Central Minnesota Ski Trails

Beginner to advanced, groomed classic and skate trails through rustic forest. MN Ski Pass required.
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Vispo Ski Trail: 3.5km

Four interconnected classic loops with a sledding hill about 13 miles southeast of Aitkin. MN Ski Pass required.
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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.

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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

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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

Expert only. Well-groomed and challenging trails in glaciated area with great views of Mississippi River Valley. MN Ski Pass required.
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Northland Arboretum: 11km

Beginner to intermediate, classic and skate ski with nearly 5 km lighted trail. A trail fee applies.
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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.
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Beginner to intermediate, groomed classic through woods with some challenging hills. 41-acre site surrounding Warner Lake.
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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.
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Easy to advanced series of interconnected loops starting at the Crosslake Community Center.
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Beginner to advanced, groomed skate and classic ski trails with many loops. Maintained by Elk River Nordic Ski Club. MN Ski Pass required.
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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.
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Rune Stone Park: 12km

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.
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Spruce Hill Park: 5km

97-acre park with gentle wooded hills through tamarack. 
MN Ski Pass required.
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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.
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Read about a winter trip to Maplewood State Park

Two easy loops on the grounds of the municipal golf course.
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All beginner trails, groomed for classic skiing right along the Mississippi River.
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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.
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Riverside Park: 2.5 km

Beginner to intermediate trails with flat to rolling hills along the Mississippi River near downtown St. Cloud.
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Beginner to advanced. Six classic ski loops that wind through a wooded setting. MN Ski Pass required.
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Groomed classic and skate ski trails next to the Sauk River. Rated easy to moderate with cut-offs to avoid the few hills.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Groomed, classic and skate trails for beginners on Eagle Creek Golf Course. Restaurant and bathrooms available during business hours. MN ski pass required.

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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.
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