Trail Detail

McCarthy Beach State Park
Side Lake, MN
14.5k
Skating/Classic
No
No
218-254-7979
[ NWS ]
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Notes

Scenic trails wind through stands of large red and white pines. For longer ventures, head out on the Taconite Trail for access to hundreds of miles of additional trails.
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Trail Reports

2018-2019 season
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Reports 1 to 10 of 12    Month: Mar | Feb | Jan | Dec
Friday, March 1, 2019
Afternoon
Grooming 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Groomed the couple loops in the Campground area. Attempted to pack first the Red Top Trail but due to getting stuck for lack of continual maintenance, had to abandon effort there -- probably for remainder of year. Will continue to groom two of the three loops. Get out and ski now as these perfect conditions can change in a flash past mid-month!
(Neil Gardner)
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Afternoon
Grooming 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Groomed Big Hole Loop with Tom, not stuck today. Excellent tracks set with TiddTech. May attempt campground loop tomorrow.
(Neil Gardner)
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Morning
Grooming 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Completed Campground Loop grooming, excellent. Probably won't re-groom Red Top Loop unless skiers speak up if they want it done. Gas kitty at CCC for volunteer snowmobile. Have fun!
(Neil Gardner)
Monday, February 11, 2019
Afternoon
Grooming 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Groomed Big Hole Loop. More soon, probably campground loop next. Excellent condition. Two feet of snowpack.
Photos:
(Neil Gardner)
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Morning
Grooming 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Groomed Big Hole excellent. Other trails are user tracked and very good condition.
(Neil Gardner)
Monday, January 28, 2019
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
I skied RedTop and Big Hole. Great ski, I love the fresh snow. The set tracks are still good where the deer haven't been.
Photos:
(Arden LaBonte)
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Evening
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Big Hole loop user tracked and excellent after the two inch snowfall. Will not require grooming until next dump or unlikely heavy use. Great to see the snowshoers staying of to sides of set ski tracks, plenty room for both if separate. Skiing now perfect, get going!
(Neil Gardner)
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Groomed trails with classic tracks set and covered with 3" new light snow. I skied both the Red Top 8K and Big Hole 5K, awesome ski. Lots of deer and squirrel tracks.
Photos:
(Arden LaBonte)
Monday, January 14, 2019
Evening
Secondhand 
Volunteers have groomed the Big Hole and Red Top Trails off Ski Trail Road for X-Country skiing in Side Lake. The Lakeshore trail from the main park entrance is groomed as well, for those who enjoy scenery without the scary hills. A ski pass is required if skiing.
(Arden LaBonte)
Friday, January 11, 2019
Afternoon
Grooming 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Completed grooming all three loops: Big Hole (two days ago), Red Top (first time in five years), Campground (first time in three years). All in excellent shape with 14" snow in woods. Some short stretches and connectors are double tracked. Enjoy. Thank Tom for volunteering his time, machine and gas.
(Neil Gardner)

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