Intermediate, ski along Whitewater River, MN ski pass required.
Preston Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park 17.6km
507-352-5111 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic, rolling terrain, protected valley, ski to an overlook and Root River Valley, trout fishing, over 60 miles skate skiing within 10 miles of park on Root River trail system, MN ski pass required.
Preston Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail 28.8km
507-285-7176 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate with some challenging hills, groomed, connects communities of Harmony and Preston, wooded area through farmlands, MN ski pass required.
Red Wing Cannon Valley Trail 31.5km
507-263-0508 (P, B) Mostly intermediate, groomed classic and skate, connects Cannon Falls, Welch and Red Wing, overhanging cliffs, stunning scenery, MN ski pass required.
Red Wing Mississippi National Ski Trails 15km
651-388-4724 (P, B) Beginner to advanced, 8km groomed for classic, 7km groomed for both classic and skate, trails groomed daily, classic loop through wooded terrain and offers extensive views of Mississippi River, considered one of the most spectacular in the state, MN ski pass required.
Red Wing Richard Dorer State Forest - Hay Creek Unit 9.6km
507-285-7176 (P, B) Mostly intermediate, groomed classic only, MN ski pass required.
Rochester Chester Woods Park 12.8km
507-285-7050 (P, B) All levels, 1,300-acre county park, 12.8 km groomed trails with additional 16 to 24 km ungroomed, wooded and hilly, trails well marked with maps at most intersections, ski past Chester Lake.
Rochester Douglas State Trail 20.8km
507-285-7176 (P, B) Groomed trails through forest, rolling fields and pastures, MN ski pass required.
Rochester Eastwood Golf Course 8km
507-281-6160 (P, B) All levels, groomed classic and skate ski, main training course in Rochester, groomed regularly, can be a bit hardpacked between snowfalls, 1 km lit trail.
Rochester Soldier's Field 5 km
507-281-616 (P, B) Intermediate, groomed classic and skate ski, quiet city trails, city lights offer good night skiing.
Spicer Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center 10-12 km
320-354-5894 (WH, P, B) Groomed classic and skate ski; beginner to advanced trails within 500-acre environmental learning center campus, woodland and prairie scenery, abundant wildlife; wide trails suitable for skate ski, tracked for classic when snow is sufficient; MN ski pass required.
Starbuck Glacial Lakes State Park 9.6km
320-239-2860 (WH, P, B) Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic, rolling hills, ski around Mountain Lake and over and around kettles, kames and esters formed thousands of years ago by glaciers, MN ski pass required.
Wabasha Richard Dorer State Forest - Kruger Unit 4.8km
507-285-7176 (P, B) Mostly intermediate, groomed classic, ski along creek, MN ski pass required.
Waterville Sakatah Lake State Park 8km
507-362-4438 (P, B) Intermediate to advanced, ski the challenging hills near Upper Sakatah Lake, MN ski pass required.
Watson Lac qui Parle State Park 8km
320-734-4450 (P, B) Beginner, groomed and flat, stunning views of Lac qui Parle Lake, MN ski pass required.
Winona Great River Bluffs State Park 16.3km
507-643-6849 (P, B) Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic with 1.6 km skate ski, sledding hill, overlooks of Mississippi River Valley, MN ski pass required.
Winona Saint Mary's University 14.5km
507-452-4430 (WH, P, B) Mostly intermediate to advanced with some flat terrain for beginners, groomed classic and skate ski, hardwood forest, old apple orchard, Gilmore creek, some of the best trails in southern Minnesota, tucked in valley behind school, trails run along the northern slopes of the valley, increasing their difficulty while protecting them from the sun.
Sources: Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Nordic Ski Association, Skinnyski & Individual Trails
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