Central Minnesota Ski Trails
The state parks, forests, wetlands and private resorts in the heart of the state offer a ski experience ranging from remote to all-inclusive.
Aitkin
Alexandria
Lake Brophy County Park: 5km
Intermediate, groomed skate ski trails (no classic tracks) that climb and descend through the hills of the park. Catch great views of Alexandria and the surrounding chain of lakes. Be aware that the park terrain consists of open prairie hills, so wind chill can be a factor. Expect lots of traffic on the trails in this very popular park.
Map Note: Ski trails follow the black dotted line on this linked map.
Battle Lake
Beginner to intermediate, classic trails on rolling hills over prairie and northern hardwoods that pass several lakes. Weekend shelter with fireplace, camper cabins. Ski and snowshoe rentals. MN Ski Pass required. More about the park
Becker
Becker City Park: 4.4 km
Rated intermediate, these trails, made up of three loops, travel through a dense oak forest with a few steep hills. Trails are groomed flat with track set in the middle. Flat groomed area is open to walking, snowshoeing and fatbiking. This system connects to trails at Oak Savanna Park, adjacent to Becker City Park. Park in the lot just off Highway 23, north of Becker. Porta Potties are available. Weather permitting, trails are groomed twice a week. No MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Oak Savanna Park: 3.8 km
The trails at this park are rated beginner to intermediate and consist of a couple of very small loops and one large, main loop. The landscape is a mix of woods and prairie with flat areas and a few long hills. Trails are groomed flat with track set in the middle. Flat groomed area is open to walking, snowshoeing and fatbiking. This system connects to trails at Becker city park, adjacent to Oak Savanna. Park at the Sherburne County History Center, where bathrooms are available during open hours. Weather permitting, trails are groomed twice a week. No MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Pebble Creek Golf Club: 7 km
Two distinct loops of flat and open trails on a golf course, rated beginner to intermediate. Nordic and skate ski trails are side by side. Flat groomed area is also open to walking, snowshoeing and fatbiking. The east (4.4 km) and west (2.6 km) are separated by Sherburne Ave SE, but connected via a tunnel under the road. Park at Becker Community Center or Pebble Creek Golf Club. Club house restaurant and restrooms are accessible during business hours. Weather permitting, trails are groomed twice a week. No MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Other Sherburne County multi-use trails suitable for skate skiing (no tracks) are located at Island View Regional Park in Clear Lake and Grams Regional Park in Zimmerman.
Read about a ski trip to Becker
Brainerd
French Rapids: 9.5km
Expert only. Well-groomed and challenging trails in glaciated area with great views of Mississippi River Valley. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Northland Arboretum: 20km
Beginner to intermediate, classic and skate ski with nearly 5 km lighted trail. A trail fee applies.
Map/Info
Pine Beach Trails: 30km
Mostly beginner to intermediate with some advanced loops. Varied terrain through pine and hardwood forest around several scenic lakes. Trail links Kavanaugh’s, Madden’s and Cragun’s resorts. Ski rentals at Cragun’s. MN ski pass required.
Map
Brandon
Chippewa County Park: 1.6km
Info
Carlos
Intermediate, groomed classic only, rolling terrain through tamarack bog, marshes, woodland ponds and lakes. The park has a rustic warming shelter with a wood burning stove. MN Ski Pass required. More about the park
Map
Clearwater
Warner Lake Park: 6km
Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic through woods with some challenging hills. 41-acre site surrounding Warner Lake.
Map
Collegeville
Saint John’s Arboretum: 19km
Beginner to advanced classic and skate loops through the wooded hills of the Saint John’s University campus. Stone Gate Loop (4.6km) and the Old Saint Joe Road (1.5km out and back) are classic only. Langlauf (0.7km) and Zicke-Zacke (1.8km) are skate only. The rest of the system is both side by side. One notable feature is one hill on the Pine Knob Loop. Nicknamed “Misere Nobis” (Latin for “Have mercy on us”) it presents a 100-foot climb over a short distance. Trails are free and open to the public. Donations can be made here.
Info
Map
Cross Lake
Easy to advanced series of interconnected loops starting at the Crosslake Community Center.
Map
Deerwood
Intermediate to advanced skate and classic in varied terrain with a mix of hardwood and mature pines. Passes by Larson Lake.
Map
Elk River
Woodland Trails Regional Park: 15km
Beginner to advanced, groomed skate and classic ski trails with many loops. Maintained by Elk River Nordic Ski Club. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Erhard
All levels. Groomed classic and skate through 340 acres of hardwoods and prairie near Maplewood State Park. Privately owned. Fee applies. Ski and snowshoe rentals.
