Alerts & Conditions

 

Alerts

 
 

Current Conditions

 
yellow snow groomer equipment on tracks grooming snow on a frozen lake.
Grooming the green trail on Black Bay

NPS Photo/Line

Winter Trails Report: January 22nd, 2025

Cold temperatures and a little more snowfall have created better conditions for our winter trails and ice roads. There are now 23 miles of ice roads open in the park, and our crews are continuing to monitor the ice. The Blue Trail from Namakan to Sand Point is now open, while the Purple Trail on Rainy Lake is being checked this week and will hopefully open soon.

If you go out on a frozen lake, be extremely careful near pressure ridges, as they have been expanding over the past few weeks. The Green Trail has been rerouted around the most hazardous areas but be alert and avoid these treacherous spots when possible! They can be difficult to see in low visibility conditions. Land portages are being groomed this week and are in better condition than last week. There is enough snow on the lakes to run snowmobiles without the risk of overheating, though traction is lacking in some places.

Be sure to exercise caution in these and other hazardous areas where the ice is still thin: sand bars, shorelines, and shallow areas. Ice is never 100% safe!

Bookmark this webpage to find weekly winter trail reports and find out which trails across the lakes are closed or open. Scroll to the end of the page for links to other regional trail reports.

 
orange grooming equipment smooths the snow as a snowmobile follows behind on a forest trail
Black Bay portage

NPS Photo/Line

SNOWMOBILE TRAILS
Purple Trail (International Falls to Kettle Falls): CLOSED
Green Trail (Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River): Open Portages will be groomed by this weekend
Green Trail (Ash River to Crane Lake): Open Portages not groomed
Dashed Black Trail Chain of Lakes: Open staked and groomed to Locator Lake
Yellow Trail (Ash River to Kettle Falls): Open
Blue Trail (East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake): Open

ICE ROADS
Rainy Lake Ice Road: Open to Cranberry Bay (13 miles)
Rainy Lake Dryweed Loop: CLOSED
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road: Open from Kab VC to Ash River VC (10 miles)
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road West and East Spur Roads: CLOSED

SKI TRAILS
Echo Bay Ski Trail: Open; packed and tracked
Rainy Lake Rec Trail: Open; packed and tracked
Black Bay Ski Trail: Open; novice loop packed
Tilson Connector Trail: Open; packed and tracked

SNOWSHOE TRAILS
Rainy Lake Recreation Trail: Open
Oberholtzer Trail: Open
Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail: Open
KabAsh Trail: Open
Blind Ash Bay Trail: Open
Sullivan Bay Trail: Open

KABETOGAMA LAKE RECREATION AREA
Sledding Hill: Open
Ice Rink: CLOSED

For information on the land trails in communities nearby check out these links:
Voyageur Trail Society - Trail Updates
International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club Trail Report
Snow Depth and Groomed Trail Conditions | Minnesota DNR
Ash River Kabetogama Snowdrifters Trail Reports
Ash River Kabetogama Snowdrifters Facebook Page
Polar Polers Ski Club Facebook Page
 

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Last updated: January 23, 2025

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Voyageurs National Park Headquarters
360 Hwy 11 East
International Falls, MN 56649

Phone:

(218)-283-6600

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