Skied the Vadnais Lake portion of these trails this morning. They have been tracked, but the base is thin. Use caution on the way out, some portions of the left hand tracks were laid on top of the bike trail and there is pavement poking through in a few spots. Otherwise the trail is in fair shape with just the usual windblown leaves and debris.

(Thomas Gahr)

Stopped by Vadnais Lake to see if the trails had been rolled, or groomed. They had not been touched since the last snow fall and show signs of a lot of foot traffic. Ended up going to Phalen instead.

(Thomas Gahr)

Fair skiing although the afternoon sun softening things up a bit in spots. Rewarded with sighting of swans at the end of Trail.

(Linda Tally)

Skied Sucker Lake side which is groomed with single track from County F to Sucker Creek parking lot. Base is thin but good coverage with only a little debris in the woods. If you want more adventure, take your rock skis to go along 96 to the east side of Sucker Lake where you will encounter ungroomed trail with heavy machinery restoring the Sucker Creek shoreline, hazards on the downhills including large sticks and divots, and gravel on the east side of the bridge. Seeing the large flock of at least 50 trumpeter swans was a real holiday treat!

Photos:

(Mark Oswood)

I walked the trail around Sucker Lake and a little ways down by Lake Vadnais. The groomer has set classic tracks from the County F lot north to the Sucker Lake lot. No grooming on the north end along Hwy 96 nor on the east side of Sucker Lake but plenty of snow coverage and multiple ski tracks since the last dusting. The trail along the east side of Lake Vadnais south of F has been groomed but no tracks have been set.

(Steven Jorissen)