Skated here Tuesday, Wed and Thursday morning. Tuesday was well groomed with good coverage but a bit slick. After Wednesday’s storm it wasn’t groomed when I went but was spectacularly beautiful. Thursday was perfectly groomed and near perfect conditions. Just enough terrain variation to make it interesting, extremely clear signage, lots of choices for distance, enough people but not crowded...and it feels like you are out in the woods but just 10 minutes from downtown. One of the many other reasons I love Duluth.

Photos:

(R. T. Rybak)

Packed parking lots and a lot of use. The classic grooming especially seemed quite nice, judging from when I jumped in the tracks for downhills. Note for skating, the skate lane is not groomed as wide as normal on the blue and black loops. I was sometimes catching my left edge in the deep snow and I could tell there had been some skate skiing that extended over the classic tracks in places. Not a big problem I guess unless you are aggressively skating. The classic track was holding up despite this, so far. Still a little soft for skate, particularly on uphills, but to be expected given the inches dumped. Looks like real winter out there.

(Sara Zimmer)

Skied late Wednesday evening. Trails had been heavily used prior to us arriving. Skate deck was groomed, but soft throughout and sugary on the uphill portions (to be expected after the 5 inches of light fluffy snow Duluth received). Tracks were set, but not yet firmed up. It looks like the trails did not have time to set up after grooming prior to the rush of skiers using the trails. Snow coverage is good throughout the trail system - we will be getting our good skis waxed and ready and retiring our rock skis until hopefully the spring. Cheers to a happy and healthy ski season!

(Nicole Popp)

We skied classic from about 4:30-5:30 PM. The trails had been groomed and tracks set. The groomer must have been through within an hour and a half before we skied - there were a few skating marks on the fresh deck, although the steep uphills were marked by many herringbone tracks. Conditions were lovely though the track had had the opportunity to completely set-up yet. The classic track was a still a bit soft. Thank you to the City of Duluth groomers - I was impressed both by how quickly you got to this set of trails after last night’s snow fall and with the quality of your work. Bravo.

(Deb DeLuca)

Deep snowmobile tracks from I to J. Take the cut off at H. Almost broke a ski in the deep ruts. Heard from another skier that there was a medical rescue and the tracks were from that--wouldn't recommend skiing this portion at night especially. The rest of the trail was just fine.

(Erin Renier)

Most of the trail system is in very good condition for both classic and skating. Unfortunately there is a fair amount of snowmobile damage to the upper most section. In the area of damage the tracks are in better shape than the skate deck.

(Andrew Allan)

Skated this afternoon, had been groomed, but some dips in classic tracks to be aware of. Well skied since it was last groomed, good condition for the most part.

(Linda Magni)

Newly groomed trails. Lots of skiers out enjoying themselves when I went at 10 am. Very little debris on the trail here and there but easily avoidable. Shout out to the groomers for getting the trails in great shape. Beautiful!

(Erin Renier)

The whole trail is ungroomed but with well skied-in classic tracks, especially around the C loop. Skaters will be plowing alot of snow. Probably could use your good skis.

(John Bankson)

No grooming has been done but plenty of a folks have skied in a fairly decent track! A couple sticks here and there that blew down from wind (tried to throw the biggest ones off the trail), but there was no bare ground and I think most folks would be comfortable using good skis. We skied almost all the trails and there is an existing track just about everywhere from the folks breaking and smoothing out trail. Phenomenal kick at 3ºF.

(Ketzel Levens)