Cross Country Ski Trails Are Now Open In Duluth

Wow!  Did we wait a long time for this sport to open.  It's right up there with snowmobiling, sledding and snowshoeing.  Cross country ski trails in the City of Duluth are open for your enjoyment, just in time for the week-end!

Parks and Recreation has announced four of the six cross country ski trails are groomed and ready for skiing. The City of Duluth has 55 kilometers of skiing on six cross county ski trials. These trails provide a great skiing experience for every level of skier and pass through beautiful forest with tremendous views of Lake Superior and the St. Louis River valley. For current information on trail conditions, call the City of Duluth Ski Hotline at 218-730-4321.

City of Duluth Cross Country Ski Trails:

Hartley Ski Trail: Groomed tomorrow 3/2/2012. There are three access points to the Hartley trails. The Hartley Nature Center parking lot, Fairmont Street, off Woodland Avenue and the intersection of Hartley and Woodhaven, off Arrowhead Road.  There is a double looped 5.0 km ski trail that is groomed for traditional cross-country skiing at beginning and intermediate levels.

Chester Bowl Ski Trail: Open and groomed. Chester Bowl is located just off Skyline Parkway at 16th Avenue East in the center of Duluth. A 3.1 km loop groomed for traditional cross country skiing.

Lester/Amity Ski Trail: Open and groomed. 18 km of trails groomed for both traditional and skate-style skiing. Every evening a 5.0 km loop is lit from dusk to 11:00 PM. To reach Lester/Amity, drive east on Superior Street to Lester River Road, left on Lester River Road, parking lot is a block up on the left.

Magney-Snively Ski Trail: Groomed tomorrow 3/2/2012. The trail network consists of 15km of trails that are cut through beautiful hardwood forest. Groomed for both traditional and skate-style skiing. Access to the trail by traveling west on Skyline Drive two miles past Spirit Mountain. Parking lot is 1/4 mile beyond the old stone bridge.

Piedmont Ski Trail: Open and groomed. The ski trail is a 5 km double tracked loop that is appropriate for traditional skiers of all levels and include some scenic overlooks of the St. Louis River valley. Take Piedmont Avenue to Hutchinson Road (two blocks up from the six-corner intersection). Turn left on Hutchinson Road and follow to Adirondack Street. Trail starts on the left of Hutchinson Road.

Two other cross country skiing options in Duluth are Spirit Mountain which has a one, three and five kilometer trail (Groomed) and a 11 K trail which will be groomed tomorrow (3/2/2012) and Snowflake which is located off of Rice Lake Road.

The Great MN Ski Pass is required for skiers age 16+ on trails that receive funding through the DNR Grants-in-Aid system. Passes are available online, from DNR licensing locations, and at state parks. For more information:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html

In order to help maintain good skiing conditions for the fun and safety of all skiers, users of the ski trails are requested to follow good trail etiquette.

Ski in the indicated direction

Leave pets at home

Hikers and dogs are not allowed on groomed trails

Try to fill any holes and smooth track if you should fall

Maps for each trail are available on the City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Division web site at www.duluthmn.gov/parks or the Parks and Recreation office located at 12 East 4th Street, Monday-Friday 8:00-4:00 PM.

Info via: City of Duluth Press Release