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Twin Cities Metro Ski Trails

The many communities that make up the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul provide an extensive network of well-groomed cross-country ski trails. Many regional parks make snow and offer skiing whether it actually snows or not. Twin Cities area ski clubs meet regularly for fun, training and competition.

 

Annandale

Stanley Eddy Regional Park-South: 5km

Scenic, rolling hills, lakes and marshes in a densely wooded area. Trail is groomed for skate and classic skiing. Stanley Eddy Regional Park is made up of three distinct parcels with separate entrances. Skiing is at the south unit only. The north unit has snowshoe trails. No MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Stanley Eddy Regional Park Ski Trails Stanley Eddy Regional Park Ski Trails

Anoka

Anoka Nature Preserve: 5km

Flat and easy trail loops through stands of oak trees and open areas. Trail is groomed flat and is open to walking, fat tire bikes and skate skiing. A good trail for the novice.
Map

Anoka Nature Preserve Ski Trails

 

Greenhaven Golf Course: 5km

Skate and double-tracked, classic groomed trails through rolling golf course hills and trees. Trails are only open when groomed and posted as open. Golf course building and restroom is open during regular business hours.
Map

 

Bloomington

Hyland Lake Park Reserve: 15km

Intermediate to expert, groomed, classic and skate trails over rolling hills and prairie. 8km lighted trail. 5k with snow making. Ski Chalet serves as a warming house and offers ski rentals. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
Map

Hyland Lake Park Ski Trails Hyland Lake Park Ski Trails

Burnsville

Alimagnet Park: 6km

Short and flat beginner trails. All trails are multi-use and allow walking, snowshoeing and skijoring.
Map

Terrace Oaks Park: 10.9km

Beginner to expert. Groomed, classic ski trails through heavily wooded, hilly areas. Chalet available as a warming house on weekends.
Map

Cambridge

Spirit River Nature Area: 5-8 km

Beginner classic and skate ski trails through prairie, deciduous forest, and wetlands. Parking and restrooms at Anoka Ramsey Community College.
Map

Springvale County Park: 4 km

Classic ski trails on gently rolling hills through open fields and hardwood forests within a 200-acre park. There are also 3.5 miles of fatbike and 1 mile of walking trail. Restrooms in the parking lot. No MN Ski Pass needed.
Map

Becklin Homestead Park: 4.8 km

Classic ski trails for beginners in a 294-acre park on the Rum River with mixed oak forest, prairie, wetlands and old growth pines. Ski trails are side by side with packed walking trails. Restrooms in the parking lot. No MN Ski Pass needed.
Map

Chanhassen

Lake Minnewashta Regional Park: 8km

8km Classic ski trails through 340-acre park on the shores of Lake Minnewashta. Ski rentals available.
Map

Chaska

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: 13km

Six loops of classic-only ski trails through the 1,200-acre arboretum grounds. Snowshoeing trails are also available. Oswald Visitor Center has rentals, restrooms, snowshoe rentals and a gift store. The Arboretum Cafe is open all week.
Map

Cokato

Collinwood Regional Park: 5.8km

Intermediate, groomed, classic trail on open fields with some wooded areas. No MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Coon Rapids

Bunker Hills Regional Park: 20km

Intermediate trail loops on flat to slightly hilly terrain. Rental skis available. Warm up inside the Bunker Hills Activity Center on weekdays. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Bunker Hills Ski Trails Bunker Hills Ski Trails

 

Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park: 10km

Beginner to intermediate trails on relatively flat terrain along Mississippi River. Rentals available at Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center on weekends. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Cottage Grove

Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park: 8km

Intermediate to advanced skate and classic trails with some steep slopes and heavily wooded ravines. An additional 9km of trails are multi-use and open to winter biking, snowshoeing, walking and skijoring. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Dalbo

Dalbo County Park: 1.6km

Classic Ski trails in a 40-acre park with stands of white pine. Four sections of board walk complete a loop around wetlands. Ski trails are side by side with packed walking trails. Restrooms in the parking lot. No MN Ski Pass needed.
Map

Eagan

Lebanon Hills Regional Park: 29km

Beginner to advanced trails, groomed for classic skiing. Trails wind through the hilly, wooded countryside and around scenic lakes and ponds. This large park is split into a western section with 3.8km skate and 6.6 km classic skiing and an eastern section with 19km classic only. Ski rentals available. Dakota County ski pass required.
Map

Eden Prairie

Staring Lake Park: 4km

classic trail on the south side of Staring Lake. Warming house with bathrooms is available when the adjacent sledding hill is open. No MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Falcon Heights

Les Bolstad Golf Course: 6km

Three skate and classic loops starting and ending at the golf course club house. Trails groomed by U of M Outdoor Adventures. A trail fee applies.
Info

Farmington

Whitetail Woods Regional Park: 7km

Intermediate trails around Empire Lake. Connects with Lone Rock Trail in Rosemount. Camper cabins and fire rings available. Dakota County ski pass required.
Map

