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Fergus Falls is the gateway to the scenic Central Lakes State Trail.

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

No Achen Trail: 11.3km

Beginner to advanced, groomed classic and skate trails through rustic forest. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Vispo Ski Trail: 3.5km

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

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
Glendalough State Park: 13km

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

Glendalough State Park Skiing

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

Northland Arboretum Ski Trails Northland Arboretum Ski Trails Northland Arboretum Ski Trails Northland Arboretum Ski Trails Northland Arboretum Ski Trails

 

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

Groomed, beginner ski trails about two miles north of Brandon. The trails wind through the campground and woods among lakes. The area has some small hills, but is overall level. A very quiet spot if you want to ski in solitude
Info
Carlos
Lake Carlos State Park: 9.5km

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

Lake Carlos State Park Skiing

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
Nordic Ridge Ski Trail: 9km

Easy to advanced series of interconnected loops starting at the Crosslake Community Center.
Map

Deerwood
Larson Lake Ski Trails: 11.6km

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

Woodland Trails Ski Trails Woodland Trails Ski Trails Woodland Trails Ski Trails Woodland Trails Ski Trails

Erhard
Spidahl’s Ski Gaard: 24km

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
Wolf Lake Ski Trail: 9km

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

Intermediate loops around several lakes at Kensington Runestone Park, groomed for classic skiing. Visitor Center with rest rooms is open as a warming house daily from 8am to 10pm. This park also has groomed fat bike trails that can be snowshoed. MN Ski Pass required.
Map
Little Falls
Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: 5.6km

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

Crane Meadows Ski Trail Crane Meadows Ski Trail Crane Meadows Ski Trail Crane Meadows Ski Trail Crane Meadows Ski Trail

Long Prairie
Faust’s Woods: 4.5km

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
Remote Lake Trail: 19km

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

Remote Lake Ski Trail

 

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

Savanna Portage State Park Skiing

Milaca
Milaca Ski Trails: 8km

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
Spruce Hill Park: 5km

97-acre park with gentle wooded hills through tamarack. 
MN Ski Pass required.
Map

New London
Sibley State Park: 13km

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

Sibley State Park Ski Trails

Nisswa
Grand View Lodge: 8km

All levels over three loops, groomed for classic. through 360 acres of pines, prairie and wetland at The Pines golf course.
Info

Onamia
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park: 32km

Beginner to advanced, several loops through wooded terrain. 
Ski rentals available. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Palisade
Long Lake Conservation Center: 5km

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
Maplewood State Park: 8km

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

Maplewood's camper cabins are just off the ski trails

Pierz

Golf Course Trail: 4km

Two easy loops on the grounds of the municipal golf course.
Map

Pine River
Cut Lake Trail: 16km

Beginner to advanced skiing around Deer and Cut Lake. Trails are used for mountain biking in the warmer months
Map

Cut Lake Ski Trail Cut Lake Ski Trail Cut Lake Ski Trail Cut Lake Ski Trail

 

Rice

Mississippi River County Park: 6km

All beginner trails, groomed for classic skiing right along the Mississippi River.
Map

Saint Cloud
Graystone Trails: 17km

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
High School Trail: 2.25km

Groomed classic and skate ski trails next to the Sauk River. Rated easy to moderate with cut-offs to avoid the few hills.
Map

Sauk Centre Ski Trail Sauk Centre Ski Trail Sauk Centre Ski Trail Sauk Centre Ski Trail

Spicer
Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center: 10km

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
Black’s Grove: 9km

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
Quarry Park and Nature Preserve: 6.3km

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

Quarry Park Ski Trails Quarry Park Ski Trails Quarry Park Ski Trails Quarry Park Ski Trails Skiing at Quarry Park

Willmar
Swan Lake Ski Trails: 5km

Groomed, classic and skate trails for beginners on Eagle Creek Golf Course. Restaurant and bathrooms available during business hours. MN ski pass required.

Willmar Ski Trail Willmar Ski Trail Willmar Ski Trail

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

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