Best classic only track skiing I have seen in the Metro in years. Snow was beautiful, both under ski, and in the trees. The double classic tracks were well set and firm this afternoon. Sun was out, snow was fast -- perfect afternoon. (For some reason there was an unusual number of grade school teachers on the trails).

(Jim Mullin)

Trails in excellent condition. Skied East section and found tracks in great condition. Some evidence of skate skier damaging tracks. Lot of people out enjoying the first real ski of the year at Lebanon.

(Paul Kraus)

The groomer started at dawn in the eastern-most section of the park just south of O'Brien Lake and made his way west (clockwise) past the Holland Lake Trailhead and to the Visitor Center Trailhead. At 10:45 AM he headed back out from the Visitor Center Trailhead south past Marsh Lake. He's moving slower than he'd like because of all the snow, but conditions are excellent (of course they are!). We expect the entire eastern section to be completely groomed by the afternoon and then he'll move on to the center section (between Pilot Knob Road and Johnny Cake Ridge Road). Not many skiers out yet. The Lebanon Hills Visitor Center's cross-country ski rental is opening up today especially for the snow day Noon-5 PM.

Photos:

(Katie Pata, Dakota County Parks)

Groomer reported trails are in poor condition. The wooded sections are holding up a little better than the open areas; however, the number of bare spots are increasing due to the warmer temps. We will wait to groom until we receive additional snow.

(Beth Landahl, Dakota County Parks)

Skied the skate-ski (western) section of Lebanon Hills - the one not tracked for classic and interlaced with the MTB and hiking trails. It is possible to ski it - but with a fair bit of caution. The coverage is near-total, but the peaks of the many rocks on the trail surface are peeking through at times. The trail also has a tendency to have runoff channels running down the center of steep uphill and downhill sections, and there's not enough snow just yet to fill those in and make it flat. That said, if you need some Birkie training, it's passable and can't be beat. It had been groomed a week ago or so (it seems), but not since the last snowfall. Based on visible tracks, there have only been a handful of skiers on it in the last five days or so.

(Daniel Currell)

Skied the classic trails at Lebanon Hills today, covering most of the park. It looks like nearly all the trails are open, and I said rock skis because - well, there are definitely patches of rock, and will be far more after a few days of warmth this week. But the classic skiing is pretty good right now, so get it while you can!

(Dan Currell)

From other comments I expected somewhat better conditions. Hit gravel/rocks 5-7 times (cringe) doing only a few short loops. Base very soft and quite a few footprints (hikers and tree-workers) degrading trail. Skied from Pilot Knob - perhaps better on other portions. Needs more snow!

(Janet Folina)

Trails were tracked! Not sure if they did that yesterday or this morning. Very few spots where grass or dirt showed through. We did a loop from Visitor Center to Jensen Lake and then the hill loop to the East of visitor center. Only place we had to get out of the track to avoid dirt was in the Schulze lake beach area. Bought my $20 annual pass and had a good 5.5 mile classic ski.

(Wes Gerber)

Trails were packed this morning. The groomer returned and was able to set tracks in the afternoon. Conditions are fair, with poor conditions in a few places where the base is thin (and down to the ground with bare patches).

Photos:

(Katie Pata, Dakota County Parks)

I skied Lebanon Hills from 11:30 this morning until 1:30 this afternoon and the skiing was good. Groomer had just been out packing the trails but had not tracked them yet. Most trails had skiers out before me so plenty of skier tracks to follow. I did break trail on two routes. Skied from visitor center and covered all Eastern trails (pleased to see even trails through pines by Marsh lake snow covered) then went West along Southern route to marker 7 by Jensen Lake and back to visitor center along Norther route. Pleased to find all trails packed and snow covered. Shortly after I finished, Dakota County Parks announced groomer was out laying tracks. Great day for a ski.

(John Gamlin)