Hastings

Afton State Park: 19km

A variety of groomed, classic loops with trail shelters overlooking the St. Croix River near Afton Alps Ski Resort. Heated Visitors center has parking and bathrooms. The park also has snowshoe trails. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Spring Lake Park Reserve: 8km

Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic (5.4km) and skate (2.6km) ski trails. Schaar’s Bluff offers views of the Mississippi River Valley. Dakota County ski pass required.
Map

St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park: 12.5km

Beginner to intermediate, groomed trails on the wild and scenic St. Croix River. The east and south loops offer a combined 10km of double tracked classic skiing, while the west loop has 2.5 km of side by side skate and classic single track. Washington County Ski Pass required.
Map

Isanti

Wayside Prairie County Park: 3.2km

Classic ski trail in an 80-acre park with woods, prairie and marshes. A scenic overlook allows views of a fen and a lake. Ski trails are side by side with packed walking trails. Restrooms in the parking lot. No MN Ski Pass needed.
Map

Lake Elmo

Lake Elmo Park Reserve: 19.5km

Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails on gently rolling hills offering a variety of experiences and challenges. Some lighted trails. Nordic Center has bathrooms and vending machines. Washington County Ski Pass required.
Map

Sunfish Lake Park: 7-9km

All skill levels. Camel Back provides some fun hills, but Oak Run is particularly exciting. Morgan Lane offers beautiful view of a pond from a birch-lined ridge.
Info

Lakeville

Ritter Farm Park Ski Trail: 9km

Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate ski with hills through the woods. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Lino Lakes

Chomonix Golf Course: 10km

Beginner to intermediate trails on flat terrain. Rent skis at Chomonix Golf Course club house on weekends. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Maple Grove

Elm Creek Park Reserve: 18km

Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate trails. Some of the best ski trails in the metro area with fantastic night skiing on over 5km of lighted trails and a 2.5 km loop with snowmaking. Elm Creek Chalet offers ski rentals, snack bar, and woodstove. 
Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
Map

Elm Creek Park Ski Trails Elm Creek Park Ski Trails Elm Creek Park Ski Trails Elm Creek Park Ski Trails

Maple Lake

Robert Ney Memorial Park Reserve: 16.5km

Intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails over small hills and flat areas. Nature Center offers rentals weekends January-March. No MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Maple Plain

Baker Park Reserve: 14.5km

Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate trails through woods and meadows. Ski rentals, warming house, and snack bar at Chalet. 
Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
Map

Baker Park Ski Trails

Maplewood

Battle Creek Regional Park East: 6km

Beginner to intermediate classic ski trail through mature woods. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required. West section is in St. Paul.
Map

Marine on St. Croix

Big Marine Park Reserve: 1.9km

Two classic, groomed, easy loops along Big Marine Lake. An additional 2.5km loop is open to winter biking, walking and skijoring. Washington County Ski Pass required.
Map

William O’Brien State Park: 19km

Multi-trail system, for all skill levels of classic and skate skiers with views of St. Croix River. Wetland Trail for beginners and Prairie Overlook for the more advanced. Heated trail center has a wood stove. Annual candlelight ski. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Minneapolis

Chain of Lakes Regional Park: 10.7km

Groomed, beginner-friendly flat trails around Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles. Connects with Theodore Wirth Park trails to the north.  Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) Pass required.
Map

Columbia Golf Course: 3.5km

Groomed, classic and skate trails on rolling golf course hills. Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) Pass required.
Map

Hiawatha Regional Park: 4km

Groomed, classic and skate trails on rolling golf course hills with a view of the Minneapolis skyline. Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) Pass required.
Map

Theodore Wirth Regional Park: 23km

Beginner to advanced, groomed, classic and skate ski trails. 3km lighted trails. One of the largest venues with snow making capabilities in the Twin Cities features some incredible hills on the north while the south side is primarily flat. Connects to Chain of Lakes Regional Park trails to the south. Ski rentals available. Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) Pass required.
Map/Info

Minnetonka

Glen Lake Golf Center: 2.4km

Groomed, classic and skate trails through rolling golf course hills. Rentals and concessions available at the clubhouse. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
Map

Monticello

Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park: 3.5km

Great beginner trail through pines next to the Mississippi River. Groomed classic ski only. No MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Harry Larson County Forest: 3.2km

Intermediate, classic ski only. Close to Lake Maria State Park. No MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Lake Maria State Park: 10km

Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic trails through rolling terrain, wooded areas, old growth forest areas and past lakes and ponds. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Lake Maria State Park Skiing

Moundsview

Rice Creek Regional Trail: 4.7km

Groomed trails for classic and skate ski from easy to difficult. Park at Irondale High School after 3:30 pm weekdays and daylight hours all other days. Saint Paul/Ramsey County Mutual ski pass required.
Map

North Branch

Wild River State Park: 48km

Beginner (22km), intermediate (25km) and advanced (5km) trails along the St. Croix River. 27km are combined classic and skate ski. Heated trail center has rentals available. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Irving and John Anderson County Park: 6.4km