Map
Ironton
Beginner to advanced, groomed classic with challenging hills through hardwood forest and mature pine. Shelter along trail, maps at intersections.
Map
Kensington
Andes Tower Hills Ski Area: 15km
All levels of classic and skate through forest and around lakes.
Adjacent to downhill ski area with 1.5km lit trail. Ski rentals available. A fee applies.
Map
Rune Stone Park: 12km
Map
Little Falls
Beginner trail, groomed with two parallel tracks, with gentle hills. Trail follows Platte River, skirts around several wetlands, winds through mixed hardwoods, crosses fields restored with prairie grasses. Waterfowl observation deck along trail overlooking Skunk Lake.
Map
Long Prairie
This series of interconnecting loops over easy, wooded terrain is on private property, but open to the public. Depending on conditions it’s groomed flat for skate skiing, single or double tracked. From Long Prairie go south on HWY 71, then west on County Rd 10. Turn north on Ginseng Road and the parking area will be on the left after about 1/4 of a mile.
McGregor
Beginner to Intermediate classic ski trail within Savanna State Forest offers a wilderness-like experience. Connects to Savanna Portage State Park trails. MN Ski Pass required.
Info
Savanna Portage State Park: 16km
Beginner to intermediate groomed classic tracks on rolling hills throughout the park. Connects with Remote Lake Trail near Loon Lake. This connector trail has some steep sections. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Milaca
City of Milaca trails are groomed single track. Park at Recreation Park and take the pedestrian bridge over the Rum River to access the trails. Trails are used for mountain biking in the warmer months.
Map/Info
Miltona
97-acre park with gentle wooded hills through tamarack.
MN Ski Pass required.
Map
New London
Intermediate to advanced with hills and curves. Ski to the top of Mt. Tom for the best view of the countryside. 4km skate ski trails. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Nisswa
All levels over three loops, groomed for classic. through 360 acres of pines, prairie and wetland at The Pines golf course.
Info
Onamia
Beginner to advanced, several loops through wooded terrain.
Ski rentals available. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Palisade
Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic ski trails through rustic forest.The conservation center building is open weekdays during business hours. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Pelican Rapids
Intermediate to advanced, four loops of classic ski through hardwood forest, over hills and around many lakes. Additional 8km backcountry trail. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Pierz
Golf Course Trail: 4km
Two easy loops on the grounds of the municipal golf course.
Map
Pine River
Beginner to advanced skiing around Deer and Cut Lake. Trails are used for mountain biking in the warmer months
Map
Rice
Mississippi River County Park: 6km
All beginner trails, groomed for classic skiing right along the Mississippi River.
Map
Saint Cloud
Beginner to intermediate with a few challenging hills. Many loops through scenic woods, pastures and apple orchards. Maintained by the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Riverside Park
Beginner to intermediate trails with flat to rolling hills along the Mississippi River near downtown St. Cloud.
Map
Saint Joseph
Kramer Lake-Wildwood County Park: 6km
Beginner to advanced. Six classic ski loops that wind through a wooded setting. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Sauk Centre
Groomed classic and skate ski trails next to the Sauk River. Rated easy to moderate with cut-offs to avoid the few hills.
Map
Spicer
Beginner to advanced, groomed classic and skate. Trails within 500 acre environmental learning center campus with woodland and prairie scenery and abundant wildlife. Rentals available. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Wadena
Beginner to advanced, classic ski trails that wind through a scenic wooded setting along Oak Creek. Some areas are groomed for fat bikes. Trails are used for mountain biking during the warmer months.
Map
Waite Park
Beginner to intermediate with a skating loop and classic loops. Ski past granite quarries and rock piles on lighted trails. Well-marked trail system has separate trails for skiing, hiking and fat biking. A 323-acre State Scientific and Natural Area within park offers an additional 5km of ungroomed, rustic trail. Quarry Park parking pass required. Trails are open to mountain biking during the warmer months.
Map
Willmar
Groomed, classic and skate trails for beginners on Eagle Creek Golf Course. Restaurant and bathrooms available during business hours. MN ski pass required.
Zimmerman
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge: 5km
Mahnomen Trail inside the refuge consists of several easy loops and is groomed when conditions allow. Trails are shared with hikers and snowshoers. Parking lot with vault toilet Located off of Sherburne County Road 9, about 1.5 miles west of County Road 42.
Map/Info