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The Rainy Lake Trails Crew and a new snowmobile donated by the Voyageurs Conservancy
NPS / C. Nevalainen
Winter Trails and Frozen Lakes Report
Winter Trails and Frozen Lakes Report
Last Updated: January 15, 2026 Bookmark this page for weekly updates throughout the winter. But keep in mind that conditions often change faster than we can update them.
Warmer temperatures and rainfall have reduced the amount of snow on lake trails and portages over the past week. The melted snow has turned to slush and has refrozen, leaving some hazardous ruts on the trails. Snow drifts can be rock solid, so be careful if you ride off trail. Generally, even with these ruts and solid snow drifts, conditions are good. There is more snow in the forecast, and we are hopeful that conditions will improve over the next few days. Pressure ridges have not moved much this week, but we are monitoring them and cutting down existing ridges where necessary. Crews are working the trails with snowmobile drags this week and hope to focus on beginning operations with a large groomer next week.
***A special thank you to the Voyageurs Conservancy for a huge donation! They replaced two of our old snowmobiles with two brand new ones! This extremely generous donation will allow us to spend more time working on our winter trails, and less time in the shop. Thank you Voyageurs Conservancy!
Always check conditions for yourself before heading out, and remember: ice is never 100% safe.
Snowmobile Trails:
Purple Trail (International Falls to Kettle Falls): Open and staked. Portages to Kettle Falls have not been groomed. Small pressure ridge on the east side of Rainy.
Green Trail: Open All portages have been groomed. rerouted in front of Kab visitor center due to pressure ridge and runs along the ice road in that location. Be aware of snowbanks.
Dashed Black Trail Chain of Lakes: Open- Staked but rough riding. Waiting for more snow to groom.
Yellow Trail Ash River to Kettle Falls: Open- Staked but watch slushy conditions. Crews are still brushing the trail in places. Mica Bay Creek crossing has open water and a bridge has been installed at that location.
Blue Trail East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake: CLOSED- there is a 4 foot pressure ridge that has prevented work. We hope to cut down the ridge next week, and install the trail.
Ice Roads Updates:
Rainy Lake Ice Road: The road is plowed up to Garrett’s Cabin, and a parking lot has been cleared at the Black Bay Ski Trail.
Kabetogama Ice Road: Entrance on Kabetogama has been moved from visitor center parking lot to Gappa Landing
ICE ROADS
Rainy Lake Ice Road: Open to Garrett
Rainy Lake Dryweed Loop: CLOSED
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road: Open - Kabetogama entrance has been moved from Visitor Center to Gappa Landing due to pressure ridge.
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 - packed not tracked, ridge trail not packed or tracked
Tilson Connector Trail: Open - packed not 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- groomed