Easy classic ski trails in a 400-acre park with hardwoods, prairie and wetlands. Trails skirt both Horseshoe and Horseleg Lakes. Ski trails are side by side with packed walking trails and there’s 3.2km of skijoring trail. Restrooms in the parking lot. No MN Ski Pass needed.
Map

Norwood Young America

Baylor Regional Park: 5km

Classic ski trails around marshes along the shores of Eagle Lake in a 200-acre park. Includes a 1/4-mile boardwalk. Ski rentals available.
Map

Otsego

Otsego Regional Park: 3km

Beginner trails alongside paved park trails on the Misissippi River. Tracks are set when sufficient snow is available, otherwise they’re groomed flat. No MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Plymouth

Eagle Lake Regional Park: 5km

Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails through woods and meadows. Fat Biking and skijoring allowed on skate lanes. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
Map

French Regional Park: 8km

Variety of terrains from beginner to advanced. Groomed, classic and skate trails over rolling hills. 4.5km of lighted trails attract many after-work skiers. Rentals and concessions are available at the visitor center. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
Map

French Regional Park Ski Trails

Prior Lake

Cleary Lake Regional Park: 9.5km

Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails. Visitor center with ski rentals, vending machine and fireplace. 4.5 km lighted trail. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
Map

Ramsey

Rum River Central Regional Park: 8km

8km Beginner to intermediate skate and classic trail loops. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Richfield

Wood Lake Nature Center: 3.2 km

Groomed cross-country ski trails circling Wood Lake in a 150-acre nature preserve. The trails wind through three different habitats: cattail marsh, mixed lowland forest, and restored prairie. Ski and snowshoe rentals available.
Map

Rosemount

Lone Rock Trail: 18km

Intermediate trails groomed for both classic and skate ski on gently rolling terrain through woods, agricultural land and wetlands in UMore Park. Connects with trails at Whitetail Woods Regional Park.
Map/Info

Saint Paul

Battle Creek Regional Park West: 5km

Intermediate to advanced classic and skate trails. 1.7k lighted trail. Equipment rentals are available. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required. East section is in Maplewood.
Map

Como Park: 5km

Intermediate to advanced classic and skate trails. 1.7k lighted trail. Equipment rentals are available. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required.
Map

Fort Snelling State Park: 19km

Skier near the Mendota Bridge at Fort Snelling State Park

Skier near the Mendota Bridge

The park offers flat multi-use trails which are shared by skiers, hikers and fat bikers. The Pike Island Loop with its views of the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers is the only trail groomed just for skiing. Visitor center serves as a warming house. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Highland 9 Golf Course: 3.5km

Beginner to intermediate classic and skate trail loop. There’s a fat bike trail around the perimeter of the golf course. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required.
Map

Phalen Golf Course: 7km

Intermediate classic and skate trails, open and fairly flat. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required.
Map

Highland National Golf Course: 5km

3km beginner loop is double tracked for classic ski and groomed for skate skiing. 2km intermediate loop is single tracked for classic and groomed for skate skiing. Chalet serves as a warming house. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required.
Map

Savage

Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve: 14.5km

Some of the most exciting and challenging trails in the metro. Groomed, classic and skate trails. Trailhead building serves as a warming area on weekends. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
Map

Shoreview

Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park (Grass Lake section): 3km

Beginner, classic two-way trails through woods and marshes. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required.
Map

Stanchfield

Vegsund Family County Park: 3.2km

Classic ski trail in an 80-acre park with woods, prairie and wetlands. Scenic overlooks allow views of Lake Seventeen. Ski trails are side by side with packed walking trails. Restrooms in the parking lot. No MN Ski Pass needed.
Map

Stillwater

Brown’s Creek Nature Preserve: 4.5km

Beginner classic and skate trails on moderate hills shared with hikers. MN Ski Pass required.
Map

Pine Point Regional Park: 6.5km

Beginner to intermediate trails groomed for classic ski only. This small park near the end of the Gateway Trail has beautiful scenery with trails winding through large pine plantation, by small lakes and picturesque farms. Washington County Ski Pass required.
Map

Vadnais Heights

Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park (Vadnais/Sucker Lakes section): 8km

Beginner to intermediate, classic two-way trails on moderate hills through woods with lake views. Sucker Lake loop is north of County Road F, Vadnais Lake loop (double-tracked out-and-back) is south. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required.
Map

Waconia

Carver Park Reserve: 18km

Beginner to intermediate, groomed, classic and skate trails through hardwood forests and marshlands. Lowry Nature Center offers a warming place and has ski rentals on weekends. Three Rivers Park District ski pass required.
Map

White Bear Lake

Tamarack Nature Center: 8km

Beginner to intermediate, classic-only trails through prairie, woodland, and marsh. Ski rentals and lessons available. 1km practice loop. Saint Paul/Ramsey County mutual ski pass required.
Map

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