Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles have decent deck and double tracks all the way around. It's not perfect, but still really great to have these options. Despite having forgotten the physical toll of flat skiing on slowish snow, I had a great time. The Kenilworth Channel seems to be officially closed (there's a small half buried sign on the Cedar side).[ Do not ski the Kenilworth channel, ice is not safe -- Ed. ] Overall the snow is holding up well despite the temps. And the consistent high quality grooming is a true blessing.

Photos:

(Adam Arvidson)

Regroomed Lake of the Isles Wednesday afternoon. Skate lane has new corduroy and outer classic track was reset. Except for a few icy spots where the snow was thin, conditions are very good. Trail now extends all the way to the top of the North Finger since the ice rink has closed. Total of 5 kilometers are groomed and open on Isles.

Photos:

(Brian Milavitz)

Skied Lake of the Isles with our dog. Conditions were pretty good. Unfortunately, the wind has not been our friend, and the classic tracks were sometimes quite full of blown snow, nearly obscured in some areas. There were also some patches of ice. Near the warming house, there are two humps in both directions — totally skiable. We had a great time! My dog was super excited to run hard, and we made just over three trips around the lake. A major downside was unleashed dogs. We were chased by one dog, and then on our second trip, that same dog chased us again while also bringing along four or five other dog friends. The humans were surprised that I described the experience as frustrating. A major upside was seeing two other skijor teams out! Plus several other skiers, both classic and skate. This was my first Chain of Lakes ski this season, and I'm so glad I made it out! This was also my spouse's first lake ski ever, and she had a great time on her classic skis, despite the sometimes difficult-to-see tracks.

(Lee Penn)

Lake of the Isles is rolled and groomed. Triple wide skate deck, classic inside and outside. Walkers and bikers in the perimeter. It's in super mint condition!

Photos:

(Brian Crotteau)

Lake of the Isles is groomed with a skate deck and double classic tracks, fairly good where there's enough snow coverage - which is most of the lake. Cedar Lake is also groomed with a skate deck and classic track. Kenilworth channel between the two lakes is not groomed; the channel trail is closed.

(Jim van Iwaarden)

Brownie lake was rolled and in great shape besides some boot prints. Cedar lake has not been rolled recently but there was just about the right amount of snow to skate (2-3 inches). Snow was the best along the shore.

(Mark Bushinski)

Cedar, Isles and Brownie are groomed. The slush from the last big storm has frozen so it's solid but rutted, and classic tracks are partly to mostly icy. A little more snow will make a big difference. WARNING: Lagoon, Bde Maka Ska and the Kenilworth channel are not safe to ski due to thin ice!

(Jim van Iwaarden)

Finished grooming Cedar Lake and Isles should be done also. Surprising there's not much snow cover but still enough to ski on with B skis. Feels good to be out there again after three years of not being able the groom the lakes due to poor conditions. WARNING: The ice is not safe in the channel between Cedar and Isles not should not be skied.

(Ken Valley)

Danger: open water (1/4" ice with 3" open water) at north end of BDE Maka Ska entering Lake St bridge. No grooming but lots of volunteer tracks and decent skating from people who skied in the usual trail on Cedar, Isles and Brownie. Wind blew snow under bridges as well.

(Eric Sumner)

The Loppet Grooming team is ready to set ski trails on the lakes Bde Maka Ska, Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lakes as soon as conditions allow. There remain a number of slushy spots and the lakes are wind-blown, making any skiing and grooming currently impossible. As soon as we get sufficient conditions and are able to groom we will do so and post an update.

(Brian Crotteau)