Spring has sprung! The Red Granite Loop was softened up for hiking and parts of Pipeline West are softer by Murphy Lake, nearest to the North Campground. Overall crusty conditions, some debris, and worse control on hills. We are unable to groom anymore. An attempt was made today but the glazing is too excessive and with the forecast we won't continue. Thanks to the Friends of Copper Falls State Park for continuing to support grooming operations by supplementing winter operations when staff or funds aren't available. In recent years they have bought a new grooming snowmobile, supplemented maintenance costs of existing equipment, funded trail improvements, and purchased new equipment for better trail maintenance. Thank you to the six volunteer groomers, numerous trail stewards, and several staff that made this season happen!

Photos:

(James Enigl)

We received a couple inches of fresh snow. All ski trails at the park were packed and groomed by staff and volunteers yesterday and today. Conditions are fabulous. Enjoy your state park!

Photos:

(Colleen Matula)

The park received about two inches of snow and one-quarter inch of rain/ice over the last two days. We were able to groom just the 1.5-mile Meadow Loop this morning. The Meadow has a wide skate deck and a single track set throughout three mini loops, with some rolling terrain and one hill to climb in either direction. Conditions are good but fast, with possibly some soft pole plants or outer edges. Be careful in the parking lot or on roads; any pavement is covered in ice. Grooming plans: Due to staffing and weather, we are unable to groom the rest of the trails until further notice.

Photos:

(James Enigl)

Welcome Birkie skiers to the northwoods! This morning we groomed Meadow, Red Granite, and Pipeline with an 18in base. Half of the trails are completely in the sun, stick to Pipeline western portion, if avoiding sun exposure. Be careful in the parking lots and at road crossing, lots of ice remains underneath from November. Meadow and Pipeline both have soft, shallow tracks, to make grooming easier later in the week. Grooming Plans: We will have crew available for packing Thursday and grooming Friday, depending on weather. Happy skiing!

Photos:

(James Enigl)

Touched up the rough part of Pipeline Loop/east half. It looks great now, with 98 percent of the ruts gone, especially in the important areas. Skate deck has firmed, classic tracks deep and steady, and skiers are reporting firm pole plants. Saw numerous deer tracks, some coyote tracks, a few wolf tracks, and even a few bobcat tracks which aren't so often. Fun to see everyone out today!

Photos:

(James Enigl)

Groomed all trails today, all in excellent condition. FOCF Volunteers Dale and Deb packed and tracked the classic-only trails, Vahtera and Takesson. Dale and Ranger James packed and tracked Meadow, Pipeline, and Red Granite. Double track set on all of Meadow and most of Pipeline. The skate deck might be soft in spots on Red Granite and bumpy, just after the big hills, on Pipeline eastern portion. Happy skiing!

Photos:

(James Enigl)

From the groomers: The multi-use Red Granite trail is packed and smoothed today. Our classic only trails are cleared but not tracked recently. Enjoy the Vahtera and Takesson trails for a classic backcountry ski experience.

(Deborah Vomhof)

From the groomers: After another 3 inches of new snow volunteer groomers went out again today to comb and track the middle of the Meadow loop and all of the Pipeline for skate and classic.

(Deborah Vomhof)

Friday the skating was wonderful at CFSP, and I got to introduce a fellow skier to the trails for the first time. He was agog at the gorgeous, rolling deck through hardwood forest! We did Meadow, Pipeline East, Pipeline West and the skating portion of Vahterra. There was powder over a solid base. Meadow was slow as it had almost two inches of new, dry powder on top, but it was being groomed when we left. The classic-only trails had not been groomed in a while.

(Charlie Dee)

Trails had a light coating of snow over yesterday's grooming upon our arrival this morning. Joanie and I strided the Meadow and Pipeline trails, and then skated a couple of laps on the Meadow Trail. The tracks were good overall and the skate lanes were a bit soft-a very enjoyable ski thanks to Monday's grooming. Our only disappointment was that the two classic-only singletrack trails were not groomed recently, so we skipped those.

Photos:

(Darren Blankenship)