Everything is open except the challenge hill (the rest of the challenge trail is open) with a thin skate deck. Bare spots in short sections on Lagoon, Meadow, and Skyline, with lots of sticks and branches on Lagoon. If you take the left at the bottom of the hill to head back into Skyline/Challenge look out, the section is almost all dirt. It actually is pretty good skiing, just that dirt is showing up in a few inconvenient spots. And it really was groundhogs day - there was groundhog running around on the Lagoon and didn't seem the least bothered when I skied by. Not sure if it saw its shadow.

(Steve Hum)

It was a great day of skate skiing at French. Although packed for skating, there were no set classic tracks. The Three Rivers website rated the trails as fair, but they were very good with only a few easily avoidable dirty spots. Great work groomers! Should be good for Saturday before it gets really warm.

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(Richard Stardig)

The artisan groomers at French Park have done a great job! Really nice coverage all around, just a few thin spots that are very easy to avoid. Single digits above zero never felt so warm! The only trail not open is the north segment of Challenge Hill, which is undergoing a substantial re-route and likely won't be groomed at all this winter.

(Adam Himes)

Skated at French early afternoon. Trails were soft, slow, and a little thin but very skiable. Maybe avoid digging in with aggressive skate strides or you might hit bare ground in places. Also, be gentle with your pole plants as hard ground is just beneath the surface. One change to the trail routes: The hill on Lakeview is now uphill only to the lodge due to the changes with the remodeled playground. I discussed this with a representative and was told this is a permanent change for safety reasons. So, to connect from Lakeview to Lagoon, you now have to ski down through the lodge area and hit a hard left at the bottom. I barely made it so be careful you take care through there and don't clobber anybody at the intersection as visibility is limited for that hard left onto Lagoon.

(Leif Irgens)

Natural snow from last night. Skied on trails from 10 a.m. to about noon. Trails were well groomed but no tracks. Snow was soft so it was a workout and slow going.

(Matt McKinney)

As much as I appreciate the man made snow, it just felt good to be on real thing at French this morning. I classic skied on the freshly groomed corduroy--no classic tracks. I thought it was really in pretty good shape considering what little snow we've had.
As usual the best snow was in the hilly trails west of the bay. I would start at the Visitor Center. The trail from the parking lot is really packed down and a little icy. I got the old-time cross country feel this morning without one other person around -- a little different from Theo yesterday!

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(Bill Lundberg)

Lights on at 5 am and still some corduroy left from grooming a day ago! Deck near perfect: firm and fast. Few minor low or icy patches that are easy to avoid. A couple areas with blown leaves. Used good skis withou any problem. Only other living soul out was a deer. Minor rut on first downhill to avoid. About as good as ever- will be a perfect morning to get a ski in.

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(Andy Larson)

Skied all the loops except for the 1/2 half of the Challenge Hill since that wasn't open. Overall the skate deck was good. No classic track set. Good coverage everywhere, noticed only a couple of bare spots and the bridge on Meadow was a little thin. The only places that seemed icy were Lagoon and downhill and the 2-way sections of Lakeview. Lots of leaf debris on the trail. Really nice to ski on natural snow.

(Steve Hum)

Saw the groomers out this morning on my way to work and wondered if they would be opening French soon. Sure enough it's open! Kudos to the groomers on doing a great job getting the trails in skiable conditions. Nice to be on natural snow. Husband and I both skied classic. I was on my Twin Skins and he had Rex blue on for kick which was really good. Skate looked good too. Watch out for leaf debris, a few random branches (especially on the medicine loop) and some icy patches. The trail by the parking lot isn't in the best of shape (mostly ice) so recommend walking up to the building to put on skis.

(Caitlin Anderson)