Essex was groomed again today and classic tracks set. Everything is beautiful! The snow is still pretty soft so you may sink in and should use the biggest baskets you have for poles, but even with that, it is in good condition and much more sheltered from the wind than many other places. The North meadow is not really groomed, but the rest is and the wooded areas are especially nice. Get out and enjoy it.

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(Amy Hocraffer)

There is a nice track for freestyle skiing, but it is soft. At times, my ski would sink in if it was moving too slow. It was still great to get out for some freestyle skiing. There is a beautiful classic track, which is much firmer. If you are going out today, I would recommend classic skiing.

(James Martenson)

All trails are open, packed, combed and classic tracks set in the east woods, south prairie loop, and bike trails. North prairie is still too soft to set track. I classic skied the entire system. It's in the best shape of the year! Skate deck is in great but still soft in some places. Snow is soft on the side of the classic tracks. You may want to use your longer skate poles if you are going classic. Why couldn't we get this snow in November?

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(Andrew Wood)

Beautiful conditions for classic! Some drifting snow onto trails, and the occasional leaves, but otherwise great fresh snow. No tracks set. Friends, if you don't classic ski until there's fresh snow, today is the day!

(Joey Furst)

Essex Park trails were packed and combed. No tracks have been set yet. Skate deck is soft but very skiable. Caution: the park department has yet to plow out the road and parking lot to Essex. You will need a good 4X4 to access the parking lot. Otherwise you and always ski in!

(Andrew Wood)

Partially groomed Sunday, skate-only. Conditions looked best in the 'forest loop,' but still 'B' skiis. Keep an eye out for a downed tree that partially blocks the trail. 55th St. loop looked very thin and had a sheet of glaze ice on one of the hills. Rock skis.

(Grant Johnson)

Essex was rolled this morning. Prairie loops both north and south there is grass and ice exposed. Advise avoiding those trails in the open prairie. The east woods, "Hadley's Hill", the Trail from H--- and the trail from the north playground down the the bike path and old archery range are very skiable and out of the wind.

(Andrew Wood)

Essex was groomed this morning. Skate deck is thin in spots. Trails in the woods, the old archery range and north prairie loops are in pretty good shape. The classic tracks were thin, icy and dirty in spots so were taken out. Should be OK skiing before it gets too warm.

(Andrew Wood)

Overall solid condition. Upper section little lacking of snow in some locations. Classic tracks deteriorated in locations as well, but fun to get out!

(Mike Laverman)

Trails are groomed for skate and classic. Snow is very sticky, so good for a rigorous workout! Trails also have some leaves/grass and dog/hiker tracks.

(Elizabeth Schuetz)