Central Trail area Bearskin and Golden Eagle area trail systems

Upper Gunflint area: all double tracked trails have been packed and rolled. too many exposed rocks to use the piston bully groomer. it's supposed to snow every day this week so every little bit helps.
guests with their own skis have been out and report the snow to be wonderful but the skiing is "troublesome" due to rocks.

Single track trails (South Rim and Magnetic Rock) need LOTS of snow. people have been known to use backcountry skis on these trails. plus, people snowshoe the magnetic rock trail so it's somewhat crazy to be setting a ski track.

Banadad info the Banadad is part of the state trail system so the MN state ski pass is required for this trail.

Gunflint Trail ski trail report lists most of the trails in the GT area, the Pincushion system, and info on snowmobile trail conditions.

the snow depth isn't accurate, not sure who keeps up the site. best to call any of the area resorts to get the most up to date info and when ski passes will be required.

Gunflint Lake Area Ski Trail Conditions 1-1-2014

Trail Base – 6-9 inches
Snow in woods – 20 inches
Total Snowfall for the season – 41.5 inches
Last Grooming day 12-29-2013
New snow last 24 hrs – 0
New snow last 7 days – 4.75 inches
Km groomed classic – 65 k
Km groomed Skating – 30k
Trail conditions – hard packed powder – trails are fast with the last few days of well below zero temps.

All trails are open except for Amperage and South Rim. Ski conditions are really good for this time of year. Cold Temps are in the forecast for the next few days with Friday and Saturday back into the teens.

Forecast for next snow: Friday and Saturday are calling for 60%

Trail Passes can be purchased at Gunflint Lodge, Gunflint Pines Resort and Hestons Lodge.

Hoping to make it up there the end of the month! Thanks for the updates.

Awesome area in the winter,many people don't know what they are missing.

Also no bug spray needed.

BANADAD SKI TRAIL - MN state trail pass required

DATE: January 6, 2014
SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 17"
COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 8"
NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: trace"
NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 6-8"
GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: 41 Kilometers- entire Banadad Trail System open and traced;
LAST DAY GROOMED: January 4
SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles of trail open- Some slush on Swamp Lake

Comment- very cold; -35 this morning with some wind; do not recommend skiing entire Banadad today.

Are these trails groomed for skate skiing or just classical?

I would say the banadad is classic due to it being very narrow and groomed with a single track machine.

the upper gunflint trails maintained by gunflint lodge, gunflint pines and hestons are groomed for both.

the mid-gunflint maintained by golden eagle and bearskin are even wider and have a skating lane in the middle, I believe. I've never skied that system.

grooming is done using a piston bully machine.



not all trails are groomed for skating, however we do have people that skate anyway and their tracks cut into the classic track. I've seen people skating on the lake, especially those ski-joring.

Gunflint Lake Area Ski Trail Conditions 1-8-2014

Trail Base – 6-9 inches
Snow in woods – 24 inches
Total Snowfall for the season – 47.5 inches
Last Grooming day 1/4/2014
New snow last 24 hrs – Trace
New snow last 7 days – 6.0
Km groomed classic – 65 k
Km groomed Skating – 30k
Trail conditions – hard packed – trails are fast with the last week of well below zero temps.

All trails are open except for Amperage and South Rim. Ski conditions are really good for this time of year. Last Grooming day was Jan 4th, Big Pine, Little Pine and Lonely Lake. all will be groomed and track set by the end Thursday afternoon. Snow and above zero temps are in the forecast for the weekend.

For more information and ski passes contact Gunflint Lodge, Gunflint Pines Resort and Heston’s Lodge.

Thanks for the updates.

we got LOTS of snow last night and today and it's still snowing. I shoveled at least 6 inches off my steps. it's pretty warm, too, was 15 degrees this morning at 5am. this evening the wind has picked up a bit.
I'm guessing one of the groomers will be out tomorrow to try to get the whole system tracked again. however, the forecast is for more snow.

Gunflint Lake Area Ski Trail Conditions 1-31-2014

Trail Base – 9-12 inches
Snow in woods – 26 inches
Total Snowfall for the season – 61 inches
Last Grooming day 1/31/2014
New snow last 24 hrs – 0
New snow last 7 days - .5
Km groomed classic – 65 k
Km groomed Skating – 30k
Trail conditions – hard packed – trails are fast.

All trails are open. Last Grooming day was Jan 31st. The forecast for this next week is in the single digits during the day, almost a heat wave, but nicer then the well below zero temps over the last month. Trails are in great shape. Be on the lookout for Lynx tracks which have been a common site throughout the winter so far. Might want your camera at the ready, you just never know.

For more information and ski passes contact Gunflint Lodge, Gunflint Pines Resort and Heston’s Lodge.

Thanks again,
hope to get up soon,longer days are coming and temperature highs like the mid-20's would be perfect.
Really,I have been skiing around home,even on these cold days,once you get moving,I haven't got cold at all this year. A little face mask and goggles on a couple of those windy days.
I really think some of the summer only folks should at least try a snowshoe trip or skiis,especially soon with better weather coming some day.

Gunflint Lake Area Ski Trail Conditions 2-8-2014

Trail Base – 9-12 inches
Snow in woods – 27 inches
Total Snowfall for the season – 62 inches
Last Grooming day 2/1/2014
New snow last 24 hrs – 0
New snow last 7 days – 1”
Km groomed classic – 65 k
Km groomed Skating – 30k
Trail conditions – hard packed – trails are fast.

All trails are open. Last Grooming day was Feb 1st. The next couple weeks just might end up being the best time of this winter. The forecast is calling for slightly warmer temps, which just might put this deep freeze behind us. The Trails are in great shape, hard packed and fast. Grooming will be done as need over the next couple weeks. For more information and ski passes contact Gunflint Lodge, Gunflint Pines Resort and Heston’s Lodge.

Upper Gunflint system:

Trail Base – 15 plus inches
Snow in woods – 28-35 inches
Total Snowfall for the season – 84 inches
Last Grooming day 2/23/2014
New snow last 24 hrs – Trace
New snow last 7 days – 13”
Km groomed classic – 65 k
Km groomed Skating – 30k
Trail conditions –Great!!

All trails are open. Last Grooming day was March 1. For more information and ski passes contact Gunflint Lodge, Gunflint Pines Resort and Heston’s Lodge.

Won't be long?