With full sun and 38F degrees the trail and snow was surprisingly dry and also slow. The skate/classic loop (west side of the river) was groomed Friday for skate and classic. Once you got past all the walker damage and got out to the loop it was pristine. Only other users were critter prints as shown in the photo. We traded off skiing first in the tracks to tamp down the snow that had blown in. Much easier skiing in the tracks now. Skier reports here are so helpful because if you go through the park office phone line and press for information on park conditions it just sends you to camping information. Nothing on conditions.

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(Karla Anderson)

Skiing Gooseberry depends on your priority: Optimal skiing experience? Go elsewhere. Ski in a terrific setting? Go to Gooseberry. I skied the lower classic loop below Hwy 61. The trail quality was below adequate and hadn't been groomed in a while. Snow filled tracks. Some spots with foot traffic. Other areas were glazed or drifted over. Nothing I encountered would damage skis but it wasn't a great skiing experience. I suggest asking at the office for grooming updates. But who cares about the trails when you're skiing next to Lake Superior and the river on a gorgeous March day? Get out to Gooseberry.

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(Nick Lansing)

Skied trails on north side of Hwy 61. The tracks are all glazed and a bit shallow but are rocket fast. Most of the trails have been hiked and snowshoed on the sides and between the double classic tracks so deck on the side of the tracks is frozen rough and rutted, making snowplows on downhills almost impossible. I would avoid until the next snow and regroom.

(Tim Nelson)

Best grooming conditions all year! Rolled trails, tracks set, and fewer walkers than normal. Pictures show the perfection.

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(Karla Anderson)

Trail grooming is in progress this afternoon while we skied. Most are rolled and firm and some are tracked with snow blown into them in windy areas. No walkers on the shared trail section by the park building today.

(Brad Anderson)

Considering spring conditions, Gooseberry was pretty darn good. We asked at the visitor center about the trail conditions and they gave us a map that showed what had been groomed the day before. These trails were very skiable! A few soft spots and slick spots. It's primarily a real pretty double tracked classic trail system. Didn't see anyone else skiing.

(Angie Miller)

Excellent. On my way out a skier coming back in said "it doesn't get much better than today." After finishing the western river loops, I couldn't agree more. Beautiful bright blue skies.

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(Tony Lockhart)

Great conditions on the loops above the road (Center Fields Loops and Eastern Loops) had some inconsequential detritus in the tracks but nothing that is inorganic. Lots of snow, lots of it. The groomers have set wonderful tracks. The classic and skate loop (Birch Hill Loop) is also well set and in great shape, that downhill is a joy after all that climbing. The Campground Loop has a section with grass showing under some trees, it is easily avoided. The connector section under the Bridge is granular and icy, be aware.

(David King)

Wonderful. The groomers were out yesterday and today. The trails were excellent, the classic tracks solid and deep. My favorite today was the River Loop, with nice swooping downhills and the Gooseberry river gurgling beneath the ice and Fifth Falls roaring in the distance.

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(Tony Lockhart)

Tried skiing Gooseberry trails on the north side of the highway. Plenty of coverage and some new wet snow did not completely cover the tracks. But it was way too warm. Poles plunged through the deck and skis often sunk thru the track leaving a rut. I just did a short loop on my skins but quit due to skis damaging the track.

(Tim Nelson)