Trail Detail

Duluth, MN
5K
Classic Only
No
No
218-730-4321
[ NWS ]
New Reports Report Requests

Notes

The Piedmont trail has 5k of trail for beginning and intermediate skiers. This double-tracked trail leads you through both aspen, birch, and hardwood forest. Handmade signs made by a skier in the Piedmont neighborhood and a beautiful overlook of the St. Louis River Valley are the unique features of this trail.
Proximity
Search
Ski Trails Rollerski Trails Stores Lodging
Within    

Trail Reports

2022-2023 season
Reports 1 to 10 of 52    Month: Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan | Dec | Nov
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Morning
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Good skis ]
We skied the main loop today at PIedmont, and back the way we came instead of the Eagle has landed way. We used our good skins and were fine. This is the first time it has really felt like good old spring skiing to me! The snow was cornish snow. The pole. plants were not as firm as Magney but still ok. The snow is still 99% connected and the trail is about 98% covered. Near "The Butt stops here" was the biggest open spot in the area we skied, it was still connected though. We had three "gullies" that we had to side step that were waterish and not snow along with two very small areas of non connectedness too.
Photos:
(Eve Graves)
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Morning
Firsthand: Classic 
[ B skis ]
Trails were 99.9% covered as of late morning. The 4K main loop is still almost all covered for fun spring skiing. One gully had a few feet of exposed ground. I took my skis off there. And at one low-lying intersection near the trailhead, if you choose to take the trail marked with the sign Nowak's Skate Trail, you will probably want to take off your skis and walk a twenty-foot patch of exposed wet grass and leaves. Coverage on one other short section was deteriorating and narrowed to a lane just wide enough to ski through. But don't even think about taking the plunge down the hill beyond the "Evel Knievel" sign. That hill is now impassable. Overall, however, it was still good, worthwhile skiing. I was glad I went and did not feel at all at risk of damaging the good skins skis I purchased recently as long as I took them off at those couple of spots where I encountered bare ground.
(Tim Larson)
Monday, April 24, 2023
Morning
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Good skis ]
Just before noon Monday, the main loop still had complete coverage with great spring skiing on skins. Other than that one fallen tree to crawl under, it was smooth skiing on corn snow with no icy spots. The advanced outer loops, however, had encroaching wet spots from seeps and springs. The return stretch of the first advanced loop was getting rough where a number of seeps and springs had melted holes in the skiing deck along the south side of a rocky hill. And, on the second outer loop, the short downhill plunge below the "Evel Knievel" sign was becoming extra Evel with a twisty path crossing mounds of snow between a series of sinkholes where seeps have melted through--all right at the bottom of the hill--but skiers are still making their way through. I kept my skis under control on the descent before proceeding through the tricky part. Here is a tip if you still want to use your good skis on the outer loops: Take the first advanced loop, making the downhill run where the snow coverage remains complete. After the outrun and a short climb, veer to the right on the cutoff--where the first, advanced outer loop briefly runs right beside the second outer loop. Proceed on the return section of the second outer loop, having avoided the "Evel Knievel" hill entirely. Continue back to the main loop.
(Tim Larson)
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Good skis ]
Skied on Saturday afternoon with temperature 30 degrees F. Friday's wet snow had become frozen and icy overnight but turned soft enough by afternoon for enjoyable skiing using skins. Skier-made tracks were icy and rutted in spots though Trails remain 100% snow covered, but they have not been groomed for some time. If you ski here, I suggest waiting until midday for prime spring skiing conditions when snow has softened. While there are a couple of fallen trees to go around (one to duck under), and a few dips where gullies formed on warm days earlier in the month, fun skiing can still be had--if you time it right.
(Tim Larson)
Friday, April 21, 2023
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Good skis ]
Skied the main loop between noon and 1 p.m. on Friday. Plenty of new, wet snow provided complete coverage. A few skiers had broken trail. After 50+ mph wind gusts for much of the day yesterday, four trees are down. Three could easily be skied around. One required getting down on all fours to crawl under. Otherwise, some twigs and small branches were on the trail, but not so many that the skiing was affected. I used classic skis with Swix Red V55 in the wax pocket. Still, I was slipping and sliding on uphill climbs. When I return, I'll use skins. Treetops coated with rime ice and snow from this latest storm made the forest a spectacular sight.
Photos:
(Tim Larson)
Friday, April 21, 2023
Morning
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Good skis ]
Piedmont was a winter wonderland! Our skins had some nice glide on the tracks that someone thankfully created prior to our arrival! Pole plants were slightly soft. The debris was of the large type, not the small ski stopping for the. most part. A few trees down, but easy to get around and one you had to go under. Plenty of snow there to play on for awhile! The water was covered up and not an issue.
Photos:
(Eve Graves)
Friday, April 21, 2023
Morning
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails Open: Most, Good skis ]
Winter wonderland at Piedmont this morning, after our record breaking wet snowfall yesterday. I just skied the first part of Piedmont. It was ungroomed, but very skiable, with 1-2 inches of heavy snow on a firm base. 100 % covered, many branches, and overhanging trees. Used ski skis, and they worked well.
Photos:
(Dave Arvold)
Monday, April 17, 2023
Morning
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Good skis ]
Huge thank you to the person who skied in the tracks at PIedmont today! Also thank you to those who have read and followed the signage and refrained from walking on the ski trails all year so far. The snow at the Piedmont was kinda like mid winter today! Full coverage on the main loop with just one tiny area that had a ravine I had to side step down and over. No debris on the trail, no water on the trail, and the only area I saw ground was near the bench by the "Butt stops Here"... where is that sign anyway? Someone walked their dog on the ski trail and on the tracks unfortunately.
Photos:
(Eve Graves)
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Rock skis ]
What a treat to be able to ski Piedmont in mid April! Skied all sections except "the plunge", and the trail had good coverage after the morning snow fell. Occasional areas where the trail has collapsed, but I was able to ski over them without much trouble.
Photos:
(Sarah Nelson)
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Good skis ]
Piedmont continues to have full coverage, without a hint of anything about to show through! The water that was flowing on half the trail yesterday was not flowing on it at all today. The section at the end of the trail where you can go one way to go back the same way to the parking lot or the other way had water in a different area believe it or not. The only way to go left to get back to the parking lot would be on water skis. This snow could stick around for awhile.
(Eve Graves)

Next Last