Good evening everybody. I am thinking about heading North of the cities this weekend for maybe Saturday and Sunday to do some cross country skiing with my wife and our daughter or some ice fishing. Does anyone have some good suggestions of where to go that might not be very crowded. We would be bringing our 4 legged mutt with us also but she likes the Winter and snow. Thanks in advance

Cross country ski to the middle of the lake and then ice fish.

Once you are about 200 miles north of the Twin Cities, the landscape is very nice. Lots of public lands and countless lakes. Most have public access. Take your pick.

Captn Tony: "Cross country ski to the middle of the lake and then ice fish."

...good idea. Ha. Anywhere accessible in BWCA After this week's snowstorm

Captn Tony: "Cross country ski to the middle of the lake and then ice fish."

...good idea. Ha. Anywhere accessible in BWCA After this week's snowstorm

tommybanzai: "

Captn Tony: "Cross country ski to the middle of the lake and then ice fish."

...good idea. Ha. Anywhere accessible in BWCA After this week's snowstorm"

Lots of lakes off the Gunflint Trail...

Its like a short trip I would put emphasis on skiing,so many good trails available or make your own. Yes you can throw your ice stuff in also.
Some need a ski pass,many do not.

It's not quite clear whether you meant that you're planning to go to the BWCA or somewhere outside it. Inside the Wilderness this obviously isn't an issue, but keep in mind that most cross-country ski trails outside of it ban dogs from them, so bringing the mutt along severely limits where you're allowed to ski (super annoying). For USFS trails that do allow dogs, there is a 1.6-mile round-trip out-and-back trail by Carlton Peak in Tofte, a 3.4-mile "lolipop" up the road at the Moose Fence area, a 2.0-mile loop at George Washington Pines near Grand Marais, and several longer options in the Kawishiwi District around Ely. In state parks, you can use the trails marked for fat biking at Split Rock Lighthouse and Jay Cooke. If you're willing to break your own trail, you can go on ungroomed trails such as those at Moose Lake (all), Banning (all), Wild River (only the Sunrise Trail and Loop north of the campground), or William O'Brien (only the Southern loop between Ostrum and Broadway).

Thanks Tony